Emotional Battle Over Downtown Development

An emotional plea from the mayor couldn't prevent a meeting about downtown development from becoming contentious on Thursday.  News On 6 anchor Scott Thompson reports at issue was a question about who gets to develop some of the land near the new baseball stadium.

The Tulsa Development Authority wants to take a step back, now that the Drillers may be moving downtown.  But, a small Tulsa real estate developer says it's not fair.

"It's a community that spent years bickering and pulling each other down.  Let's not do that again, let's not go there again," said Tulsa Mayor Kathy Taylor.

The meeting began with an unexpected and emotional speech by Mayor Kathy Taylor.  As the daughter of small business owners, she urged both the Tulsa Development Authority and the owners of Novus Homes to work out their differences.

"I swore that if ever I was beyond that situation, I'd give back.  And, that's what you're doing, and that's what I'm trying to do.  And, I'd make sure that there was a level playing field for all entrepreneurs," said Tulsa Mayor Kathy Taylor.

But, the owners of Novus Homes say the playing field has suddenly been tilted.

Novus Homes is interested in the lot on the northwest corner of Elgin and Archer.

In January, the mother and son development team of Cecilia and Will Wilkins started negotiating to buy it.  They proposed a 4-story building with retail and parking space on the first floor, and lofts on the rest.

Then, the news hit home that the Drillers may be moving in across the street.

"Unfortunately, one who stood to build on that before a ballpark was even announced is essentially told today, 'you're not going to do it,'" said William Wilkins.

The authority voted three to zero to end negotiations with the Wilkinses.  The chairman says there's nothing underhanded about it, that it has nothing to do with the possibility of new, bigger developers wanting to get a piece of the action.

"People are saying 'well, you're pushing him out.'  No, that wasn't the case.  We're saying let's step back, re-evaluate, OK?  Because the environment and conditions have changed," said Tulsa Development Authority Chairman Carl Bracy.

Two of the five TDA board members refused to vote because of concerns about a conflict of interest. 

The board has been invited to appear before the Tulsa City Council next week, to explain what's happened.  That's when Wilkins will make his case to the Tulsa City Council.

Related story:

8/6/2008  City Addresses Ballpark Questions