A contractor hired to do interior demolition also mistakenly razed the large exterior stairs before the city stopped the work as it had not been approved through appropriate channels.
In addition, the initial designs met with some resistance from the Downtown Design Review Committee and before long local brokers and developers Zach Martin and Andy Burnett announced they had the property under contract to purchase.
Signs and marketing materials now show the property for lease or purchase through Martin and Burnett.
Zach Martin recently told OKCTalk that they are helping facilitate a sale for the current owners but also may purchase and renovate the building for lease if a suitable tenant can be found.
Martin hired local architect Sam Gresham to conceptualize a new plan to renovate the structure into office space, with a large addition on the west side facing Walnut.
The rendering shows the existing facade being eliminated in favor of the extension which would bring the building closer to the street. Also, the western portion of the property would be excavated, as the current basement level is actually higher than the sidewalk
The building was originally constructed for the OKC Board of Education in 1919 and was then became home to the Toll / Turnpike authority starting in the late 50's. More recently, it's been a variety of other uses and is currently vacant. It is comprised of17,632 total square feet on just under .7 acres of land.
The purchase price in 2014 was $1.6 million and the current sales price is $1.9 million as listed with Newmark Grubb Levy Strange Beffort.
A purchaser or lessee is now being sought for what is a highly visible property entering Deep Deuce and Bricktown from I-235.
