Oklahoma’s Most Endangered Places
24 Mar
I was just reading a great PDF discussing our states most endanged places. Of our state Tulsa has quite a few on the list including Midtown (yes, the entire Midtown), The Tulsa Club, The Ponca City Savings and Loan and Tulsa Downtown YMCA.
Midtown Tulsa
Threat: Inappropriate infill, commercial encroachment
“McMansions.” “Trophy Homes.” “Plywood Palaces.” Whatever the name, these “super-sized” new homes are replacing the historic homes of Midtown Tulsa. This national trend, combined with commercial encroachment on Midtown’s fringes, threatens the character of this neighborhood.
Tulsa Club
Bruce Goff designed this eleven story building. It was joint effort between the Tulsa Chamber of Commerce and the Tulsa Club. The first five floors of the building were occupied by the Chamber and other business organizations while the top six floors and the roof garden were inhabited by the Tulsa Club. The club had a gymnasium and barber shop. The club’s interior had Art Deco ornamentation including fireplace tiles. The threat is demolition by neglect. The building sits empty and has for years, with little or no maintenance.
Tulsa Downtown YMCA
The “Y”, 1953, was designed by Leon B. Senter and his son Leon B. Senter, Jr. The senior Senter was an architect for Will Rogers Hill School. The building is being vacated as the “Y” moves homeless and poor men into other accommodations away from the vicinity of the BOK center. Any vacant building is threatened, but this is classic early 1950s architecture has been a landmark in downtown Tulsa.
Ponca City Savings and Loan
The Ponca Savings and Loan building was designed by architect Robert E. Buchner, c. 1956. This is a gem of a
small mid-century modern building which is threatened by demolition. In fact the entire southern portion the block is threated with demolition including a 1960s drive-through bank which sits to the east of this building. Someone painted over the lovely green marble walls with white paint, but otherwise the building is in good condition.
Oklahoma Preservation has done a nice job putting this document together. Thank you.
Download the 2009 Oklahoma’s Most Endangered Places Book – PDF
Little bit of info i have gathered on the Buchner Ponca City Savings and Loan. I saw some work happening at the building Friday afternoon so i stopped to ask some questions. Turns out they are putting in a restaurant in the building which i think is great. I am eager to see any designs hoping they celebrate the modern history of the building. Time will tell.
News to me, how interesting Shane! Boston Ave. is on its way to becoming a dining destination. I am just pleased to hear it will be occupied again. It’s much harder to tear down a place when its in use.