Tulsa PAC Trust Takes Step In Developing Downtown Parking Lot

Monday, the Tulsa Performing Arts Trust held a vote regarding the parking lot across from City Hall.

The vote brings the city closer to a definitive ‘yes’ on getting a downtown grocery store. Many called it a huge step toward development.

It was a close one - 7 to 6 in favor of moving towards a contract with an Indianapolis-based developer to transform the two-acre lot near 3rd and Cincinnati.

The vision Flaherty and Collins has is 12 stories of apartments, a 35,000 square foot grocery store, parking and civic space solely for use by the Performing Arts Center.

1/26/2016 Related Story: Development Plans Advance For Downtown Tulsa Parking Lot

However, the project is its own animal - with a number of different parties that will be impacted by it.

“You obviously have the buyer and the PAC Trust in terms or our responsibility and how important it is to the city and how important it is for development and things of that nature," said Jono Helmerich with the PAC Trust.

But, as Helmerich pointed out, the Trust gets one shot at doing something and doing it well; or, it can do nothing with the lot and keep the 250 parking spaces - an idea former Tulsa Mayor Bob LaFortune supports.

"My responsibility is to the Performing Arts Center, and that lot was purchased to preserve parking for the PAC," he said.

Nothing is 100 percent, and Monday's vote just allows the Trust to get started on working towards a contract.

A spokesperson for developer Flaherty and Collins said they are ready to roll up their sleeves and get to work.

Helmerich said, with Monday's vote, the Trust isn't wasting any time and are already working towards language to write up in the contract so the process can continue to move forward.