Walcourt

[UnFrSaKn]

So it looks like there was a fire that was quickly contained today.

https://twitter.com/stevelackmeyer/s...61558299930624

https://instagram.com/p/45dx-eFggI/

[Spartan]

So the city can condemn and ED on most any of downtown... But they are helpless here?

[Pete]

So the city can condemn and ED on most any of downtown... But they are helpless here?

They can do ED anywhere within the city limits but things get hairy when a take is not for a civic use.

[hoya]

The civic use should be to save this old building. Restore it and make it a little museum or something. Sell it later.

[Spartan]

It doesn't have to be well thought out. There isn't time for that. OKC doesn't have much Tudor and is about to have even less.

We do nearly every project this city touches Cowboy-style, in large part bc of the fire hoses of funding like MAPS and tower TIFs. It's time to saddle up and ride into battle on this..

[sixkiller]

Saw people doing work yesterday, and caught this sign on the fence today.

[HangryHippo]

Are the owners finally interested in saving it?!?

[David]

https://www.gofundme.com/walcourtfund

Three different mentions of a "Wrecking Ball List". This feels like a shakedown.

[shawnw]

shakedown=scam to get money to spend on something else?

[Urbanized]

Who is Rocky Allen?

[David]

Shakedown as in "give us money or we tear the building down".

[shawnw]

Oh. Well that would be terrible either way.

[Urban Pioneer]

This reminds me of the Bavinger House. They also had a "Representative Agent". Money was collected... house hasn't faired well...

[Pete]

I called one of the numbers listed on their gofundme site and they have not called me back.

[LakeEffect]

Saw some discussion on Facebook about it - the Director of the Neighborhood Alliance is not encouraged...

Also, Lackmeyer says he's never heard of these people either.

A couple people have commented on the Go Fund Me page within the past few hours. Good comments.

[baralheia]

Drove by there this morning on my way to work, and the banner is still there... checked the GoFundMe page and they've only raised $100 so far. Any comments that were previously made were apparently cleared from the page.

So the two supposed "Representative Agents" both have cell phone numbers listed here; one's on Sprint, and the other is on AT&T. The main phone number goes to a landline in Pasadena, CA. Both the GoFundMe and their Wix pages have numerous typos throughout. Definitely seems... off.

[KayneMo]

Any update? I hate to see an absolutely stunning building deteriorate.

[Ross MacLochness]

Has anyone heard any news about this building lately? It's still standing but in bad shape.

[Pete]

Fantastic news!

Walcourt to be purchased and renovated by Brent Swift who has done a masterful job with several Norman renovations and is the lead in the 701 N. Hudson project as well as 7 at Crown Heights:

http://newsok.com/developer-inks-con...rticle/5557535

http://www.brentswift.com/

[hoya]

Excellent! Every time I see that building, its state of disrepair makes me sad.

[HangryHippo]

This is awesome news! I love Brent Swift's work!

[Ross MacLochness]

I am so incredibly happy. It's like bizzarro okc. A building that I knew for sure wouldn't make it is being saved and renovated!

[Pete]

It goes to show that as long as a building isn't demolished, there is always hope.

But once it's gone, it's gone forever and attempts like preserving the sign in a glass casket (BOK Park Plaza parking garage / bus station) can never make much difference.

[Pete]

Brent Swift just posted this on his Facebook page:

[Anonymous.]

That is great news. Brent has been on a rampage lately.

Maybe after this, he can be the chosen one for saving the Luster House in DD.