Negotiations to redevelop historic Guthrie building begin
Proposal contingent on city issuing permits, other factors
OKLAHOMA CITY — The
State of Oklahoma has entered into negotiations with a private group that would redevelop the State Capital
Publishing Co. Building in historic downtown Guthrie as a senior living center
with a micro-museum dedicated to the structure’s past.
The proposed redevelopment would occur under the Oklahoma State Government
Asset Reduction and Cost Savings Program, which requires underutilized
state-owned properties to be sold or redeveloped and the resulting proceeds be deposited in a statewide building maintenance fund.
Pursuant to the Oklahoma State Government Asset Reduction and Cost
Savings Program, the Office of Management and Enterprise Services in March 2015
solicited redevelopment proposals for the building on behalf of its owner, the
Oklahoma Historical Society. The building, located at 301 N. Harrison, has been
closed since 2011.
A seven-member selection
committee rated proposals received from Bywater Development Group and WRGM
Ventures, the Lauren R. Ladd Trust, the Logan County Historical Society and the
Williamson County Investments Corp. The committee evaluated each of the four proposals based
on historic preservation, community benefits, qualifications and experience,
and the financial capacity of the redevelopers.
The
state has entered into negotiations with Bywater and Oklahoma City-based WRGM,
who specialize in community revitalization initiatives. The group’s plans
call for converting a part of the building into 34 high-quality, affordable
senior apartments.
Bywater
and WRGM intend to commemorate the building’s past by dedicating a portion of the
first floor as a micro-museum featuring preserved pieces of historic printing
and typesetting equipment.
The
State Capital Publishing Co., organized in 1889 just before the first
Oklahoma Land Run, was one of the largest printing operations in the
southwest. The building, constructed in 1902, is a Joseph Foucart design
and is on the National Register of Historic Places. The Oklahoma Historical Society
acquired the property to convert into a printing museum in 1975 as a
bicentennial project, but due to lack of funding for critical maintenance
issues, the museum was closed in 2011.
Redevelopers
will be required to meet the U.S. Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for
Rehabilitation in order to qualify for tax credits, as well as adhere to the
local regulations and guidelines of the Guthrie historic district.
Additionally, the Historical Society will retain partial interest through a
perpetual façade easement to protect the historic integrity of the building’s
exterior. This will ensure the outside appearance is maintained to the Secretary
of the Interior’s standards, whether or not tax credits are pursued.
Before the
contract can be finalized, there are several factors that need to be addressed,
including special use permits for the proposed renovation and use. Once
negotiations are complete and the contract has been awarded, financial terms
and details will be available. No state funds would be spent under the proposal.
Media Contact
JOHN ESTUS
Director of Public Affairs
(405) 521-3097 | john.estus@omes.ok.gov
 About the Office of Management and Enterprise Services
The Office of Management and Enterprise Services
provides financial, property, purchasing, human resources and
information technology services to all state agencies, and assists the
Governor’s Office on budgetary policy matters. Our mission: Supporting our partners through unified business services. For more information, visit OMES.OK.gov.
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