July 09, 2010--The Tulsa Development Authority on Thursday selected Brickhugger LLC to convert the former City Hall building into a hotel with mixed retail space.

Brickhugger will negotiate with the authority on the sale of the 2.5-acre downtown site and the development plans.

After the meeting, Brickhugger co-owner Macy Snyder said her group, which redeveloped the historic Mayo Hotel, was excited to get started on the project.

She said she thinks the group's "proven track record and great team" is what gave it the edge in the selection process.

"Mayo Hotel is something everyone is proud of. Everyone knows we can get the project done," Snyder said. She said the project "really maximizes the area, giving the city the most hotel rooms as possible at that site."

Authority chairman Julius Pegues said Brickhugger was selected because its project best met the requirements the city sought for redevelopment of the site.

Brickhugger was competing with Omega Alpha Development for the site.

Ultimately, Brickhugger offered the city $1.2 million in its proposal to build a 200-room hotel with mixed retail space.

In March, the group made an initial offer of $1 million, which Mayor Dewey Bartlett announced.

In May, Omega Alpha offered $1.1 million for the site with a plan to build a 130- to 135-room hotel with mixed retail.

Omega Alpha's offer triggered the City Council to direct the authority to seek proposals for the site, select a developer,

negotiate a contract and then submit it for final council approval.

Both groups made presentations to the authority last week.

Brickhugger's project cost is $29.5 million, which includes $23.5 million for the hotel, restaurant and conference center and $6 million for the retail development.

In addition to the hotel, the project includes 60,000 square feet in retail and restaurant space and the opening of Fifth Street from Denver Avenue to the Convention Center.

"Extending Fifth Street is a unique aspect that will open up the entire plaza area to easy access," Snyder said.

Construction is estimated to take 12 months for the hotel and restaurant and another eight months for the retail space.

The former City Hall was part of a larger group of city-owned properties marketed for sale by Jones Lang LaSalle of Chicago a few years ago. The city hired the firm to sell the properties, but after two years, no offers had come in.

Original Print Headline: Project goes to Mayo firm

P.J. Lassek 581-8382 [email protected]

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