Buyers sought for Journal Record Building in Oklahoma City

The Journal Record Building, largely vacant since it was acquired by Oklahoma City after the 1995 bombing of the nearby Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building, may finally be redeveloped in time for the tragedy's 20th anniversary.

 
By Steve Lackmeyer | Published: December 22, 2012    Comment on this article Leave a comment

photo - The Journal Record Building was the Masonic Temple when it opened in 1923. OKLAHOMAN ARCHIVES PHOTO
The Journal Record Building was the Masonic Temple when it opened in 1923. OKLAHOMAN ARCHIVES PHOTO

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The western one-third of the building is owned by the Oklahoma City National Memorial, and one floor of the western two-thirds up for sale is being leased to the Memorial Institute for the Prevention of Terrorism. The space up for sale is the more ornate entrance facing Robinson Avenue.

“When the trust first began redevelopment of the building, it did have a broker to try to market the space, but that was a long time ago,” O'Connor said.

Over the past several years the property was eyed as a home for the Oklahoma City Public Schools administration and the Oklahoma Tourism Department. The department once obtained authorization from legislators to issue bonds to buy the property, but the deal never went through.

Kari Watkins, director of the Oklahoma City National Memorial, applauded the effort to find a buyer and said she hopes that the remaining space can be bought and redeveloped before the 20th anniversary of the bombing is marked in 2015.

The museum was visited by 200,000 people and the outdoor memorial was visited by 450,000 people this past year.

“We want to see the site rebuilt and prosperous as we end our second decade,” Watkins said. “We think it would be a shame to not have this building filled and vibrant.”

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