A huge project proposed in Yukon, Oklahoma, has sparked concerns it might eliminate or cover up the large “Yukon’s Best Flour” sign and its accompanying mill along Route 66 in Yukon, Oklahoma.
The Yukon Technology Center project has drawn opposition from at least one business owner in Yukon who says it would change the look and character of the city’s main drag.
Fox 25 in Oklahoma City reported:
The plans include replacing the Farmers Co-Op and Yukon’s Best Flour Mill with a new construction five-story, high-end office park, apartment building, two multi-level parking garages, and a hotel and convention center on Main Street. […]
The developer of the project is David Jones, owner of David Jones Commercial Real Estate in Dallas. Jones is from Yukon, and is a graduate of Yukon High School and the University of Oklahoma.
Jones told FOX 25 that the project, assuming it goes through in its current form, will bring in excess of $100 million to Yukon.
Jones said that he has been in talks with the City of Yukon and with the Chamber of Commerce and that there are “currently no plans to take down the Mill or the neon sign that sits on top of it.” […]
Jones emphasized that he is “very aware of the historical significance of the area and its place along Route 66.”
The station reported the mill and cooperative are under contract to be purchased, with construction projected to begin on the project in the spring of 2022.
Desiree Sevier, owner of Urban Boondocks Market in Yukon, stated the project would “massively impact Yukon citizens and small business alike, bulldozing beloved history on our quaint, thriving, locally owned Main Street.”
The City of Yukon stated it has not received any permits regarding the project.
Plans for the Yukon Technology Center project can be seen here. It’s listed as being at 219 W. Main St., which would be across the street from the mill and sign.
But artist’s renderings show it encompassing both sides of the road, including the mill property (seen above).
Based on that, it’s not clear whether the mill or sign would be preserved.
The Yukon’s Best elevator remains the tallest structure in the city. The “Yukon’s Best Flour” sign on top of the elevator was restored in 2013 after a $175,000 fundraiser.
According to an article in The Oklahoman newspaper, the mill structure in Yukon was built in 1916. The Kroutil brothers produced Yukon’s Best Flour and other products until about 1970, when they sold the operation to competing Shawnee Milling Co. The mill closed two years later.
UPDATE 2/1/2021: Another Oklahoma City station did a follow-up on the story. Key excerpt:
News 9 reached out to the out-of-state developer of the project, who is a Yukon native, but did not hear back. In a statement they said there are no plans to tear down the flour mill.
However, the current tenant of the mill, Justin Harvey, with Harvey Lawn and Landscape said they have been given notice to move out, and there is a contract for the building set to close in October.
(Image of Yukon’s Best Flour sign courtesy of Rick Martin; artist’s rendering of one of the Yukon Technology Center section via Loopnet.com)
What does Jones mean by “Jones told FOX 25 that the project, assuming it goes through in its current form, will bring in excess of $100 million to Yukon”? “$100 million” to build? “$100 million” in the supposed value of the new buildings if sold at current property prices? “$100 million” in new business to the town? New business which the town has not said it wants? It looks like someone out to make a very fast, very big buck for himself – at other people’s expense, and loss: the hallmark of so-called ‘developers’ – destroyers? – worldwide. Whose ear in the Yukon town council has he bent? And how?
Reading “The Kroutil brothers produced Yukon’s Best Flour and other products until about 1970, when they sold the operation to competing Shawnee Milling Co. The mill closed two years later” suggests a previous bad deal for Yukon. Jones’s sounds like another.
OH NOOOO!
Landmarks such as this along Route 66 can never be replaced. If the building is not in a hazardous condition, every means available to save it should be used. Ask all the towns along 66 who have lost their landmarks ( their identity in many instances ) if they wish that they could reverse their loss of landmarks and you likely would get a resounding YES ! Yukon’s Flour Mill IS history and an identifying landmark for the city and the Mother Road and should be saved. There are so many new structures going up everywhere, many sitting empty…. We don’t need to lose our history to fill someone’s pockets….