A large Route 66-themed development, the Palmera Motor Court, near the Arkansas River in Tulsa appears to be in limbo.
The Tulsa World reported last week:
The Mayor’s Office did not respond directly when asked whether the city plans to move forward with a proposal from Sharp Development to build a hotel, restaurant and poolside bar at the site.
In an email response, a city spokesperson said there has not been movement on the project and that the city has yet to sign a development agreement with Sharp Development. No explanation was provided.
Brian Elliott with Sharp Development declined to comment Thursday morning except to say the company has not been informed by the city of any change in plans.
District 4 City Councilor Laura Bellis told the newspaper she believed city officials were considering the budget implications of the development.
The city is providing $6.5 million for the development of the site at Riverside Drive and Cry Baby Hill. The funding sources are $2.3 million from Vision 2025 and $4.2 million from the city’s 2006 sales tax package.
Cry Baby Hill is a key site at the annual Tulsa Tough bicycle racing festival, where the city chose a much-discussed “Cry Baby Cry” sculpture design at the hill.
The city has tried for almost 20 years to develop the site — including the ambitious Route 66 Experience museum and hotel project.
But they kept falling through for varying reasons, mainly lack of funding.
(Artist’s rendering of the proposed Route 66 development in Tulsa by Sharp Development)