I'm glad you asked, its a mess on the inside. I'm a strong advocate of saving buildings, but this one will take a lot of work inside and out to restore.
Click here --> http://www.abandonedok.com/abundant-life-building/ (http://www.abandonedok.com/abundant-life-building/)
I work over in Mapco Plaza, so I'm sharing this with all of my co-workers. Very cool.
Can we fly Oral back from CA and have him lay hands on it?
Creepy. How long has the ALB been vacant now?
Quote from: Townsend on May 11, 2010, 08:55:41 AM
Can we fly Oral back from CA and have him lay hands on it?
Just as soon as he wakes up from his dirt nap.
Quote from: Conan71 on May 11, 2010, 08:58:29 AM
Just as soon as he wakes up from his dirt nap.
Wait, the power stops flowing after he kicks it?
Maybe we can fly the owner of the Tulsa Club building back from CA and get our hands on him then.
Quote from: Townsend on May 11, 2010, 09:06:42 AM
Wait, the power stops flowing after he kicks it?
Maybe we can fly the owner of the Tulsa Club building back from CA and get our hands on him then.
Hey, how bout we keep the convo about the building instead of flappin your cynical gums about Oral Roberts.
Quote from: Conan71 on May 11, 2010, 08:58:00 AM
Creepy. How long has the ALB been vacant now?
I believe Southwestern Bell (the second owner) abandoned the place in the 80's sometime. It hasnt been put to use since then.
I think Fiend and friends need to go in Tulsa Club.. not like it's secure or anything.
Quote from: Fiend on May 11, 2010, 09:22:01 AM
Hey, how bout we keep the convo about the building instead of flappin your cynical gums about Oral Roberts.
That's swell. What've you got to say about it?
How did anyone ever think that building was nice? Even in its prime, it was butt ugly. Between this, the towers out south, and the ORU campus in general, Oral may go down as having the worst taste of all time.
Quote from: Fiend on May 11, 2010, 09:22:01 AM
Hey, how bout we keep the convo about the building instead of flappin your cynical gums about Oral Roberts.
Relax, Tulsa Now could use a little Oral every now and then. Keeps Tulsa back to our roots.
Quote from: DowntownDan on May 11, 2010, 09:24:51 AM
How did anyone ever think that building was nice? Even in its prime, it was butt ugly. Between this, the towers out south, and the ORU campus in general, Oral may go down as having the worst taste of all time.
There are people who appreciate the architecture style. It's not everyone's cup 'o tea for sure, though. When I was looking at the retrospective photos of the construction that Fiend posted, I couldn't help but wonder what those neighbors in the craftsmen houses were thinking as this building was being finished out. Quite a contrast to the 'hood.
Quote from: Conan71 on May 11, 2010, 09:27:51 AM
Quite a contrast to the 'hood.
Too bad there weren't any web forums so people could complain it. :P
What do you call 5 gay guys named Bob.....
Quote from: Conan71 on May 11, 2010, 09:27:51 AM
There are people who appreciate the architecture style. It's not everyone's cup 'o tea for sure, thought. When I was looking at the retrospective photos of the construction that Fiend posted, I couldn't help but wonder what those neighbors in the craftsmen houses were thinking as this building was being finished out. Quite a contrast to the 'hood.
There are a couple of beautiful houses to the West of it. The back of the building is even uglier than the front and their backyards face that steaming pile. The owners must've been so happy to have Oral as a neighbor.
Quote from: Breadburner on May 11, 2010, 09:30:36 AM
What do you call 5 gay guys named Bob.....
A republican convention denouncing gay marriage?
Quote from: sgrizzle on May 11, 2010, 09:23:14 AM
I think Fiend and friends need to go in Tulsa Club.. not like it's secure or anything.
I've been in the Tulsa Club dozens of times, I have well over a thousand pictures of it. Its in worse condition every time I visit it :'(
Quote from: Townsend on May 11, 2010, 09:23:55 AM
That's swell. What've you got to say about it?
Ugh, I'm not trying to start anything here. I just dont put up with people talking smack about a Oral Roberts, yes lets talk about him, but dont mock him and what he stood for.
Quote from: Fiend on May 11, 2010, 09:32:47 AM
I've been in the Tulsa Club dozens of times, I have well over a thousand pictures of it. Its in worse condition every time I visit it :'(
Ugh, I'm not trying to start anything here. I just dont put up with people talking smack about a Oral Roberts, yes lets talk about him, but dont mock him and what he stood for.
I have to say, old vacant buildings give me the heebees big time. I appreciate there are people like you who can document this. I get asked to go in and inspect mechanical rooms which have been dormant for awhile and it makes the hair stand up on my neck. No idea why.
Quote from: Fiend on May 11, 2010, 09:32:47 AM
Ugh, I'm not trying to start anything here. I just dont put up with people talking smack about a Oral Roberts, yes lets talk about him, but dont mock him and what he stood for.
That's a big can of worms that shouldn't be opened on this thread, you're right.
Is there any reason to save this building?
Quote from: Conan71 on May 11, 2010, 09:34:45 AM
I have to say, old vacant buildings give me the heebees big time. I appreciate there are people like you who can document this. I get asked to go in and inspect mechanical rooms which have been dormant for awhile and it makes the hair stand up on my neck. No idea why.
Thanks! The Abundant Life building is the ONLY place I had to go with a buddy in, even with someone with me, I did not like the place. It reminded me of "the hive" in Resident Evil".
Quote from: Conan71 on May 11, 2010, 09:27:51 AM
There are people who appreciate the architecture style. It's not everyone's cup 'o tea for sure, though. When I was looking at the retrospective photos of the construction that Fiend posted, I couldn't help but wonder what those neighbors in the craftsmen houses were thinking as this building was being finished out. Quite a contrast to the 'hood.
I suppose someone had to have liked it at some point. But the lack of windows would be the first red flag. Of the many nice buildings that have been unfortunately bulldozed in this town, this is not one I would cry over to see it go, unless someone could come up with some worthwhile plan to renovate it (and add windows perhaps?).
Quote from: Townsend on May 11, 2010, 09:35:25 AM
Is there any reason to save this building?
Yes, but only if there is someone with enough money and creativity to turn it into something nice again. Just because a building is "ugly" or in bad very bad shape, doesnt mean we should not try everything we can to save it. Thats why so many buildings in downtown Tulsa are gone, people thought they were just "old" and "ugly" and didnt want to save them. 10-20 years from now that type of architecture could become mainstream again, just like how art deco is now being preserved as compared to the 60's and 70's when art deco buildings were cast aside in Tulsa.
There was a water line in the basement that was about 3 or so feet high, so that place is full of mold. It will have to be completely gutted if it is to be saved.
Quote from: DowntownDan on May 11, 2010, 09:40:07 AM
I suppose someone had to have liked it at some point. But the lack of windows would be the first red flag. Of the many nice buildings that have been unfortunately bulldozed in this town, this is not one I would cry over to see it go, unless someone could come up with some worthwhile plan to renovate it (and add windows perhaps?).
I've heard "Call center, bowling alley, and movie theater".
Quote from: DowntownDan on May 11, 2010, 09:40:07 AM
I suppose someone had to have liked it at some point. But the lack of windows would be the first red flag. Of the many nice buildings that have been unfortunately bulldozed in this town, this is not one I would cry over to see it go, unless someone could come up with some worthwhile plan to renovate it (and add windows perhaps?).
I consider myself a fan of modernist and mid-century architecture, but I would not shed a tear if this blight got knocked down. I've not really heard much of a protest from others I know who like the style. I'd be curious to know what Hoodlum thinks of the building.
Quote from: Townsend on May 11, 2010, 09:45:01 AM
I've heard "Call center, bowling alley, and movie theater".
Combine them. Live-operator version of moviefone staffed by bowlers.
I really like the idea of a movie theater and bowling alley. Make it into a giant acard like place. There is nothing like that in the area, downtown doesnt even have a movie theater!
There is a bowling alley coming though.
I'm also a fan of preserving architecture but this building needs to be destroyed, and should have NEVER been built in the first place. Tearing out all of those old houses along tree-lined Boulder for this is the same, in my mind, as someone building that tacky house on 25th. Tear it down and build townhouses along Boulder in its place, restoring some of the residential character to that neighborhood. Riverview could be one of the most desirable neighborhoods in Tulsa but the parking lots and Abundant Life on its eastern edge are big turn-offs for lots of people. Something like these condos would be better along that stretch of Boulder:
(http://www.denverinfill.com/images/redev/cpv_north/11_delgany4.jpg)
As you can see from this Abandoned OK pic taken from the roof, there are great skyline views to the north:
(http://www.abandonedok.com/wp-content/gallery/abundant-life/mini-sdc14339.jpg)
Here are some pictures of Boulder between 15th and 21st before Liberty Towers and the ALB
Boulder was nicknamed "millionaires row" at the time.
Several important mansions were destroyed in the area (ex:The Sinclair) to make room for the ALB, in fact the Council Oak tree was nearly removed until the Veasey family and the girl scouts made people aware of its significance to Tulsa and saved it.
My opinion of the ALB: Save it or demolish it but do something already. The views of Downtown and the park are great.
(http://riverviewtulsa.com/images/kendallabrum001.jpg)
From 1921 Kendallabrum
(http://riverviewtulsa.com/images/kendallabrum004.jpg)
(http://riverviewtulsa.com/images/img133.gif)
(http://riverviewtulsa.com/images/millionare.bmp)
These two would have been where Boulder Towers is now
(http://riverviewtulsa.com/images/ashby1421boulder.bmp)
ASHBY 1421 S Boulder
(http://riverviewtulsa.com/images/crosbie1437boulder.bmp)
Crosbie 1437 S Boulder
Quote from: Conan71 on May 11, 2010, 08:58:00 AM
Creepy. How long has the ALB been vacant now?
SWB left the building when the Bell System was broken up in '83 or '84.
This picture from Fiend's collection interests me because I've seen it in other buildings in downtown, where the hang a drop ceiling from the original ceiling. The first time was either in the Kennedy Building or the Atlas Life Building. I was cabling a data network and stuck my head up through a ceiling tile and found that the old ornate ceiling and light fixtures where hidden behind it. It was sad to see the old stuff ignored.
(http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p309/kallsop2/mini-sdc14335.jpg)
Quote from: dbacks fan on May 11, 2010, 12:58:16 PM
I was cabling a data network and stuck my head up through a ceiling tile and found that the old ornate ceiling and light fixtures where hidden behind it.
Having previously done a lot of work for nonprofits, who usually find themselves in ancient buildings thanks to low rents, I can't count the number of times I've seen that.
As far as the building goes, it is one of the few that I'm relatively ambivalent about. It would be nice if it could be saved and turned into something interesting for the neighborhood. Obviously, it couldn't be residential, but one could put a small market in the lower floors (although putting in new doors and windows would be a terrible nightmare) and add a rooftop restaurant or something.
It could make a great data center, had it not been left to rot completely unmaintained.
The main reason I'd like to see it remain is that it is unique.
The current owner was not fined like the Tulsa Club building owner because he promised he was doing something with it...
Lookin' good
Quote from: nathanm on May 11, 2010, 03:54:37 PM
Having previously done a lot of work for nonprofits,
I went broke owning a string of non-profit businesses. No matter what I did, they were unprofitable.
I'd say it's gone from Abundant Life to Rotting Death.