The city of Broken Arrow learned Monday that Hansen-Mueller had awarded the city ownership of the shuttered grain elevator downtown after an auction held Friday.
The city simultaneously bid $250,000 on the structure at the same exact time as another unknown bidder. After the Hansen-Mueller board of directors met Friday and discussed the matter, a representative of the company notified the city that its bid was accepted. The bid from the other prospective buyer was rejected.
“This is incredibly exciting news for Broken Arrow and the citizens who work and live in BA,” City Manager Michael Spurgeon said in a statement Monday. “The grain elevator has become an iconic image standing tall over downtown Broken Arrow, and therefore, the City Council and I felt it was vital to acquire the towers to preserve the historical and cultural character of our community for future generations.”
The City Council recently gave staff permission to negotiate for the purchase of the elevator for a “reasonable price.”
Tax records show Hansen-Mueller purchased the grain elevator from Farmers Cooperative in 2005 for $235,000. The current fair market value of the property is $21,800 according to the Tulsa County Assessor, and Hansen-Muller was paying about $300 in taxes annually on the property.
Since the Sentinel reported the 158-foot-tall structure – affectionally named by some residents as ‘Mac’ — was the subject of an online auction on April 18, many residents have expressed concern that it could be moved or torn down.
They’ve also provided a number of ideas on what could be done with the elevator if the funding and support was there.
The city said Monday its interest in the property has been focused solely on acquiring it for preservation purposes and there is no immediate plan for the structure. Aaron McColloch, Communications Director, said the purchase will likely go before the Broken Arrow Economic Development Authority at a future meeting.
Farmers Co-Op came to Broken Arrow in 1942, succeeding BA Milling Co. and in 1962 the current grain elevator was built with the Farmers Co-Op branding on it, says The Museum Broken Arrow.
There has been speculation that Born Again Restored, a local business that restores older homes, was the other bidder. But co-founder Nick Parker declined to confirm or deny that, as did the auction firm DPA Auctions.
Parker and his wife, Jaime, had posted pictures on the company’s Facebook page April 12 of them touring the grain tower in beekeeper suites due to insect activity inside. They had posted a question on the page asking followers what should be done with the structure.
“The goal was to preserve the property. We are happy that the grain elevator will not be torn down,” Parker said Monday.
Steve Avila says
Wall climb with slide down inside with a dome restaurant/cafeteria/snack bar for people to enjoy the clinb of family and drink coffee soda and snacks maybe with food trucks outside for farmers market paint the mill outside BA black and gold