Frank Lloyd Write was probably the most famous architects in the US.
Many of his homes are designated as history landmarks.
The Price Towers is one of the few remaining commercial buildings that he designed and it is rare for many reasons. The management is now in
financial chaos. Employee layoffs. Uncertain future, but possible demolition and resale of the property. I may be biased, but this is a true historical landmark and it must be preserved.
Many of his homes are designated as history landmarks.
The Price Towers is one of the few remaining commercial buildings that he designed and it is rare for many reasons. The management is now in
financial chaos. Employee layoffs. Uncertain future, but possible demolition and resale of the property. I may be biased, but this is a true historical landmark and it must be preserved.
Price Tower to close: Tenants evicted, employees laid off amid financial chaos
Frank Lloyd Wright's Price Tower to close in 30 days as scandals and debt force tenants out and employees to lose jobs, marking the end of an era.
www.examiner-enterprise.com
Price Tower to close: Tenants evicted, employees laid off amid financial chaos
In 30 days, Frank Lloyd Wright's Price Tower will dim as tenants are forced out and employees are laid off, marking the end of an era for this architectural masterpiece.
Ownership of the Bartlesville icon by Cynthia and Anthem Blanchard has spiraled into a storm of scandals, legal disputes, and financial chaos — ironically bringing about the very outcome the Price Tower Arts Center aimed to prevent.
With the inn shut down, former Tower employees confirmed they were laid off on Thursday and hope to receive their last paycheck, but the outcome looks dark.
With employees searching for new employment, the current commercial tenants are scrambling to find new office space.
"It's sad; we have been one of the longest-running tenants up there," said Keith McPhail, director of sales and marketing for Bartlesville Monthly Magazine. "We hate to see chains on the door of one of the best buildings in the world."
McPhail said they have till the end of the month to move their offices out of the Tower and find alternative space.
"All those magazines on the walls of the office, there is just so much history there — we are just sad," he added.
Despite making appearances on other news outlets, the Blanchards have consistently ignored multiple requests to comment on the Examiner-Enterprise's reporting over the past four months.
For the last four months, the Blanchards have reportedly been courting potential buyers for the Tower to prevent the closure but failed to secure a deal.
According to a former Tower employee, the Tower is over $2 million in debt, which includes the former nonprofit initial $600,000 debt, Cynthia Blanchard's $180,000 a year salary, over $200,000 to other equity owners, various private loans made by members of the community and a handful of outstanding bills to utility companies and vendors.
With a reported sale price of over $4 million, the Blanchards would net approximately $2 million for themselves.