Fire destroyed America’s Value Inn in Tulsa on Saturday, the second Route 66 motel in a month to fall victim to such a calamity.
The fires also were near the historic Brookshire Motel, which barely a year ago also was heavily damaged by a blaze.
The three fires have one thing in common — vacant properties that authorities believe vagrants broke inside and started a fire to keep warm.
Fox23 in Tulsa reported:
Investigators say the America’s Value Inn near 11th and Mingo caught fire most likely by someone intentionally — but not maliciously — starting a fire inside the building’s laundry room.
Saturday’s fire came a month after the Economy Inn near 11th and Garnett caught fire. […]
The Tulsa Route 66 Commission says they are working to revitalize that part of Route 66, just like they have in the Pearl District, but say they need some help.
They say the city does not have the funds to “raise” these vacant properties right now, so they are trying to bring in developers/investors who are willing to buy the buildings, tear them down and start over.
They say as long as we have the vacant buildings, this is going to keep happening.
It also doesn’t help that all three properties lie in economically distressed areas that make it more unlikely anyone would want to invest in them, historic or not.
America’s Value Inn at 10115 E. 11th St. (aka Route 66) once was the Saratoga Motor Hotel, according to a 1950s-era postcard of the site. The Googie sign was repurposed when the motel changed its name years later.
Route66Times.com reported “it was a 85-unit that advertised free TV and continuous hi-fi music.”
(Google Street View excerpt of America’s Value Inn sign in Tulsa in 2011; an image of the Saratoga Motor Hotel in Tulsa courtesy of 66postcards.com)
The choice seems to be between carelessness and arson. This week, here in the UK, three boys broke into a vacant shop (not abandoned, just empty after the departure of the last tenant) and smashed it up before setting it on fire.
As for, “They say the city does not have the funds to “raise” these vacant properties right now, so they are trying to bring in developers/investors who are willing to buy the buildings, tear them down and start over”, I take it there is not the money to “raze” the empty buildings.
The city of Tulsa needs to invest before expecting developers to invest.
David – I am reminded of the mayor of New York who said to improve an area, first mend the broken windows. The first appearance of a building or street meant treating it with respect. If a building looks as if it belongs to nobody, then anybody can lay claim to it. But how should those who run Tulsa deal with empty property that is no longer commercially viable? And with the area such property is in? Surely there is a limited number of empty ‘historic’ buildings that can be ‘saved’. Malicious arson for the purpose of buying the remains cheaply for demolition, and then erecting a totally new building is not uncommon.