The plan to consolidate Tulsa’s public safety administration into a new headquarters building will cost far more than originally projected, as rising costs of renovations are now estimated to be at least $10 million above the budget.
The City of Tulsa purchased the former State Farm Regional Headquarters building last year, using $45.5 million approved by voters for that purpose, with an expected $15 million renovation budget included.
Final Design, Costs Expected Soon
Public Safety Commissioner Laurel Roberts told Tulsa City Councilors on Wednesday that the project is in the final design phase, but it’s clear now that it will cost millions more to renovate the building that was sold to the city and taxpayers as essentially ready to move in.
Councilors Frustrated by Unexpected Costs
Councilor Christian Bengel was frustrated by the news, telling fellow councilors, “This was sold to us as a turn-key operation. So when we toured this building, it was nice. We were told to us it was maintained as if it was occupied. We weren’t told about structural needs. None of this was said. It was basically presented as minor engineering changes, like moving walls, to create spaces.”…