When the Tulsa Development Authority voted unanimously earlier this month to accept Brickhugger LLC’s proposal to redevelop the former City Hall complex, the board took the best action possible to keep the the momentum of revitalization surging in downtown. Owned and operated by the Synder family, Brickhugger is responsible for the recently completed renovation of the Mayo Hotel. Brickhugger emerged in March to make a $1 million offer on the property, which has been vacant since city operations moved to One Technology Center in 2008. The final offer was $1.2 million. Brickhugger’s plans for the site include a 200-room convention hotel in the old City Hall building, as well as 60,000 SF of retail space in buildings surrounding the hotel. Brickhugger co-owner Macy Snyder said the group also plans to build a restaurant and conference center in the old city council chambers and extend Fifth Street to the convention center. There will always be the naysayers. Some would argue the city should have held out for a higher offer, but with the annual cost of simply maintaining the complex estimated around $600,000 and not a single developer emerging to offer a higher price, we are glad to have the project off the city’s balance sheet. And don’t forget, that $1.2 million is just the beginning as far as Brickhugger’s investment is concerned. The company is going to pour nearly $30 million into the property, with plans to transform a vacant cash sink into a thriving, tax-producing hotel and retail center. Most importantly, we think the Snyders are a group with the vision and commitment to Tulsa to get the job done. The building isn’t in particularly good shape, but then neither was the Mayo Hotel when the family took over, and now it is widely touted as one of downtown’s foremost success stories.