Future of Temple Israel Looking Brighter Bleak

Update: 01/28/09 - NewsOn6 has an update on the building and it doesn't sound good.
"...investigators visited the scene Wednesday and determined the building has no internal structural components in tact or reliable enough to prevent a collapse of the exterior walls."

Update: 01/27/09 - On 01/27/09 at 3am, the former Temple building caught fire. It's suspected that some homeless started a fire to keep warm during the ice storm last night, and it got out of control. Firefighters at the scene say that it's too dangerous to enter the building. No one is believed to be hurt.
[Ch 2 News]
[Newson6]
[Tulsa World]
My heart goes out to the developer who was attempting to restore this building and to all the Tulsans who were looking forward to seeing it finally happen.


Still burning around 4pm 01/27/09. Photo by Gold from TulsaNow Forum.

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According to this NewsOn6.com article, the long vacated "Temple Israel" building is to be restored and turned into a community arts center. Sitting on the corner of 14th and Cheyenne since 1910, Tulsa's first synagogue has been abandoned for years. It's the last of the early synagogues left standing in Tulsa. The new owner, Kevin Stephens, has hopes of having the building placed on the National Historic Registry and using it's auditorium for dance, theater and visual arts performances. This project could really bring new life to this neighborhood and rescue a decaying Tulsa landmark from demolition. Win/Win.


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Top photo copyright Dan Watson.

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