City Opens Up Bids For Demolition Of Dilapidated Apartment Complex

They've been a dangerous eyesore for years, but at Tuesday morning's city council meeting, Oklahoma City said enough is enough.

The city opened up bids to contractors to demolish the Lantana Apartments on NW 10 Street. 

The bids were opened for contracts above $25,000. A presentation was given on tearing down seven out of the 18 total apartment buildings on the property.

“They're clearly abandoned and deteriorated and they're unsafe,” said Oklahoma City acting planning director Bob Tener.

After being condemned in 2008, the Lantana Apartments have made a name for themselves. The buildings have been set on fire nearly 20 times and have been the back drop for dozens of crimes including two shootings.

To demolish the entire complex would cost about $1.3 million dollars.

Oklahoma City only has around $500,000 set aside for commercial demolition, Tener said.

All of those funds could go towards the demolition of the burned out buildings, which Tener estimated could cost between $250,000 to $500,000.

The apartment complex's owner still has more than $31,000 in liens against the apartments and has had a history of doing the bare minimum to prevent the city from demolishing.

That owner, who lives in California, could still save the remaining 11 buildings, but would have to come up a plan. Even then the city doesn't have to agree to it.

“If this presentation today got his attention, he comes in and proposes some redevelopment plan we'll definitely listen to that,” Tener said. “[U]ltimately that property needs to be repaired and made safe.”

Those around the complex say they’re just happy something is being done by the city to rid their block of the eyesore property.

“It is very good news that the City of Oklahoma City is taking proactive steps to remove the Lantana Apartment Complex," Western Heights School District Superintendent Joe Kitchens. "We have been very concerned with the potential health and safety risks that these apartments present to our students, staff and the community at large.”

Western Heights elementary school Greenvale Elementary is across the street from the dilapidated apartments.