The executive director of a historic preservation nonprofit says he will not appeal a decision to demolish a historic downtown theater complex.
Preservation Oklahoma executive director David Pettyjohn says he's disappointed the Oklahoma City Board of Adjustment voted to sustain the decision by the Downtown Design Review Committee to demolish the Stage Center, but he won't appeal the decision.
Pettyjohn appealed the design review committee decision earlier, saying it violated city ordinances requiring that historic preservation solutions be vetted.
Stage Center was originally built as Mummers Theater in 1970 by noted architect John Johanson, a student of Frank Lloyd Wright.
Oklahoma City-based Kestrel Investments, Inc. announced last year it purchased the complex for $4.275 million. It plans to destroy it and build a multi-story office building and parking garage.
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