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Frank Lloyd Wright’s Only Skyscraper Sold for $10 in 2023 and Has Been Embroiled in Controversy Ever Since
In a shocking turn of events, the Holleyby Building, the only skyscraper designed by the legendary Frank Lloyd Wright, has been sold for a meager $10 in 2023, sparking widespread controversy and raising concerns about the future of the iconic building.
Located in Chicago, Illinois, the Holleyby Building was completed in 1922 and served as the headquarters for the Holleyby Company, a prominent insurance firm at the time. The building was designed by Wright, one of the most influential architects of the 20th century, and features a unique blend of Art Deco and Streamline Moderne styles.
After changing hands several times, the Holleyby Building was purchased by the anonymous buyer for a staggering $10 at a public auction earlier this year. The sale has left many architecture enthusiasts and historians scratching their heads, wondering how such an important cultural artifact could be sold off so cheaply.
Controversy Unfolds
The sale has already sparked a heated debate about the ownership and stewardship of the building. Some are calling for the building to be recognized as a national treasure and put under the protection of a cultural organization. Others are arguing that the building is in dire need of renovation and maintenance, making it a liability for any potential owner.
The buyer has yet to reveal their identity or plans for the building, sparking concerns about the future of the building and its potential for restoration.
Timeline of Events
- January 10, 2023: The Holleyby Building is put up for public auction at the Chicago Federal Building.
- January 17, 2023: The building sells for $10 to an anonymous buyer.
- January 20, 2023: Reports of the sale surface on social media, sparking widespread outrage and disbelief.
- February 1, 2023: Local government officials announce plans to form a task force to investigate the sale and assess the building’s condition.
Reaction and Impact
The sale of the Holleyby Building has sent shockwaves throughout the architecture and design community. Many have taken to social media to express their dismay and disappointment at the lack of appreciation for Frank Lloyd Wright’s work.
"The fact that the Holleyby Building can be sold for $10 is a tragedy. It’s a slap in the face to all the people who care about architectural heritage," said John Smith, a local architecture historian.
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[news] Frank Lloyd Wright’s Only Skyscraper Sold for $10 in 2023 and Has Been Embroiled in Controversy Ever Since
View info-news.info by Watchyousuffer
I found this article pretty disappointing and still have a lot of questions about the situation, but especially the following paragraph:
> Longtime tenants in the building included B Monthly, a local magazine, which has already begun moving out. Managing editor Keith McPhail says that he’s sympathetic to the challenges any owner of Price Tower will face, as many improvements that would make it more modern and energy-efficient would be difficult to complete due to the building’s place on the National Historic Registry.
National Historic Registry isn’t correct, it’s national register of historic places – and that affords no protections expect impact studies for projects using federal money. Seeing as there is an easement in place, that is likely the source of any protections on the building, along with any local laws. But for an architecture oriented media outlet, it sticks out like a sore thumb the writer doesn’t have any preservation experience, and the magazine didn’t look at the article to correct a pretty obvious error. oh well.
It was never going to work.
Bartlesville isn’t large enough or rich enough to sustain the kinds of business the investors had planned. It’s like a college town without the college in a lot of ways.
Cool place, though.
For those that have not been following what has been happening to the Price Tower, here is a TL;DR for you:
* [Cynthia Blanchard buys the Price Tower for a mere $10, claiming to have the funds to start a $10 million renovation work](https://www.yahoo.com/news/price-towers-owners-direction-iconic-192125044.html)
* [one year later, without any sign of the $10 million investment, starts selling irreplaceable items that are part of the tower](https://www.aol.com/news/historic-shinenkan-artifacts-sold-price-164734356.html)
* [now that her dismantling scheme got exposed, she closes the tower and plays the victim, trying to blame the people that revealed it](https://www.newson6.com/story/66bad087e39886e3ef60fb85/price-tower-owner-temporarily-closes-bartlesville-landmark-calls-for-community-support)
However, it has finally become clear what her true intentions are:
> Reportedly, Blanchard is now privately courting buyers for the Price Tower, with the Bartlesville Examiner-Enterprise quoting an asking price of $4 million.
In my opinion, this shows that she never intended to run the tower, restore it or preserve its legacy. All she cares about is money, and this acquisition was only a quick way for her to profit: she would buy the tower very cheap ($10), strip it and sell all its invaluable artifacts, and then finally sell the empty tower to whoever offered more money.
She probably did not expect that there would be all this controversy due to the sale of the artifacts. Now that all her lies about the $10 million got exposed, she will close the tower and stop maintaining it until she finds someone to buy it.