TULSA, Okla. — The Tulsa County Treasurer's Office said the owners of the Promenade Mall paid some of the owed taxes, pulling the property off the auction block for now.
The once-popular shopping spot was taken over by an absent owner, which, in turn, turned the mall into a haven for trespassers and vandals.
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The Tulsa County Treasurer’s Office told 2 News that the owner, Mike Kohan of Kohan Retail Investment Group, was three years behind on taxes.
As of May 8, Kohan owed $799,788.50 for 2021-2024 taxes. Kohan paid the taxes from 2021 on June 4, which removed the property from the auction list for this year.
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Meanwhile, the City of Tulsa continues daily monitoring to make sure the doors stay secured. Brant Pitchford, Code Enforcement Manager, said that if there is probable cause for criminal activity, his staff could go inside to inspect the property. However, they would be reluctant to do that because it is a safety issue.
“Such a vast, big space, there would be numerous places to hide,” Pitchford explained. “Even TPD (Tulsa Police Department) with K-9 would be reluctant to clear the space just because someone is inside of it.”
The City of Tulsa deemed the mall's core “unfit for human occupancy” due to many safety issues. There is no water or fire suppression system. Fighting a fire inside would be very difficult. The inadequate suppression system is why the mall closed in 2023. The owner chose not to fix the problem.
Pitchford said that’s the last time city officials were in regular contact with Kohan.
“We had good communication, or some communication,” he said. “Since then, it’s been non-existent.”
Kohan does not answer calls from 2 News, either. Pitchford said fines are not an option.
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“The City of Tulsa has no administrative fine process,” he said. “If we ever had to secure the property or do physical abatement, they would be billed for the cost of abatement, plus a $300 administrative fee.”
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