Frank Lloyd Wright’s iconic Price Tower, which was recently pulled from the auction block, faces an uncertain future amid ongoing legal proceedings.
The building is shuttered, tours are cancelled, and the organization charged with protecting the historic landmark has lawyered up.
The Frank Lloyd Wright Building Conservancy filed a legal response to a lawsuit initiated by the owners of the historic building earlier this year.
In its legal response filed Thursday, Dec. 12 in the District Court of Washington County, Okla., the conservancy defends the validity of a preservation easement that the organization maintains with the building’s owners. The response also includes counterclaims against the owners, Green Copper Holdings, LLC, Copper Tree, Inc., and Cynthia Blanchard, citing breaches of the easement stemming from the owners selling artifacts from the building’s collection, unjust enrichment, and a request for declaratory and injunctive relief to prevent further dispersion of items from the tower.
“Easements are a critical tool for the preservation of American cultural heritage,” stated Safina Uberoi, president of the conservancy’s board. “We are defending our easement on Price Tower to preserve the integrity of Wright’s design, so it can continue to serve as a source of inspiration for future generations.”
The Conservancy reinforced its legal team with the addition of Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP, which joins Crowe & Dunlevy in providing pro bono representation.
In October, the Price Tower owners filed a lawsuit aiming to nullify a preservation easement held by the conservancy since 2011. This easement not only safeguards the physical structure of Price Tower but also its curated collection of Wright-designed furnishings and artwork. The plaintiffs’ suit demands the voiding of this easement and an injunction to halt the conservancy’s advocacy for its enforcement.
The legal matters have apparently complicated a planned auction of the building which was on the block with bids starting at $600,000. At one point, the owner of Tulsa’s Mayo Hotel was interested as an investor but that deal fell through, according to a local news report.
As the legal proceedings unfold, this case could set precedents for how preservation easements are upheld and enforced. For now, the conservancy remains steadfast in its commitment, drawing on the support of the legal community and preservation advocates to defend a piece of architectural history.
