Mar. 3--The Tulsa World has learned that the Atlas Life Building was purchased by a local hotel developer, SJS Hospitality.

Jeff Hartman, SJS' local operating partner, will make a public announcement about the purchase and plans for the downtown property at 2 p.m. Monday, according to information from the company. Mayor Kathy Taylor is scheduled to introduce Hartman.

The World reported Saturday that the landmark building had been sold. Sources within the building indicated that it would be turned into a boutique hotel under one of the Marriott brands.

The Atlas Life Building, 415 S. Boston Ave., had been part of the 2.2 million square feet of downtown Tulsa office space purchased in 2005-06 by Maurice Kanbar, a San Francisco inventor and philanthropist.

SJS Hospitality confirmed that it had purchased the building but did not disclose a price or specify what brand of hotel would take over the space.

Tenants received a letter Friday from Kanbar Properties about the sale. The letter, signed by the property's manager, Toni Strength, notified tenants that they would need to vacate by June 1 to make way for a construction project.

Kanbar

Properties, a local company formed to manage Kanbar's buildings, offered tenants the opportunity to move to another building within its portfolio.

Officials at Kanbar Properties and Marriott were unavailable for comment.

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