TULSA -- North Tulsa residents are voicing their concerns after learning about a proposed urban renewal plan which the Tulsa City Council is set to vote on tomorrow evening.
Amley Floyd has lived near Lacy Park in North Tulsa for nearly four decades.
"Let us know what we can do to improve our properties so we can be able to stay here," said Floyd.
He's one of the residents in North Tulsa worried about a proposed plan through the Tulsa Development Authority (TDA), which he says many elderly residents didn't know about.
"I don’t have access to the web pages and stuff where they have this information on," said Floyd.
In the Greenwood-Unity Heritage Neighborhoods Sector Urban Renewal Plan, TDA has the authority to acquire blighted properties, and use eminent domain in an effort to improve development.
"Our lives are here, we can’t afford to relocate, there’s no more suitable housing in North Tulsa that we can move into," said Floyd.
While residents living in the mapped out area of the plan are worried for the future of their neighborhoods, members of TDA say it's not their mission to destroy communities.
"There's nothing afoot to go in and wipe out every property that’s declared blighted whatsoever," said O.C. Walker, Executive Director of TDA.
Walker says condemning homes is their absolute last option, but with their study showing more than 2,000 homes vacant, and nearly another 100 in very poor condition, he says something needs to be done.
"We want improvement, but we want to benefit from the improvement, I just think the process should be a little bit more visible to everybody," said Floyd.
The Greenwood-Unity Heritage Neighborhoods Plan boundary is primarily I-244 on the south, Tisdale Expressway and Osage Drive on the west, Gilcrease Expressway on the north and the east boundary starting with Lewis Avenue between Gilcrease Expressway and Highway 75, and following the north side of the Highway 75 right-of-way to the south boundary of I-244.
The first public hearing was held two weeks ago, and the second one is scheduled for Wednesday at 5 p.m. during the City Council meeting where after public comments, they will vote on the proposal.
You can read the full proposal here.
Stay in touch with us anytime, anywhere.
Download our free app for Apple and Android and Kindle devices.
Sign up for newsletters emailed to your inbox. Select from these options: Breaking News, Severe Weather, School Closings, Daily Headlines and Daily Forecasts.
