Aaron Darden
Driving down Southwest Boulevard and 23rd Street is a surreal experience these days. What was once a vision – an idea – is now reality, with the completion of Tulsa’s first intentional mixed-income community at River West.
Being able to drive down new streets that lead to beautiful new apartments, with a new city park at the center, a new YMCA next door, the new (first) sit-down restaurant across the street, and witnessing the evolution of the new Montessori program at Eugene Field Elementary is incredible.
What I love most is seeing our River West residents enjoying their home, swimming in the community pool, and playing at Celebration Park. People are at the center of this and each and every one of our development projects because transforming communities transforms lives.
Seeing the success of River West makes us even more excited for what’s to come at 36N, Tulsa’s second Choice Neighborhoods project. Progress is moving rapidly and its incredible to see how much the footprint of 36th North & Peoria has already changed since groundbreaking in 2024.
Equally as important as building new housing is preserving existing affordable housing, and 2024 was a banner year for preservation at our properties. Significant rehabilitations either began at our Pioneer Plaza, Mohawk Manor, Seminole Hills, and Whitlow communities, creating beautiful new homes for residents and extending the usable life of much-needed affordable housing.
Just as with River West, seeing the smiles of our residents as they enter their newly remodeled homes brings a joy I can’t explain.
It feels like a full circle moment to complete what was the largest ever investment in affordable housing in Tulsa’s history at the time in the same year as breaking ground on what is now the record holder for investment for our city. One thing is for sure – 2024 was a year we lived out our mission of creating a better Tulsa by transforming lives and communities.
Rick Neal
779 Housing units and over $177,500,000 in community investment. That’s the impact Tulsa Housing Authority had in a single year – 2024.Numbers like that were unfathomable when I joined the Tulsa Housing Authority Board of Commissioners in 2014.
That impact is the result of a shift in strategy by THA to meet the persistent and urgent need for affordable housing. In 2017 THA began converting almost all of our properties from HUD’s Public Housing Program to the Section 8 Program. This allowed for significant renovations at several of our properties and the preservation of existing affordable housing.
Importantly, in partnership with the City of Tulsa, the Anne & Henry Zarrow Foundation and the George Kaiser Family Foundation, THA undertook the largest investment ($30,000,000) in affordable housing with the River West Choice Neighborhoods Implementation Grant. The project’s great success has solidified our commitment to creating mixed-income communities that deconcentrate poverty, change lives and uplift neighborhoods.
The success of River West established THA as a leading affordable housing developer and created the incredibly rare opportunity for Tulsa to be awarded two concurrent Choice Neighborhoods Grants. With 36N, our second CNI grant, HUD has now awarded Tulsa $85 million to invest in mixed-income communities. It is exciting to know that our efforts will see the revitalization of the 36th Street corridor over the next few years.
The continued commitment of Tulsa’s leaders to address the need for affordable housing is encouraging. It will take every sector of our community – government, non-profit and corporate to meet the challenges and I am proud that the Tulsa Housing Authority has and will continue to work with our community partners to create a better Tulsa.
Tulsans served
Senior citizens
Individuals with disabilities
Children
Average household income of THA residents and voucher holders
Public Housing applicants selected
Maintenance work orders completed across THA portfolio
New move ins
Public Housing units – 84
RAD units – 152
PBRA units – 38
LIHTC units – 402
Inspections completed by THA Inspections Department
New landlords added to THA voucher programs
In new landlord bonuses
In landlord expansion bonuses
Graduates of the Family Self-Sufficiency program
Pounds of food distributed to residents
in escrow earned by Family Self-Sufficiency program participants
Meals served during Summer Feeding Program
In escrow funds awarded to Family Self-Sufficiency program graduates
Residents participated in back-to-school bashes
Senior residents attended THA-hosted health and wellness fairs
Increase in average annual income of residents
Of able-bodied residents have held jobs at least six months
Of students aged 0 – 5 are enrolled in early learning programs
Individuals enrolled in Family Support Services
Housing units preserved
Invested in housing preservation
New housing units constructed
Invested in new housing construction
Housing units preserved
Total invested in project
In tax credit awards for Phase I
Units of mixed-income housing under construction
Square feet of retail space in Phase I
Invested in renovation project
Units renovated
Invested in renovation project
of 107 total units completed
Invested in renovation project
of 141 total units completed
Invested in renovation project
Units completed
In infrastructure expansion from City of Tulsa
New public park – partnership between THA and City Parks Department
New YMCA
Montessori schools in Tulsa – Eugene Field Elementary
Full-service restaurant in the neighborhood – Apple Barrel
IT helpdesk tickets opened
Inbound phone calls received
New phones deployed to THA staff
Tulsa Apartment Association Zenith Award winners