Business Strategy: Choice neighborhoods initiative improves communities

The Oklahoma City Housing Authority’s Choice Neighborhoods planning grant is an important addition to Oklahoma City’s ongoing efforts to revitalize distressed communities. Planning is underway and has the potential to impact the quality of life for many residents in south Oklahoma City.

The City of Oklahoma City and Oklahoma City Housing Authority were awarded a $500,000 planning grant to create and build support for a comprehensive transformation plan around Will Rogers Courts, an OCHA property located within South Rotary Park and Stockyards City neighborhoods west of downtown. The grant funds a two-year process to make a plan to transform the 87-year-old public housing complex and surrounding neighborhood.

The plan will demolish the 348 current units at Will Rogers Courts into 700 high-quality, mixed-income units. The plan will also seek to activate the surrounding neighborhood with placemaking and economic development. Finally, the process includes new approaches to supporting Will Rogers Courts’ families so that residents have better access to health, education, safety, employment and mobility services.

Vibrant neighborhoods are critical to the local economy, but good neighborhoods don’t happen by coincidence. They are an intentional effort by neighbors, businesses, city planners, developers, and local organizations to create safe and healthy communities.

Last week, housing officials and urban designers held community workshops and resident meetings, during which they presented the initial findings of Will Rogers Courts residents’ household needs analysis. A second survey is available for the wider community and neighbors. OCHA hopes to engage residents from the nearby South Rotary Park, Stockyards City, Wheeler District, and the surrounding communities to provide input on services and amenities that will improve the area.

The City of Oklahoma City’s neighborhood revitalization program, the Strong Neighborhoods Initiative, has seen similar successes measured by key indicators including private investment dollars, average home sales price, average price per square foot and number of crime incidents. New, private investments reflect the stability and desirability of the neighborhoods. Other indicators also show progress toward a healthier community and improved quality of life.

As part of the City of Oklahoma City’s Strong Neighborhoods Initiative, the neighborhoods of Capitol Hill, Classen-Ten-Penn, Classen’s North Highland Park and Culbertson’s East Highlands have seen revitalization. Since then, crime has decreased and homeownership has increased.

We can replicate these community successes. Oklahoma City is on a mission to drive change by prioritizing quality mixed-income housing and community development. Continuing to invest in our residential neighborhoods is an important and necessary economic strategy.

Kenton Tsoodle is the president of The Alliance for Economic Development of Oklahoma City .

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