Revitalization Effort Underway At Tulsa Apartment Complex

The Tulsa Housing Authority is creating a plan to re-develop Comanche Park Apartments, which was known for its high crime rate.

The apartments are located near 36th Street North and Peoria.

The Tulsa Housing Authority says it's in the beginning stages of a project called "Envision Comanche." Right now, it's getting input from neighbors.

The Housing Authority is partnering with neighbors and community leaders to change the culture of the complex by creating a plan for new mixed-income, mixed-use housing and to bring in more services for residents.

Tulsa Housing Authority

THA says it wants neighbors to feel safe and to get their basic needs met, by creating an overall better living situation for them. They've put up with a lot of crime for many years.

Project Coordinator Cassandra Love said the end goal is to transform the image of the Comanche Park Apartments.

"Despite all the bad imagery that you see or on television that you hear about, actually there are good people who live here," she said.

All 271 units will eventually be torn down and rebuilt, but the Tulsa Housing Authority said it will help those people find a place to stay during that time.

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The plan has been years in the making, according to Love.  Housing leaders said they're speaking with residents to learn what services they need and will work with community leaders to meet those needs.

"How are the medical facilities, medical access in the community - how do you see that? Can you rate, as far as transportation," said project leader Cassandra Love.

The department says it hired a few residents to get neighbors involved and excited about revitalizing their community. Love said it's going to take all hands on deck to change the culture of the complex, but she believes it can happen.

"Don't judge a book by its cover and soon enough, THA will put a new cover on that book," she said.

"When the 36th Street North plan developed, as well as the Phoenix district plan developed, those actually gave legs to the thought that North Tulsa can be this fabulous place," she said.

THA says it hopes to adopt a final plan by the fall or next winter.