Affordable senior housing reaches completion through collective effort

Developers like One Red Oak, in partnership with the Oklahoma City Urban Renewal Authority, have taken underused spaces and made them liveable and affordable.

Development experiences COVID delays

It’s a project that began several years ago and was placed on hold by a challenge familiar to many.  

“The start of construction was slated to begin when COVID hit. Construction prices increased, so we had to find additional funding sources to help fill that gap to make that development occur,” said Director of Real Estate Development Cassi Poor.   

Poor said they were determined to push forward.  

She said they had to find additional public incentives like affordable housing tax dollars to help the project along.  

Why do seniors face affordable housing challenges?

These were not the only challenges they faced, and she added Oklahoma City residents are not alone in the housing struggle. 

“It’s a nationwide issue right now, but I think with the affordable living generally in Oklahoma City, there’s been a lot of influx of people moving here and with the remote work, people are able to live in a more affordable city,” added Poor.  

Development reaches completion; Residents settle in

$13 million later, welcome mats show signs of life for many seniors who may not have had a front door to place them had it not been for this project.  

One Red Oak is the developer in partnership with the Oklahoma City Urban Renewal Authority who owned the land. 

While many people have already settled into their new digs, the community center is still in the works.  

One resident, who didn’t want to go on camera, said the center is the one thing she is really excited about.   

“We’ll have a coffee shop; we’ll have a podcast room; we’ll have a conference room; and we’ll also have a think tank incubator,” said construction superintendent Kamron Tilly.   

Poor added there are a total of 40 new homes, some of which are in the historic rehabbed school building nearby and 20 of the other units are the new builds.