Del City Residents Fired Up About Proposal To Build Halfway House

It was standing room only Thursday night at Del City's city hall, where dozens of residents voiced concern over a proposal to allow nearly 200 transitional inmates back to the city.

The issue is over establishing a halfway house at a Del City church.

At a meeting Thursday, people were fired up about the request to rezone Howard Memorial Baptist Church, at 4216 E Reno, to allow the halfway house to be built.

In an unanimous vote, the members of the city's planning commission voted to recommend that the Del City city council reject the rezoning request. The meeting lasted more than three hours. Numerous residents voiced their opinions.

A California-based rehab center called Center Point was teaming up with the church with hopes of bringing 192 men and former inmates to Del City. Supporters of the halfway house say it is better to transition the men in a supervised manner.

The city council will have the final say on the decision to allow or deny the rezoning request to bring the facility to Del City.