$190+ million project to transform 36^th North corridor

The Tulsa Housing Authority (THA) in partnership with the City of Tulsa has broken ground on the city’s largest ever investment in affordable housing – the $190+ million 36N development. The project is Tulsa’s second Choice Neighborhoods Initiative (CNI) development, with THA and the City of Tulsa awarded a $50 million CNI grant in 2022.

Formerly Comanche Park Apartments, 36N will be comprised of 545 mixed-income housing units, including single-family homes as well as mixed-use commercial space. The project includes 271 replacement units, offering former Comanche Park residents the first right to return, and 274 additional units. 36N will bring the first market rate multifamily housing to this area of Tulsa. The mixed-income model has three tiers: traditionally subsidized housing, workforce housing (not subsidized but kept affordable through Low-Income Housing Tax Credit financing) and market rate housing.

“36N is our biggest, boldest project to date,” said Aaron Darden, president & CEO of Tulsa Housing Authority. “Not only is it the largest investment in affordable housing in Tulsa’s history, it’s our first project to include both mixed-use commercial space and single-family homes. We’ve seen the power of affordable housing combined with support services for residents at River West and we’re confident we can achieve those same transformational outcomes in North Tulsa.”

Rick Neal, Chair of THA’s Board of Commissioners, said, “In 1967 when our city leaders created the Tulsa Housing Authority, there was a persistent and urgent need for affordable housing. A great deal has been done since then, but that need for affordable housing continues and we are here today, 57 years later, answering that call to action.”

36N was birthed from the comprehensive, resident-led Envision Comanche planning process. Dozens of resident and community meetings over several years, beginning in 2018, contributed to the final master plan for the 36N development.

In addition to the redevelopment of Comanche Park Apartments, Envision Comanche calls for the addition of a neighborhood-scale grocery market, an urban farm, the creation of the Flat Rock Creek Urban Wilderness Area and the leveraging of more than $162 million in planned in private development in the area over the next several years.

Philanthropic partners of the project include the Anne and Henry Zarrow Foundation, the Ascension St. John Foundation, the Charles and Lynn Schusterman Foundation and the George Kaiser Family Foundation. The Oklahoma Housing Finance Agency is also providing funding for the project.

“36N, which is the largest investment in affordable housing in Tulsa’s history, is helping us address our housing shortage while creating a path to home for those who need it,” Tulsa Mayor G.T. Bynum said. “I want to thank the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development, our team at the City of Tulsa, and the incredible team at the Tulsa Housing Authority for the tireless efforts to make this project a reality.”

“The George Kaiser Family Foundation believes a person’s dreams and aspirations begin in their neighborhood, making a vibrant neighborhood essential to ensuring equal opportunity for all children,” said Brandon Oldham, senior program officer of the George Kaiser Family Foundation. “This is core to GKFF’s InvestNorth Initiative, a collaborative strategy to drive prosperity for children and families living in historically Black, North Tulsa neighborhoods. Envision Comanche is an impactful project that will strengthen the Hawthorne and Whitman neighborhoods, and north Tulsa community more broadly. GKFF is grateful to be included in the cast of community partners investing in north Tulsa through this project.”

“The Anne and Henry Zarrow Foundation applauds THA on reaching this incredible milestone with the groundbreaking of Phoenix at 36N,” said Bill Major, president of the Anne and Henry Zarrow Foundation. “As we have seen with the success at River West, intentional mixed income housing communities can facilitate neighborhood level transformation. For a city facing a critical shortage of quality, safe, affordable housing units, the work THA is doing through Envision Comanche and the 36N Choice Neighborhoods Initiative is a testament to their on-going commitment to change lives and communities. On behalf of Judy Kishner, Chair, and the other Trustees, congratulations, and we look forward to seeing this catalytic transformation for North Tulsa become a reality.”

“Housing is fundamental to a person's holistic well-being,” said Victoria Darker, director of Community Health Equity at Ascension St. John. “The groundbreaking of Tulsa's second Choice Neighborhood project, 36 North, is undoubtedly a monumental and necessary step towards a brighter future for many of our neighbors. The Ascension St. John Community Health Equity Catalyst Strategy team is honored to be part of the collective effort to address housing insecurity. As the saying goes, a rising tide lifts all boats, and we commend The Housing Authority of the City of Tulsa for their contribution to this tide of change.”

With THA as lead applicant and the City of Tulsa as co-applicant for the CNI grant, the Envision Comanche implementation team includes the City of Tulsa as Neighborhood Lead, Tulsa Public Schools as Education Lead, Urban Strategies, Inc. as People Lead and Pennrose as Housing Lead.

“It is an honor to be here today as we take an exciting next step in one of the largest affordable housing investments in Tulsa’s history,” said Lindsey Samsi, senior developer at Pennrose. “After years of hard work and collaboration, 36N Phase I brings us one step closer to transforming the 36th Street North corridor into a high-quality, vibrant mixed-use community for Tulsa families at a range of incomes.”

HUD’s Choice Neighborhoods program helps communities transform neighborhoods by revitalizing severely distressed public and/or assisted housing and catalyzing critical improvements in the neighborhood, including vacant property, housing, businesses, services and schools. Choice Neighborhoods is focused on the three core goals of housing, people and neighborhood.

For more information on Envision Comanche, visit https://www.envisioncomanche.com/.