In January 2006, the Oklahoma Health Center selected Miles and Associates and HOK to conduct a planning study to estimate and plan for growth at the center for the next 15 years.

In response to Miles/HOK completing the data collection stage of the OHC Master Plan and the City’s desire from previous planning studies to improve retail and commercial development in the area, the City’s Planning Department initiated the Center City East Community Stakeholder Meetings to:

Engage stakeholders in future development by providing information and involvement in planning process.
Identify priority development needs for area.
Accommodate those development needs by requesting adoption of new zoning regulations by Planning Commission and City Council.
Identify ways for neighborhood to partner with surrounding institutions to leverage community desires (examples: job training programs for new health center jobs, public art to recognize cultural history of area, public spaces to encourage recreation and improve quality of life and property values).

To find the Center City East
Community Stakeholder
Meeting invitation that was
mailed out to all residents
in the area, please click here.

The second and third meetings are currently scheduled for:

Tuesday, September 19 at 6 p.m.
Tuesday, October 17 at 6 p.m.

However, in response to input from stakeholders at the August 22 meeting, the City is working with residents to restructure the format of this process.

We will post new information here as it becomes available.

August 22 Meeting

Miles and Associates attended the first public meeting on Tuesday, August 22 to give this presentation on their findings and recommendations.

Paper copies of this presentation will be made available to the public at the East 6th Street Christian Church, 1139 NE 6th Street.

The City Planning Department also made zoning, ownership, and homeownership maps for the area available.

The HOK/Miles plan focuses primarily on increasing the density of the current campus in the immediate and intermediate time period, but also projects demand for future uses in the area bordered by I-235 to the west, NE 8th to the north, Lottie Avenue to the east, and NE 4th and the railroad track to the south.

The plan also suggests the creation of a boulevard linking Lottie Avenue to Sheridan Avenue as a means of improving circulation to and around the campus.

The attendees of the August, 22 meeting chose three individuals to serve as their representatives in future meetings with the City and the Oklahoma Health Center. These three individuals are:

Alvah Boyd
Alma Washington
Rev. Jesse Jackson, Jr.
East 6th Street Christian Church
esscc1919@coxinet.net
(405) 235-3201

Related Issues

In conversations leading up to the first Center City East public meeting, stakeholders from the area asked the city planning department for information on several issues related to the Oklahoma Health Center and its planned growth.

We will be updating this section as more information comes available.

Eminent Domain

In preparation for the first public meeting, the City’s Municipal Counselor’s office drafted a memo to Councilwoman Willa Johnson on the issue of eminent domain within the State of Oklahoma and the City of Oklahoma City. That letter was handed out at the first public meeting and can also be found here.

City Planning staff has not been advised of any plans to use eminent domain in the Center City East neighborhood.

Urban Renewal

In 1981, the Oklahoma City Urban Renewal Authority established the Harrison-Walnut urban renewal area to mitigate the negative impacts of the yet-to-built I-235 expressway.

Map of Harrison Walnut
Urban Renewal Area.
View larger version.

The Oklahoma City Urban Renewal Authority considers the Harrison-Walnut Urban Renewal Plan to be an active plan. Its borders can be found here.

Page-Woodson School

In July of 2006, the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) received a non-owner nomination for the Page-Woodson School to be added to the National Register of Historic Places for its historical significance as the old Douglass High School.

As part of its review process, SHPO has forwarded that nomination to the City of Oklahoma City Planning Department. City staff have reviewed the nomination and it will be presented at the September 6, 2006 Historic Preservation Commission meeting. The HP Commission and the Mayor must recommend the project before it can be accepted by SHPO.

SHPO will then submit the nomination to their state-wide committee for review. This committee meets quarterly and the next scheduled meeting after the September 6th HP Commission meeting is October 19, 2006. If the nomination receives the support of SHPO, it will be forwarded to the National Park Service for their final review.

Placement on the National Register of Historic Places does not place any additional restrictions on the current owner of the Page-Woodson school. Furthermore, it does not limit the owner’s ability to demolish or remodel the building, unless they are using federal funds or funds ultimately derived from federal sources.

Contacts

If you have any questions or would like additional information please contact Robbie Kienzle at (405) 297-1740 or robbie.kienzle@okc.gov