Community Highlight: June 27 Public Meeting on Kirkpatrick Heights-Greenwood Redevelopment
Greenwood Legacy Corporation welcomed community members, residents, stakeholders, and partners to Emerson Elementary School Auditorium for a community-wide public meeting focused on the next phase of redevelopment in Kirkpatrick Heights and Greenwood.
On Saturday, June 27, Greenwood Legacy Corporation welcomed community members, residents, stakeholders, and partners to Emerson Elementary School Auditorium for a community-wide public meeting focused on the next phase of redevelopment in Kirkpatrick Heights and Greenwood.
The meeting was part of GLC's ongoing commitment to keep the community informed, involved, and connected as implementation of the Kirkpatrick Heights-Greenwood Master Plan moves forward. Attendees heard updates on GLC's formation, current priorities, infrastructure planning, governance development, and upcoming opportunities for residents to participate in shaping the work ahead.
Dr. Lana Turner-Addison, Board Chair of Greenwood Legacy Corporation, opened the meeting by emphasizing GLC's commitment to transparency, community partnership, and long-term implementation of the Kirkpatrick Heights-Greenwood Master Plan. Speaking as a lifelong North Tulsa resident, she underscored that redevelopment must be done with the community and that honest questions strengthen trust, accountability, and progress. She also highlighted the leadership of the GLC Board and encouraged residents to stay engaged as GLC advances a community-centered path forward.
Executive Director John Hall provided context on GLC's formation and organizational development, tracing the work from early community-led planning efforts that began in 2021, through the Tulsa City Council's adoption of the Kirkpatrick Heights-Greenwood Master Plan in 2022, GLC's incorporation as a community development corporation in 2024, and its continued growth as a tax-exempt charitable organization.
At the center of the meeting was a clear message: GLC exists to help carry forward the vision identified by residents through years of planning, conversation, and community input. That vision includes restoring 56 acres within the historic Black Wall Street footprint and advancing three key opportunity areas: the Core Site, Greenwood Plaza, and the Green Stitch. These areas represent opportunities for housing, retail, arts and cultural amenities, transportation improvements, parks, plazas, and open space.
A major focus of the presentation was implementation. Attendees received updates on work supported through the Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act, or TIFIA, connected to the Kirkpatrick Heights-Greenwood Master Plan. This work is designed to identify infrastructure needs, financing models, capacity-building strategies, implementation pathways, and development scenarios across the plan area.
The TIFIA-supported work includes community engagement, organizational capacity building for GLC, land and market analysis, financial analysis, transportation analysis, capital improvement planning, cost estimation, and a master plan refresh. Together, these efforts are intended to move the plan from broad vision into realistic, phased action.
The implementation team also shared early observations. While progress has been made since the plan was adopted, many core conditions remain largely unchanged. The opportunity sites continue to be shaped by connectivity, infrastructure, market conditions, historic preservation, and the need for careful phasing. These are complex issues, and community input remains essential as priorities are refined.
Transportation continues to be a key area of focus, and we’re committed to approaching it with care and intention. The presentation identified I-244 as an ongoing barrier. It emphasized the need to improve underpasses, crossings, sidewalks, trail connections, lighting, streetscape experience, and connections between Greenwood, Downtown Tulsa, and the Arts District.
The meeting also highlighted ways for community members to stay involved now. GLC shared information about the Council of Elders, an advisory body created to help preserve community wisdom, cultural grounding, lived experience, and long-term accountability. GLC also provided updates on Board expansion as the organization continues building the governance capacity needed to guide redevelopment and protect community benefit.
The June 27 meeting reinforced that the future of Kirkpatrick Heights and Greenwood must be shaped with community, not simply presented to community. Residents, elders, business owners, descendants, young professionals, neighborhood leaders, and community partners all have a role to play.
GLC encourages the community to stay connected, ask questions, attend future meetings, share feedback, and help move this work forward. The next public meeting is scheduled for Saturday, August 8. To learn more, follow project updates, and find current opportunities to participate, visit greenwoodlegacy.org.