This article was originally published Sept. 3 2026 in the Oklahoman
A $25 million grant will help revitalize a severely-aging affordable housing complex in south Oklahoma City into what planners envision as a modern, mixed-income neighborhood.
Leadership with the city and the local housing authority were notified Thursday, Sept. 3, that they would receive the multi-million dollar award from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Choice Neighborhoods program.
The grant will be used by the Oklahoma City Housing Authority to enact the Westwood Exchange Transformation Plan, meant to completely change the city’s century-old Will Rogers Courts public housing development, east of South Pennsylvania Avenue and south of Exchange Avenue.
The plan, designers hope, will transform Will Rogers Courts and the surrounding neighborhood into mixed-income housing, with supportive employment, educational, and health services, and better access to parks, trails, transportation and amenities.
Residents of Will Rogers Courts have been among the poorest in Oklahoma City, with many making virtually no annual income and lacking reliable transportation. The complex saw increased scrutiny after three fatal shootings happened within six days in mid-2024, but housing officials and planners said deconcentrating the effects of poverty at the location will lead to better lives for the residents.
“The residents are the true beneficiaries, because this grant gives them the power to build the Westwood Exchange neighborhood of their dreams,” said Mark Gillett, executive director of the housing authority, in a news release Thursday. “Over the past several years, OCHA hosted a dozen community meetings, and we will host many more over the next eight years to ensure that the community’s voice remains central to our redevelopment work.”
Various partners ― including the Illinois-based Brinshore Development and local nonprofits Lilyfield and the Community Action Agency ― are collaborating with the city and the housing authority to fully rebuild the housing complex and reactivate the neighborhood.
The 348 units currently at Will Rogers Courts will be demolished and replaced in phases, planners say. Designers expect the first new units should be available for occupancy in 2029. Planners also expect a new gateway for the neighborhood entrance, an urban farm improving access to fresh produce, and a new head start building for children living in the area.
“This award reflects the hard work by OCHA, our residents, the City and our community partners who came together around a bold, community-driven vision for the future,” Rocky Chavez, the housing authority’s board chair, said in a statement. “The Board and I are incredibly proud of Mark and the OCHA team for reaching this milestone, and we’re excited for the opportunity to bring that vision to life and deliver meaningful, lasting results for residents and the broader community.”
When the project was presented in early 2026, planners said families affected would be supported by case managers and housing specialists to help them find appropriate housing either temporarily or long-term. They would also be eligible for first right-to-return once the apartments are up, with one move away and one move back to the new housing paid for. Developers also pledge that the right-sized unit will be provided to meet family needs for bedrooms and accessibility.
The housing authority and its partners have been developing the plan since 2023 and gathering feedback from the community on how best to revitalize Westwood Exchange. The planning included community meetings and feedback sessions with residents, leaders and local business owners.
OKC Mayor David Holt said the $25 million grant from HUD was validating for the work the city had been doing to better support local housing needs.
Apart from HUD funding, financial commitments to the Westwood Exchange Transformation Plan also involved more than $227 million combined from other federal and state government resources, local agencies, neighborhood organizations, and people-focused programs.
“The capital efforts are amazing on their own, but this grant goes further, supporting education, job connections, and long-term support that will help the people of Westwood Exchange thrive,” Holt said as part of a statement Thursday. “On behalf of the people of Oklahoma City, I thank HUD for this support, as we look forward to the progress to come.”
