The Choice Neighborhood Initiative is helping revitalize one of the metro’s oldest housing complexes.
The Oklahoma City Housing Authority is about six months into a multi-year plan to revitalize a portion of the metro. It’s called the Choice Neighborhood Initiative and is a HUD-funded grant program. A public housing development must be the center of the project.
For Oklahoma City, this will center around Will Rogers Courts. The project will include tearing the apartments built in 1937 to the ground and completely rebuilding them.
“We chose to focus on the area around the Will Rogers Courts public housing development, which is just south of the river, just a little bit west of Wheeler Park, and take that initiate all the way over to Stockyard City,” said Mark Gillett with the Oklahoma City Housing Authority.
Along with the housing complex, there will be renovations and new buildings for schools, businesses, grocery stores, and more in the surrounding area.
“We talked about food deserts, we talked about fast food convenience stores, we talked about gas stations. We talked about how we all can work together to create a new vibrant community in Oklahoma City,” said Gillett.
The housing authority is in the early planning stages, asking residents what they would like to see in the new apartments. Gillett says this is a key part of the process.
“So, we were awarded a grant of $500,000 dollars to spend two years working with the businesses, working with the neighborhood, and working with the residents of the housing authority, to help them dream,” said Gillett.
News 9 spoke with some residents living at Will Rogers Courts about what they would hope to see in the renovations.
Most people living at Will Rogers have seen Victor Mcalister cleaning up the area. He spends four hours each day picking up trash and sweeping the streets to supplement his rent.
Mcalister has lived at the housing complex for almost three decades but recently picked up the new cleaning project.
“I’ve been doing it, maybe about a year and a half, maybe a little bit longer, and I just like to see this community a little bit cleaner than it has been,” said Mcalister.
We first spoke with him in October of last year, when the OKC Housing Authority announced the project.
He says cleaning the streets outside his home gives him something to do.
“You never know what you’re gonna run into when you’re cleaning up around here,” said Mcalister.
He and other residents say they’re looking forward to the changes to come.
The OKC Housing Authority has been hosting town halls to hear from residents about changes they want to see for the complex.
“They’re wanting to know our opinions about things, certain amenities we would like to see inside the apartments once they’re rebuilt,” said Jennifer Gilder, a Will Rogers resident.
Gilder has lived at the complex with her family for about three years.
“I mean I’m excited for it because who doesn’t want new and improved,” said Gilder.
Gilder is hoping for some upgrades to her apartment.
“More space in the apartments, washer and dryer hookup in the apartments, a central air conditioner,” said Gilder.
Her biggest dream is a safer place to raise her family.
“I want it to be a safe community that’s what I dream big for,” said Gilder.
Meanwhile, McAlister hopes for a safe and clean area, to call home.
“Well, I just hope they come on in and do the best they can,” said McAlister.
The current residents will be temporarily relocated during construction and will get the first pick of new units once construction is complete. Rent prices will not increase for current residents.
The housing authority is hoping to start renovations in 2026.
This article was originally sourced here.
