Homeless Hi-Rise at Admiral and Yale

[RecycleMichael]

Is anybody else watching the City Council meeting tonight?

This project has sure pissed off the neighbors.

[we vs us]

Care to describe?

[AMP]

I believe the main reason the neighbors and area business owners were concerned is based on several things.  

1. Their representative just happens to be on vacation this week.  

2. The vote to obtain funding for the project passed the Council vote last week.

3. Many of the residents, home owners, property owners and business owners had no idea of the planned construction of the proposed facility.

One of the questions raised is who owns the property and what is the money trail.

Another question is regarding why now, what of the exiting facilities that are being funded to handle these folks today.  

Third question regards the downtown YMCA, who the blame seems to point to regarding the need of this new facility.  YMCA has announced they will be closing that facility in the next two years.  

Should the new facility for the Homeless be located in South Tulsa?  There seems to not be very many social service facilities located there, plus there are way more successful and growing businesses in south Tulsa that could afford to hire these folks.

Why not just use the Six+ Million dollar Hissom Memorial Center which is already built paid for and avaialable?

Hissom History Note:

In 1959, the 52nd legislature recognized the need for additional beds to serve a rapidly growing population of citizens with mental retardation and appropriated $1 million for the construction of a third institution on land donated by Mr. and Mrs. Wiley Hissom, near Sand Springs.  Later, in 1961, an additional $5 million was appropriated to complete construction and fully equip the facility to be named The Hissom Memorial Center.  

Hissom is fully equipped with it's own Morgue, Swimming Pool, Heliport and Cathedral.

[AMP]

http://www.batesline.com/archives/2008/08/i244-yale-vagrant-facility-on-co.html
What Bates has to say....

[AMP]

http://www.buildingtulsabuildinglives.com/
The Building Tulsa, Building Lives Web Site

Isn't the HOW Foudation located on south Mingo?  That would be a good location for this project, near an industrial tract that has jobs and positions ranging from general labor jobs to more advanced levels available.  

"Building Tulsa, Building Lives" is a collaborative effort  that includes Mayor Kathy Taylor's Task Force to End Chronic Homelessness, the Zarrow Families, the Mental Health Association in Tulsa, and Tulsa Housing Authority.

Other coalition partners include:

Ruth K. Nelson Revocable Trust
George Kaiser Family Foundation
Abba's Family
Associated Centers for Therapy
City of Tulsa Working in Neighborhoods (WIN)
Community Action Project
Community Service Council/Homeless Services Network/211
Family & Children's Services
Goodwill Industries
Housing Partners of Tulsa
Iron Gate Ministries
John 3:16
Legal Aid Services of Oklahoma
Morton Health Care
Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services
Salvation Army
Tulsa Day Center for the Homeless
Volunteers of America of Oklahoma
Workforce Oklahoma
YMCA of Greater Tulsa
Youth Services of Tulsa

[MDepr2007]

Who was it that Bynum muttered about at the end over an open mic. Something about appologizing

[FOTD]

Well, if there was ever any doubt about being Batty....what a bunch of garbage MB! You failed to mention the family who holds title to the old Warehouse Market.

Eagleton proved tonight to be the best head the council has ever had. His speach at the end was spot on. It's about much more than "white city" ....it's about giving a hand up.

And you call yourself a good christian. It's guys like MB that make me a friend of the devil.

[AMP]

http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4182/is_19970711/ai_n10111485

Legislation OKs leasing of vacant Hissom Memorial Center at $10.00 per year.

This location appears to still stand vacant, and the current rent seems very reasonable at $10.00 per year.  

[MDepr2007]

quote:Originally posted by FOTD

Well, if there was ever any doubt about being Batty....what a bunch of garbage MB! You failed to mention the family who holds title to the old Warehouse Market.

Eagleton proved tonight to be the best head the council has ever had. His speach at the end was spot on. It's about much more than "white city" ....it's about giving a hand up.

And you call yourself a good christian. It's guys like MB that make me a friend of the devil.

Why not get more bang for the buck and spend the money on what is already in downtown. Oh thats right it's different when it's a problem for downtown. besides an Educare what else has been provided out this far from downtown or mid-town.

[AMP]

quote:Originally posted by FOTD

Well, if there was ever any doubt about being Batty....what a bunch of garbage MB! You failed to mention the family who holds title to the old Warehouse Market.

Eagleton proved tonight to be the best head the council has ever had. His speach at the end was spot on. It's about much more than "white city" ....it's about giving a hand up.

And you call yourself a good christian. It's guys like MB that make me a friend of the devil.

Even more reason the facility should be built in South Tulsa, perhaps near the Oral Roberts University and Ministry.  

Why not just remodel the downtown YMCA building?  What is planned for that place, another parking lot?  

[inteller]

I guess KKT didn't have a need to fly in that redneck **** off his vacation to vote on this.

I hope this sinks Patrick's re-election.  By the time he is up for reelection, this thing should be under construction.

Now we just need to find a good issue to sink Gomerz and Martinson.

[FOTD]

Uninteller, what is wrong with the project? Seems to me I-244 acts as a buffer as does the cemetary. $4 million dollars of funding....and it would be built there even if the "yes" votes had prevailed.
Where do you wish to shove the helpless?
Why not right in the middle of downtown in between all the "churches"?

[AMP]

Seems the old Whittier/Kendall School site at I-244 and Lewis where the buildings were torn down seems to be a much less expensive site to build on.  One would think the City already owns that property.

Why purchase property from a private party when the City alredy owns property that is larger and also on I-244?

Interesting that the neighbors got over 500 signatures in one day against the proposed facility at the Admiral and Yale location.  Doesn't sound as if the battles are over, there were some very emotional folks who have their life time investments in that area.  Imagine if that facility were to be built, un-announced, at a major intersection near your home or business.    

A few of the businesses along Admiral are well suited for an influx of folks with social problems.  

1. The Piggly Wiggly grocery store east of Harvard on Admiral already has two armed guards on duty there.  

2. The Blood Plasma collection center, just east of Yale on Admiral, provides armed guards for those needing cash for err ah recreational goods, for those willing to provide sell their blood to the comsmetic industry, most human plasma is used to make hair care products.

3. And just a mile east at Admiral and Sheridan are several low cost motels that seem to be surrounded by prostitution and folks that are selling something to those driving up to the intersections away form the lights.  

Just check out the area around the Denny's restaurant between midnight and 4am some weekend. Or down by the O'Reillys Auto Parts store.  

There are several long standing Arenas and attractions in Tulsa

Was very embarassing as a Tulsan to watch the touists that traveled to Tulsa to see the IHRA Skull Shine National Drag Races this spring that stopped in at the Denny's to have dinner after a night's races with their young kids, wives and families.  News folks should of been there interviewing those people in regards to their reaction to the street walkers and bums hanging around in the parking lot and around that area.

Race Fans attending the Chili Bowl often eat at Tally's restaurant at 11th and Yale, just 1 mile from this new proposed Homeless Center.  

Should not take too much time for the new residents to discover the nicely mowed and manicured University of Tulsa grounds nearby for shade and an afternoon siesta.  

And what of the limited parking problems that have forever plagued Skelly Stadium or what ever it is called today?

The I-244 highway does not work as a buffer as it cuts across in a diagonal direction in that area.  Besides there is a pedestrian bridge near Deleware and a sidewalk across all the bridges with buttons on the crosswalks for the traffic signals.  

Have to agree with the above poster that most of the homeless folks like to hang out downtown.  They have the super cool in the summer, and warm in the winter Central Library with free internet access, tons of books, DVDs and comfortable seating.  And there is no parking fee if you walk in, ride a bicycle, or arrive via city bus which is good, saves on the carbon footprint.  Got the Catholic Chairities  and several Soup Kitchens at the area churches for breakfast, lunch and dinner there.  Day Center has a warm coat, new/used clothes, shoes and more.  Seeking a day job there are several day labor halls including the AFLCIO Union Labor halls located downtown.  The DTA as most call it, Down Town Area.  

Who was the man that had the soup kitchen that was always featured on John Earling's morning show on KRMG? Believe he sat on a billboard at one time.


Tulsa Hobo History

While attending one of the Beryl Ford collection seminars at the Tulsa Library I learned these little tidbits of Tulsa History from the facilitator.

Going back to the early days in Tulsa when the pedestrian bridge went across the Arkansas River where the 11th street bridge is now.   Train stopped there on the east bank, and there was a turnstile that sent the train back east as the heavy train bridge had yet to be built.  The pedestrian bridge was a toll bridge back then.  Others would ride horses or wade across the river to move freight on wagons.    

If you walk past the Civic Center across Southwest Blvd, you will cross over to the north bank of the Arkansas River, which runs along side of Charles Page Boulevard to the west.  Along the levy and the Freight Train tracks that were once the Sand Springs Line.

Shanty hobo camps have existed along that river bank for 100+ years.  

Hobos would make that walk towards the downtown area, walking in the alleys behind the homes downtown that were occupied by the wealthy Tulsa Oil famlies and ask the domestics or wives for food at their kitchen windows and back doors.  Most were accomodating to the travelers and provided a small meal for them of food they were most likely to through out anyway.  Some would make Mulligan Stew from the left overs they were given.  The Hobos would then take a piece of chalk and MARK the pavement or curb at the homes that were chairitable.  The term Mark designates one who is giving to the Hobos.  

From there the trail led around the old Warehouse Market where the Home Depot is today.  Liquor Stores are another tradition of the gypsy travelers who mainly rely on rail for transportation from one village to another.  

So if one follows the trail, which has existed since the beginning of Tulsey Town, you can quickly identify why and where the homeless travelers slept, bathed, ate and obtained liquor and food.  By displacing them off of that natural trail, I believe that is only a temporary deterrent, providing a place for the night's sleep.  Most know the way back to the downtown area as that is where most stepped off the freight train when they arrived here.  It is also where their entertainment, food, social interactions, saloons, liquor stores and chemical additives are found.

The Tilsdale Expressway when first built became a momentary barrier for the folks that lived on the east side that interacted with those in the public housing Osage Apartments on the west side.  One may notice when traveling north out of downtown that a pedestrian bridge was constructed to handle the folks that before just simply walked across the highway.  A quick hole in the fence made short order of that barrier allowing residents to simply walk across the limited access highway.  Believe a few people got hit and killed there. That was  before the walk over bridge had to be built.  

Attempting to build a barrier, fence or other obstruction that blocks an old time established 100+ year trail is very hard to do.

[MDepr2007]

quote:Originally posted by FOTD

Uninteller, what is wrong with the project? Seems to me I-244 acts as a buffer as does the cemetary. $4 million dollars of funding....and it would be built there even if the "yes" votes had prevailed.
Where do you wish to shove the helpless?
Why not right in the middle of downtown in between all the "churches"?

There is daycare withing a few blocks, a park just under half a mile, railroad tracks another half mile, cemetary to go lay around in, sonic to beg at along with a QT , people pulling off the highway for the fair and go hey there's a hotel for us, Salvation army toy haven is just a few blocks away come Christmas time for them, they'll have to fight over the trash at the grocery store a half mile west , it's already taken.
Forget bike lanes , there will be a need for ped. lanes from downtown to Yale with this lol

[inteller]

quote:Originally posted by FOTD

Uninteller, what is wrong with the project? Seems to me I-244 acts as a buffer as does the cemetary. $4 million dollars of funding....and it would be built there even if the "yes" votes had prevailed.
Where do you wish to shove the helpless?
Why not right in the middle of downtown in between all the "churches"?

 i know they will build anyways.  I'm more thrilled that patrick wasn't there and just disenfranchised his constituency.