Homeless Hi-Rise at Admiral and Yale

[MDepr2007]

quote:Originally posted by MDepr2007

And just 2 nights after Councilor Eagleton and other councilors give this group $4 million of our tax money. Eagleton is eating at White River Fish Market with a group of 16 that includes Judy Kishner? Say it ain't so

Is there a reason I'm wondering if Eagleton should have not voted

quote: Richards and her cousin Judy Kishner, a daughter of philanthropist Henry Zarrow, started an effort last year to find a way to house Tulsa's chronically homeless permanently.

"We now know that providing shelter is not enough," Richards said. "We are committed to finding affordable housing in Tulsa, starting with the homeless."

The Zarrow Families Foundation has gathered support to form a coalition including Mayor Kathy Taylor and more than 15 groups, among them the Tulsa Housing Authority, Morton Health Clinic and Goodwill Industries.

"We could be the first city to end chronic homelessness," Richards said. "We would be No. 1 on a list somewhere."

The effort started when the downtown YMCA announced that it would close its housing program by 2010. About 140 residents live in the low-income units.

Another impetus is the downtown redevelopment effort centered on the September opening of the BOK Center.

"We have a perfect opportunity in Tulsa," Kishner said. "We really need to address the downtown homeless, and the way to do that is to find people a permanent housing situation."

The plan is similar to a program of the Mental Health Association in Tulsa's. It has 200 scattered units throughout the city and brings services to the residents. About 80 percent never return to homelessness.

Most housing programs now have requirements such as staying sober or not having a criminal record.

The Building Tulsa, Building Lives project would provide housing first, then follow up with services.

Kishner said locations are being sought, and the units would not be in concentrated areas or all downtown.

"Looking at other cities, when you want a vibrant area, you need mixed-use housing," she said. "You cannot do it with all high-end housing."

Using a variety of sources, Kishner outlined how a person receiving minimum wage can't afford an average onebedroom apartment. About 26 percent of Tulsans are at risk of homelessness.

The project is seeking funds from government and private sources. It also plans to seek a type of "anti-panhandling" city ordinance, Kishner said.

She said shelters can be a starting point for people without a home.

"We need to stop the revolving door," Kishner said. "Even though the shelters are doing a wonderful job taking care of people and helping them, there is no place to transition them into housing that is affordable."


BUILDING TULSA, BUILDING LIVES
Homeless:
611 people are homeless each night
220 are chronically homeless; others are situationally homeless
About 10 percent are former foster children
About 60 percent of chronically homeless people have mental health problems
26 percent of Tulsans are one paycheck away from homelessness

Project:
611 scattered units costing $31,505 per unit
$41.3 million in savings from costs such as emergency room visits, unpaid hospital bills and incarceration

Source: Building Tulsa, Building Lives project

[TheArtist]

Sounds like this is only the first of several buildings or living options that will be scattered around the city for the chronically homeless. This one building isnt going to be enough.

[Jitter Free]

IMO moving the occupants of the YMCA out of downtown is only the first of a number of moves to come in the future.

Stayed tuned for moving the county courthouse, the federal courthouse / post office, the county jail and the county library.  

I know it will be expensive and I know we just built the jail but moving these elements away from the arena and the ball park has to be in the works.

IMO no hotel is going to be built in the vicinity of the arena as long as those elements are still there.

[Conan71]

quote:Originally posted by Jitter Free

IMO moving the occupants of the YMCA out of downtown is only the first of a number of moves to come in the future.

Stayed tuned for moving the county courthouse, the federal courthouse / post office, the county jail and the county library.  

I know it will be expensive and I know we just built the jail but moving these elements away from the arena and the ball park has to be in the works.

IMO no hotel is going to be built in the vicinity of the arena as long as those elements are still there.

I don't buy that another hotel would not be built, but it sure does sound like we are trying to export the homeless from DT with this new building.  

Crowne Plaza and Doubletree were both built when all of this was centered downtown.  Doubletree was built within two or three blocks of the old jail and the Y.

[TheArtist]

At this juncture, the most likely development scenario for downtown is....

Ballpark goes in, Greenwood, Brady Arts and Blue dome begin to rapidly infill and redevelop. This will also spill into the East End.

The stadium will act as a draw getting some more people into downtown and of course adding to the "qualaity of life" for Tulsa in general. The areas I mentioned above, will be the places those people will go before and after. The area immediately around the arena to the S E isnt going to be a focus for any real growth for now. I just dont see any large hotel or development going in there at the moment. Any hotels will likely be several small and medium sized ones that go in near the Ballpark. Will also likely see some midrise, contemporary apartments going in that area as well.  

If in the future the Brady, Greenwood, Blue dome and East End areas, have taken off and filled in and downtown is starting to thrive. THEN the next area of focus will be the area around the Arena and tying it in with the rest of downtown and the Brady. By then the old city hall may be gone and that space available. The old Courthouse and Library may be needing to be replaced, etc. The canvas "plenty of developable space" and the desire "the rest of downtown bustling and filling up" will be set to see the area around the arena start growing.

Your most likely going to see the North and East part of downtown see the growth at the moment. Then it will shift to other areas down the road. Doesnt mean the arena was a bad idea or in a bad location. It will help downtown grow, and add to the cities attractiveness and quality of life. The location is good in that it can have synergies with the old Convention Center and the parking garages that are around it. Its simply that at the moment, the best areas for development are going to be around the Ballpark.

[FOTD]

Artist, had trouble getting past the word "rapidly" in the first sentence. But your positive attitude is always refreshing. Oh the optimist.... My guess is 15 years out ..... maybe. They better worry about timing. The Areama will throw off fair to good numbers for 2-3 years and then it will be like every other third tier city's demographics with interest waning from potential users. How's the convention bookings coming? The Areama was a bad idea but a worse location.

Moving Federal offices will take a lot longer than 3 years.....FOTD thinketh you best put that thinking cap back on reality. The North end will still take 3-8 years from a developer's perspective. The East End? Give me a catalyst....please. Otherwise, it will continue to languish despite wishful thinking.


Just being realistic....Sorry.

[Friendly Bear]

quote:Originally posted by TheArtist

Sounds like this is only the first of several buildings or living options that will be scattered around the city for the chronically homeless. This one building isnt going to be enough.

Is the THA plan to actually build MULTIPLE high-rise housing for the homeless/deranged/drugged/drunk at their property at Admiral Place and Yale?

This could be the first of several buildings.

Once THA gets their first one approved, watch for more at the same location.

Either way, THERE GOES THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

My advice to White City residents:  

SELL, while you still can.......

[FOTD]

Fraidy Bear strikes again!

[pmcalk]

They already have a website--that was fast:

http://www.whoownstulsa.org/index.html

[Wrinkle]

Normally, it's the process with which I have a problem. But, in this case, the project is also misplanned, along with a really poor process.

The forced feeding, closed-door planning and failure to yield are disconcerting. They seem intent on making it clear it's not our City, it's theirs, and they get to do what they want.

[TheArtist]

quote:Originally posted by FOTD

Artist, had trouble getting past the word "rapidly" in the first sentence. But your positive attitude is always refreshing. Oh the optimist.... My guess is 15 years out ..... maybe. They better worry about timing. The Areama will throw off fair to good numbers for 2-3 years and then it will be like every other third tier city's demographics with interest waning from potential users. How's the convention bookings coming? The Areama was a bad idea but a worse location.

Moving Federal offices will take a lot longer than 3 years.....FOTD thinketh you best put that thinking cap back on reality. The North end will still take 3-8 years from a developer's perspective. The East End? Give me a catalyst....please. Otherwise, it will continue to languish despite wishful thinking.


Just being realistic....Sorry.

I would say 15 years IS rapidly.

[Double A]

quote:Originally posted by pmcalk

They already have a website--that was fast:

http://www.whoownstulsa.org/index.html

Me likey, Me likey lot!

All political power is inherent in the people



Article 2 Section 1 Oklahoma Constitution

[AVERAGE JOE]

quote:Originally posted by carltonplace

The YMCA was not running a "homeless" shelter. They were providing affordable living for people that needed a hand. They also had in house services to help the clients look for work and acquire appropriate clothes to interview. How can anyone be against a facility that will help people get back on their feet and become constructive members of society?

+1

Most of the residents at the Y have a job. A low-paying job, but a job. Many are on disability. Without an affordable place to live like the Y or a comparable facility, they would be homeless.

[Conan71]

The silent nature with which this is being shoved up the tailpipes of surrounding residents is what I've got a problem with.  I think this is bad faith on the government's part and does nothing to ease the hyperbole about the "impact of homeless people" wandering the neighborhoods.

There is a lot of fear-mongering about what would happen to surrounding property values and the image of zombie vagrants walking about the area.  The reality is, these are apparently people who are being transitioned back to having a home and being employed, this does not appear to be a shelter like Starvation Army or DCFTH which attracts the most hard-core of the homeless.  If I have missed something on what it is and is not, please feel free to correct me.

A lot of the fear is un-warranted:

Wings of Freedom operates a female drug offender halfway house on the south end of the Patrick Henry addition, as well as a men's halfway house elsewhere in mid-town.  The highrise across from Veteran's Park which looks like it belongs in Beirut is home to mentally ill and is within wandering distance of the SoBo entertainment district and Maple Ridge.

There are also substance-abuser group homes scattered throughout the city, some in very nice neighborhoods.  I know of one in particular just north of 61st between Harvard and Yale a few houses from my mother's.  It's been there for a couple of years and there's never been so much as a police response to the  address.  

All of the above-mentioned residences and programs appear to co-exist peacefully with their surrounding neighbors.

[FOTD]

quote:Originally posted by pmcalk

They already have a website--that was fast:

http://www.whoownstulsa.org/index.html

PM....sorry.


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