07/10/2025
Looks as though the Homeless facility withdrew their application.
To the Honorable Members of the Tulsa Board of Adjustments,
As a concerned resident, I urge you to deny the proposed special exception for another homeless facility in our area (BOA-23901). I fully acknowledge the importance of compassionate support for those experiencing homelessness, but the cumulative impact on our neighborhood must not be overlooked. Our community has faced urban decay for years—marked by poor infrastructure, vacant properties, and stalled economic opportunities. Residents are working hard to revitalize the neighborhood, yet the high concentration of social service facilities has created significant strain on our resources and slowed progress.
Approving another facility risks exacerbating this cycle of blight. Studies and local experience show that clustering social services in one area can lead to further public safety concerns, increased transience, lower property values, and a weakened neighborhood identity. This concentration does not promote equity; instead, it unfairly burdens our community, undermining balanced city planning.
Further compounding these concerns is the presence of multiple facilities just to mention a few—Hudson Villa Apartments 10th and Hudson, Clubhouse Tulsa at 11th and Yale, Yale Apartments at 10th and Yale, and the Mental Health Association Oklahoma hub at Admiral and Yale—already operating within less than a mile of the proposed site. While each provides valuable support, their dense proximity puts an outsized load on our local infrastructure, public safety, and sense of stability.
The impact also extends to nearby churches, many of which are stretched thin by ongoing outreach, meal programs, and shelter services. Their efforts, though admirable, are unsustainable and threaten to impede both congregational support and neighborhood renewal.
Tulsa’s future calls for a thoughtful, citywide approach to social service distribution, ensuring no single community is overwhelmed. I urge the Council to explore alternative locations for new facilities and to develop a comprehensive plan addressing homelessness, rather than relying on piecemeal special exceptions.
Thank you for considering this request and for your dedication to Tulsa’s growth and prosperity. Request Denying the Special Exception and Asking for:
Balanced Community Development and Neighborhood Sustainability