Tulsans Petition Proposal To Develop Dollar General Near Neighborhood

Some north Tulsa neighbors aren't happy about a proposal to develop 10,000 square feet of retail space on an empty lot in the area.

They say the company looking to move in isn’t what the homeowners near Pine and MLK Boulevard were hoping for.

The area has seen some reinvestment and new housing recently, and the goal of many is to keep a family and residential feel growing.

Tim Smallwood likes the direction his community is headed, but he and many others fear a new Dollar General store could jeopardize the development.

“It brings a different element to the community," he said.

In the last 20 years, the neighborhood has seen significant investment, with many of the homes just one to two years old.

Smallwood said they want economic development in the area, but feels another Dollar General – the company wanting to build on the land owned by the Tulsa Development Authority – isn’t what they need.

"They are all around already, so why are you going to bring another one into the community? It’s baffling," Smallwood said.

If approved, it would be one of several Dollar Generals already in the area. The TDA said it is trying to find the right fit for the land, and Dollar General is the only company showing interest.

However, they said it’s still in the early phases, and the TDA is open to other partners.

"We will find people to buy the lots and put houses here, condos or something. We can get it taken care of," Smallwood said.

Some City of Tulsa staff members don't think a Dollar General would be the best fit there either. They recommended denying the company's request to rezone the property.

Smallwood said, “It is really going to make your property value go down if they slapped another Dollar General in this neighborhood. I've spoken to everyone living here and they're saying they're thinking about moving."

He and his neighbors have started a petition among neighbors. A public hearing was scheduled for Wednesday but has been pushed back to a later date.