Proposed Vision Plan To Bring Jobs To North Tulsa Gaining Traction

A plan to build an industrial site in north Tulsa is gaining traction; it’s even on the short list of Vision projects, for now, that could make it on the ballot.

The 162 acres of an oddly shaped piece of land near the Gilcrease Expressway is almost empty now, but, what’s called the Mohawk site has nothing but potential and is bubbling to the top of the list for Vision Projects.

Tulsa City Councilor, Jack Henderson said, "And when we looked at this site, it's the perfect location to bring some people in, create some jobs, create some sales tax, and that's exactly what we need."

Henderson wants the City to spend $18 million to get the land ready for a large employer to come in.

"We got a lot of little things popping up here and there, nothing of this magnitude and the time is now," he said.

For the most part, the area around 36th Street North and Peoria is run down and there are no large employers close by that could kick start redevelopment.

But, just south of the area, the streets are improved and business is growing, which is why another plan for $12 million in road improvements and beautification is tied to the Mohawk plan.

Lana Turner-Addison with the North Tulsa Economic Development Initiative said, "The Mohawk site plan is very complimentary of what we're trying to do, and vice versa because the Mohawk plan is talking about creating jobs, and real jobs where people can make a decent living and not just minimum wage."

The optimistic view of the potential for the site is 1,000 new jobs for Tulsa; that's helping keep the raw land, and the idea, on the Vision list, for now.