Tulsa Salvation Army Buys Penloyd Property In Historic White City

NewsOn6.com

TULSA, Oklahoma -- The Tulsa Area Salvation Army is on the march – to a new location. The Salvation Army has just purchased the old Penloyd Building at 924 S. Hudson Avenue.

The property will be used for the administrative offices of the four TSA churches, the Boys & Girls Clubs, the Christmas Joy Center and disaster equipment storage. The local commander estimates the move will save about $55,000 per year in overhead.

Services to the homeless will remain at the Center of Hope homeless shelter and social services center at 102 N. Denver. Their Adult Rehabilitation Center and ARC Family Stores administration will remain at 601 N. Main St.

"Area residents welcome the rehabilitation of this property and are looking forward to having the corporate offices for an important organization like the Salvation Army located here," said Jeff Wheeler, White City Neighborhood Association President.

The Penloyd property includes an 85,000 sq.-ft. warehouse that the TSA will use to store Christmas toys and food baskets as the holiday season approaches.

"Every Christmas, we have had to find a warehouse big enough to serve those we help," said Major Roy Williams, Tulsa Area Commander.

"The logistics of moving pallets of food, office furniture, shelving and computers to a separate warehouse have been challenging. This will save us $55,000 a year in overhead."

Families needing assistance should find the central location helpful, according to Major Kathy Williams, coordinator of the Christmas Assistance Program.

The property is across the street from a piece of land where the Tulsa Day Center For The Homeless plans on building affordable housing. Nearby residents have said they are opposed to the apartment complex. 

6/9/2010 Related Story: Tulsa Residents Voice Opposition To New Apartment Building

The Day Center has insisted the complex will not be a shelter and residents will have to pay rent.