Mayor Bynum Highlights 'Historic Investment' Into Downtown Tulsa, Greenwood District In Annual Report

Tulsa saw a lot of growth in 2021. Mayor GT Bynum gave his Annual Report Wednesday morning with some of the year's biggest highlights. 

He touched on about a dozen different topics spanning from February's polar vortex to the centennial of the Tulsa Race Massacre to the ongoing economic developments. 

In a 6-minute video posted to YouTube, the mayor started by talking about, what he calls, the historic investment in downtown and north Tulsa. 

"Downtown Tulsa in the last 5 years, we've had more than $800 million in investment going in, and then in North Tulsa, we've seen over a billion dollars of private investment in just the last 5 years."

Though he did not elaborate on the investments in north Tulsa, he did talk about one project planned in downtown for 2022. Those who live and work downtown will be pleased to hear that a grocery store is in the works. As of January 2022, the only place to purchase some food items is the Dollar General Express on 6th and Boston. This new grocery store will be located in the parking lot of the old Tulsa Performing Arts Center. A groundbreaking is planned for some time this year. 

Bynum also spoke about the establishment of the Tulsa Authority for Economic Opportunity in 2021. He explains that it took old city authorities and merged them into one efficient entity. The hope, he said, is to make investment more effective and to create equal opportunities for people in Tulsa through economic development

Tulsa also moved forward with establishing a large tech incubator in city hall for 36 Degrees North. It now takes up one floor at city hall where tech entrepreneurs can start their new businesses.

Pay raises for the city's fire and police departments happened at the end of 2021. The mayor and city hope it makes these departments more competitive when put next to bigger cities.

Tulsa also marked the centennial of the Tulsa Race Massacre in mid-2021. Experts from around the country came to Oaklawn Cemetery to try and find remains from possible massacre victims. They ultimately found a few remains that are being analyzed. Bynum said the results should come in early this year.

Finally, the city renamed the park near 11th and Peoria to Veterans Park. Previously, it was known as Centennial Park.

To watch the mayor's full address, CLICK HERE.