What's Happening in Oklahoma City, OK…

Several neighborhood projects are set to start in Oklahoma City thanks to the Oklahoma City's Strong Neighborhoods Initiative and private developers.

In three years, three neighborhoods in the innercity area, Ten Penn, North Highland Parked, and East Highland, have seen around $3.5m from the city go toward their improvement. Private investors have matched the funds at a two-to-one ratio. The city hopes to double the ratio from private sources.

Shannon Entz, senior city planner and coordinator for Strong Neighborhoods, stated the organization polled residents on what they would like in an updated neighborhood. They said they wanted their community to be special. The organization then commenced with projects residents could see were making neighborhoods better.

Developers have several planned projects for the three neighborhoods. For example, a $1.6m apartment complex and cafe on 16 Street, as well as 13,000 square feet in retail space and around 80 living units in Classen Ten Penn. In East Highland, the Oklahoma City Urban Renewal Authority will build over 30 houses on the Truman property.

According to residents, crime has decreased while the cost of housing has increased. Strong Neighborhoods reports that elementary school student scores in math and reading have increased and hundreds of children participate in STEAM education programs, which include science, technology, engineering, art, and mathematics.

Pictures of the new projects, once they are done, could be send to a postcard printing business to promote tourism.