Council hears ordinance to appropriate $6.16 million in HOME‑ARP funds for Hilltop redevelopment

City staff presented an ordinance amending the fiscal year 2025‑26 budget to appropriate $6,163,724 in HOME‑American Rescue Plan (HOME‑ARP) funds from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development for the Tulsa Housing Authority’s Hilltop project.

Jared Morton, city staff, said the Hilltop action moves remaining HOME‑ARP dollars into the project now that the development has secured tax credits. Morton said the appropriation is required "so we can actually enter into a contract with them." Morton said a portion of the funds is earmarked for on‑site supportive services rather than construction.

The Hilltop project was described in the presentation as a replacement of the former Sunset Plaza units and a roughly 109‑unit development. City staff said about $5,000,000 of the appropriation would go toward construction and roughly $500,000 toward case management and services for tenants. Morton also said a subset of units will be designated for people who were homeless or at risk of homelessness; remaining units were described as project‑based voucher units.

Staff said the city could not execute an agreement until the development had secured all funding sources; the tax credits secured this year were identified as the final piece that allows contract execution. The ordinance was presented for consideration; no council vote or formal adoption was recorded during the meeting.

If adopted, the appropriation would allow the city to obligate HOME‑ARP dollars to the Tulsa Housing Authority for the Hilltop replacement project and to begin contract execution and project implementation.