Tulsa’s Destination Districts report private reinvestment, new projects and a 2026 National Main Street conference bid

City Destination Districts staff updated the Tulsa City Council on activity across four designated Main Street districts and on the city’s broader placemaking work, including private reinvestment, volunteer hours, building rehabilitations and program expansions.

Samantha Extantz, the city’s destination districts manager, said Route 66 Main Street, Kendall Whittier, Greenwood and the Global District each reported private reinvestment and project work over the last year. Extantz noted the city is supporting enrollment of four local nonprofits in Oklahoma Main Street’s 2025–26 program year and highlighted a major outcome: Tulsa will host the National Main Street Conference in April 2026.

Why it matters: The Main Street districts marshal public and private investments in commercial corridors and parks and coordinate events and small‑business assistance. Extantz said the 2026 national conference will bring an estimated 2,000–4,000 attendees and roughly $3 million in sales‑tax revenue to Tulsa.

Key details and examples from the briefing: - Route 66 Main Street (Council District 2): reported just over $9 million in private reinvestment last year and about $456 million to date. The district logged roughly 2,000 volunteer hours this year (32,000 hours to date), completed 16 building rehabilitations in the year (135 total since designation) and saw five new businesses open. Extantz said the district won a $225,000 Oklahoma Route 66 revitalization grant to build a dinosaur roadside attraction planned for Howard Park. - Kendall Whittier (Council Districts 13 & 4): reported approximately $790,000 in private reinvestment last year and $175 million to date; about 1,300 volunteer hours to date. The district received a $260,000 incentive award for placemaking, wayfinding and public art and is pairing that work with the Kendall Whittier Improvement District’s landscaping and lighting efforts. - Greenwood (District 1): reported just over $9 million last year and $28 million to date, with three building rehabs in the past year and 14 since 2020. Extantz said Greenwood completed a mini master plan for Vias Roberts Park and is hiring an executive director. - Global District (Districts 5 & 6): reported about $1 million in private reinvestment last year and about $10 million to date; the district has completed multiple rehabs and new businesses since 2020 and launched a retail vacancy study with a national contractor that produced an action plan. Extantz noted the Plaza Santa Cecilia (Plaza 21) improvement and a planned mural and gateway work; she said many businesses in the plaza are expected to count in next year’s totals once they are fully open.

Program products and resources: Extantz described a new Tulsa Lease and Design Guide developed with the Global District and a statewide partner. The guide, she said, walks entrepreneurs and new small businesses through common lease types, build‑out considerations and permitting advice. Extantz said the guide is available online and will be translated into Spanish and one additional language.

Other program items: destination districts staff launched a commercial corridor safety guide with tips (graffiti removal, medical emergency response, business‑watch ideas) and held the program’s second annual retreat for district leaders. Extantz said the city is supporting several emerging commercial district efforts and finalizing a Riverwood neighborhood improvement strategy for implementation.

Councilors asked about timing and counts for new businesses in the Global District; Extantz said businesses in Plaza Santa Cecilia that opened earlier in the year will appear in next year’s statistics and that the state Main Street infographics follow an annual calendar used by the program.

Ending: Extantz invited councilors to participate in the 2026 National Main Street Conference and said more details will be provided as planning continues.