Tulsa councilor warns Partner Tulsa plan could sideline North Tulsa; commission asks policy committee to investigate

Vanessa Hall Harper, Tulsa city councilor for District 1, told the African American Affairs Commission that she is “compelled to warn my community concerning Partner Tulsa and their actions” related to plans for the Kirkpatrick Heights area and a proposed Greenwood Legacy Community Development Corporation.

Harper said the land at issue — about 56 acres that reverted to city control after a university center agreement expired — should not be transferred to the CDC now being formed. Instead, she urged the commission to press the Tulsa Development Authority to consider placing the land in a mayoral trust announced June 1. “They did it behind closed doors,” Harper said, arguing the CDC’s initial five board members were chosen without broad community selection and that the advisory group that helped craft the master plan was not reconvened.

Why it matters: The land Harper described sits in North Tulsa and includes portions of the Greenwood corridor. Harper and others said the Kirkpatrick Heights master plan was developed with community input, and she expressed concern that the CDC now being stood up could be used as a “false front” that does not reflect local priorities. The Tulsa Development Authority (TDA) is the property owner and would have to vote to transfer land into either a CDC or a trust.

At Tuesday’s meeting the commission voted to direct its policy committee to research the situation and return findings and recommendations. Commissioner (name not specified in transcript) moved that the policy committee “move forward on getting some research and reporting back to the commission so we can actually maybe take some action.” The motion was seconded and approved by voice vote.

Harper distributed a packet of supporting letters — including letters she said were from State Representative Ron Stewart, consultant Greg Robinson of Standpipe Field Strategies, and Francia O’Dowd of Beacon and Development — and referenced past local development controversies, including the Evans Fenton project. Harper said a trust overseen with community leadership would better protect the land than a CDC that could be “manipulated.”

Commissioners pressed procedural questions about next steps. Harper said TDA would place any land-transfer item on its publicly posted agenda and that the commission and residents will need to monitor TDA agendas to know when a vote might occur. When asked about the trust Harper said she had spoken with the mayor and that the trust structure was “pretty much done” and that the mayor had promised community leadership on the trust board.

The commission’s motion charges the policy committee, chaired by Marquise Dennis, to prioritize and complete research quickly; committee members discussed meeting next week and suggested the commission could hold a special meeting if committee findings required urgent action. During the discussion commissioners said the committee should treat the item as a top priority and return timely recommendations.

Votes at a glance: The commission approved the motion directing the policy committee to research Partner Tulsa/TDA/Kirkpatrick Heights and report back (mover: unspecified; second: unspecified; voice vote, outcome: approved). The commission also approved its June 2025 minutes later in the meeting (voice vote, outcome: approved).

What remains unclear: The transcript records Harper’s request and the commission’s instruction to research, but it does not record any formal action by the Tulsa Development Authority or a scheduled TDA vote on transfer of the 56 acres. Harper told commissioners the CDC currently has five seated members of a planned nine-member board; the identities of two seated members were described only partially in the meeting. Funding details for the CDC or trust were not specified during the discussion.

Next steps: The policy committee will research TDA procedures, the composition and formation process of the Greenwood Legacy CDC, the mayor’s announced trust structure, and community-engagement records related to the Kirkpatrick Heights master plan. Commissioners said they will monitor TDA agendas and may call a special commission meeting if committee findings indicate an urgent response is needed.

Ending: Commission leadership said they will follow up with Harper and coordinate research; commissioners invited community members to contact policy committee leadership if they wish to be involved or provide documentation related to the Kirkpatrick Heights plan, Partner Tulsa, or the proposed Greenwood Legacy CDC.