Public hearing held on proposed alley closure at 311 North Boulder; applicant says sewer relocated

The Tulsa City Council held a public hearing Jan. 8 on a request from Eller and Dietrich to close a portion of an alley adjacent to 311 North Boulder for future development.

The hearing drew two speakers. Lou Reynolds, identifying himself as the applicant and giving an address of 2727 East 21st Street, told the council the sanitary sewer that ran through the alley has been relocated “by the city at the city's expense,” and that vacating the alley would allow the applicant to build over that area and complete a purchase from the Tulsa Economic Development Authority. Reynolds said notice had been mailed to property owners within 300 feet and that neighbors contacted so far support the project.

James Alexander Jr., a North Tulsa resident who spoke during the hearing, said multiple entities share ownership of parcels in the area and raised broader concerns about federal “entitlement” planning and local participation. Alexander told the council he opposed the alley closing and urged stronger community control of redevelopment plans.

Council members moved to enter the public hearing and later exited the hearing without objection; the transcript does not record a final council vote to vacate or close the alley during the Jan. 8 meeting. The applicant described the closure as necessary to complete a planned building project and to finalize the related purchase from the Tulsa Economic Development Authority; a resident speaker said neighborhood residents should have more control over redevelopment decisions in the area.

Council staff did not provide a motion to close the alley or a recorded vote on a closure during the televised portion of the meeting. Additional council consideration or a subsequent vote may be required before any formal closure of the public way occurs.