Housing authority reports progress on MAPS homelessness goals; Vita Nova demolition set April 8

Greg Shin of the Oklahoma City Housing Authority gave the MAPS Citizens Advisory Board a quarterly update on the MAPS for Homelessness program, reporting progress on the initiative’s three headline goals and timelines for several projects.

Shin told the board the program target remains 500 units of supportive housing, 1,500 renovated public‑housing units and 150 workforce housing units. He said nine projects are currently on the MAPS investment map, including Dorset Veterans Place (phase 1: 37 units, about 31 occupied), Crestston Grove, Oak Grove, Vita Nova, Will Rogers Courts and West Lawn Gardens.

The nut graf: the update provided concrete near‑term milestones — Vita Nova’s demolition is scheduled to begin April 8 with an expected 12‑month construction schedule; Oak Grove’s low‑income housing tax‑credit application is set for the Oklahoma Housing Finance Agency board in May; and the city jointly submitted a HUD grant application for Will Rogers Courts that, if awarded, would support phases of a multi‑year redevelopment.

Shin described project financing and schedules: Dorset Place Phase 2 will add 33 units later this year; Oak Grove is planned to expand from 288 to 306 units through a RAD Section 18 conversion once tax credits are secured; Vita Nova had demolition fencing installed and Midwest Wrecking contracted for demolition; Will Rogers Courts is a four‑phase redevelopment with $4.3 million in MAPS funds identified for the first phases if HUD awards the city a $26 million grant. Shin said MAPS allocation one has committed $8.5 million so far across known projects, projecting total development costs of roughly $121–122 million and leveraging about $115–116 million in other funding sources to date (figures exclude Crestston Park pending final design).

Shin also noted a small relocation plan for long‑term residents at the Vita Nova site under the Uniform Relocation Act because MAPS funds for that project derive from HOME/HUD funding; the housing authority will pay moving costs and offer the right to return, and a relocation specialist will coordinate individually with affected households.

Board members asked about timelines and potential additional MAPS funding. Shin said some projects (e.g., Crestston Park) are temporarily on hold while staff and community stakeholders refine a mixed‑model design and that further schedule details would be provided at future quarterly updates.

The next procedural step is continued oversight by the MAPS board and receipt of additional grant and tax‑credit decisions (Oklahoma Housing Finance Agency and HUD) that will determine final construction start dates for several large projects.