Cherokee Nation Celebrates Historic Housing Investment in North Tulsa, Announces Future Investments

TULSA, Okla. - The Cherokee Nation officially celebrated the opening of the Harvard Apartments on Wednesday, the first housing investment by the tribe in North Tulsa.

Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr., Deputy Chief Bryan Warner, First Lady January Hoskin and daughter Jasmine, Tulsa Mayor Monroe Nichols, Green Country Habitat for Humanity President and CEO Cameron Walker, Council of the Cherokee Nation District 5 Dr. Ashley Grant, President and CEO of Rainbow PUSH Coalition Yusef Jackson and other leaders celebrated the historic event with a ribbon cutting at the seven-unit apartment building at 110 N. Harvard Ave.

Chief Hoskin also signed a letter of intent with the Housing Authority of the Cherokee Nation to earmark millions more dollars for future housing in North Tulsa for Cherokee citizens.

"It took us about 60 years to get here and though the Cherokee Nation has been developing, we must acknowledge that we have not invested in this part of the Cherokee Nation in North Tulsa like we should have, but there's always time to do the right thing," Chief Hoskin said. "Today is a milestone day and it's a great chapter in the history of investment in North Tulsa by the Cherokee Nation, but this can't be the last investment the tribe makes in North Tulsa, and it won't be."

Green Country Habitat for Humanity broke ground on the Harvard Apartments in November 2023.

(L-R): Deputy Chief Bryan Warner, Deputy Secretary of State Canaan Duncan, Housing Authority of the Cherokee Nation Executive Director Jerri Killer, Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr., First Lady January Hoskin, First Daughter Jasmine Hoskin, District 5 Councilor Dr. Ashley Grant and Community Liaison Melissa Payne visit one of the seven North Tulsa apartments.

The Housing Authority of the Cherokee Nation operates the apartment complex under a management agreement with GCHH and will purchase the apartment complex from GCHH in the next few months.

"Expanding access to affordable housing takes all of us working together. This project is a great example of what's possible when we bring our communities and resources together to create meaningful opportunities for Tulsans," said Tulsa Mayor Monroe Nichols. "I'm grateful to Cherokee Nation and Green Country Habitat for Humanity for their investment in North Tulsa, and I look forward to continuing our work together to ensure more families have a place to call home."

The construction cost for the Harvard apartments was more than $1.35 million of which $450,000 are Cherokee Nation funds combined with $900,000 in grants from the City of Tulsa and Partner Tulsa.

"From the beginning, our goal was to provide quality, safe, and affordable housing for those who need it most," said Cameron Walker, President and CEO of Green Country Habitat for Humanity. "Partnering with the Cherokee Nation allows us to maximize the impact of these apartments while supporting the Nation's commitment to providing housing opportunities for its citizens."

Chief Hoskin and Deputy Chief Warner also signed a letter of intent with the Housing Authority of the Cherokee Nation to support more housing projects coming in North Tulsa through 2028.

"Investing in apartments and homes is about so much more than hammers swinging and construction taking place," Deputy Chief Bryan Warner said. "It's about strengthening our communities and ensuring families have a safe and affordable home to call their own. At the end of the day, we aren't just building homes, we're building stability, opportunity and a foundation for families to thrive."

That letter of intent includes the Cherokee Nation contributing more than $1.9 million for the development of up to 10 units at Utica Crossing as part of a larger mixed used residential and commercial brownfield redevelopment by Green Country Habitat for Humanity in the former Crutchfield community of North Tulsa, work in which is anticipated to commence in 2027.

The agreement acknowledges that Cherokee Nation has assisted five of its pending Mortgage Assistance Program (MAP) applicants with securing buildable lots of the Flat Rock Ridge Development, an affordable housing project supported by local philanthropy located near 36^th Street North and Peoria Avenue in North Tulsa.

Exterior view of one of the seven units.

The letter directs $2.5 million to Flat Rock Ridge Phase II, to acquire buildable lots for up to 45 housing units. Those units will be constructed over time and could include a mix of home ownership and affordable rental units.

The letter also directs the Housing Authority of the Cherokee Nation to commit $3 million to develop three duplexes for elder tribal citizens on the campus of the Cherokee Nation North Tulsa Community Center, located at 1205 E. 46^th St. N., The tribe opened the community center earlier this year, an investment of approximately $3 million dollars providing a home for the North Tulsa Cherokee Community Organization, the tribe's elder nutrition program and various cultural activities such as language classes.

The letter signed Wednesday also directs the tribe's Secretary of State, Shella Bowlin, and Housing Authority Director Jerri Killer to establish a work group on finding housing solutions in North Tulsa. Chief Hoskin also named Deputy Secretary of State Canaan Duncan to the work group.

"We have worked to do across the reservation, but I am particular excited to be a part of a work group dedicated to making up for lost time in North Tulsa," said Deputy Secretary of State Duncan. "The elder housing at our community building campus is particularly exciting because it will make a major milestone in building a real sense of community there."

At Wednesday's Harvard Apartments several Cherokee families have moved into the apartments which are leased based on income.

Each unit is 840 square feet with two bedrooms and one bathroom. Three of the units are ADA units, and one is equipped for the visually and hearing-impaired.

"Affordable housing is a major need in this area of the reservation. I'm very excited about all of the partnerships we've been able to make here in North Tulsa, as they share our housing vision that benefits not only Cherokee citizens but the entire North Tulsa community," said District 5 Councilor Dr. Ashley Grant.

Under the Hoskin/Warner Administration's landmark HJSCA, the tribe commits $40 million in tribal funds to housing and community infrastructure every three years into perpetuity, on top of federal housing dollars. The tribe also utilizes funds under its Public Health and Wellness Fund Act to address housing needs. Chief Hoskin says PHWA is the major funding source for the future housing projects in North Tulsa housing announced at the Wednesday event.

Since 2019, under the Hoskin-Warner Administration the Cherokee Nation has built 730 homes and repaired 3,928 others.