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TULSA, Okla. — A new chapter in Tulsa’s housing justice story is unfolding in the heart of downtown. The Tulsa Housing Authority (THA) announced it has secured funding for The Hilltop, a 106-unit affordable housing development. The project aims to revitalize downtown and serve the city’s most housing-insecure residents.
With a $36 million price tag, The Hilltop will be fully affordable, with 20 of those units specifically reserved for chronically unhoused individuals. The City of Tulsa’s HOME-ARP allocation is funding those units. The program was created to serve populations often excluded from traditional housing efforts.
“People who work downtown and keep our city’s epicenter running deserve an affordable home near where they work,” said Aaron Darden, president and CEO of THA. “The Hilltop will bring much-needed affordable housing to the downtown area and continue our work of creating a better Tulsa.”
Financing for The Hilltop is a public-private effort, combining Low-Income Housing Tax Credits, direct investment from THA, and philanthropic support. Key donors include the Anne & Henry Zarrow Foundation, the Sanford & Irene Burnstein Family Foundation, and Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Philanthropies.
The new complex will replace Sunset Plaza Apartments, a neglected property once owned by an out-of-state landlord. The City of Tulsa deemed Sunset Plaza a chronic public nuisance.
THA acquired the property in 2023 and later demolished it. Before doing so, the agency safely relocated residents using Tenant Protection Vouchers and placements in other THA properties. Before demolition, the building served as a training site for Tulsa Police and Fire Departments.
THA plans to begin construction on The Hilltop this September.
Since 2017, Tulsa Housing Authority has built or preserved nearly 1,900 housing units and invested over $477 million into Tulsa neighborhoods. The Hilltop marks another step toward a Tulsa where safe, affordable housing is not a privilege, but a right.