Redevelopment of the former Laura Dester Children’s center site into a new affordable housing complex called Quincy Park has completed its first phase.

Located in the heart of Tulsa’s Pearl District, Quincy Park features 72 studio apartments across a five-building complex that is included on the National Register of Historic Places.

"The redevelopment of this historic site is a prime example of how we can leverage existing infrastructure and public-private partnerships to meet housing demand," Mayor G.T. Bynum said. "I am thankful for the years’ worth of work that went into making this happen, and I'm eager to see similar processes for other housing projects replicated in other parts of our city."

Located at 728 S. Rockford Ave., Quincy Park offers 72 modern, retrofitted apartments in the city’s core at affordable prices. Restaurants, bars, breweries, salons and retail shops can be found within walking distance. Downtown Tulsa’s many offices and attractions are minutes away, accessible from Quincy Park by foot, bike or bus, via the upcoming Aero Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) line extension.

“This project truly has been a labor of love that was made possible with the help of so many people and organizations,” said Kevin Rice, owner of Amenome, LLC. “The hope is that Quincy Park will inspire others to lean in and invest their resources into projects that benefit the people and places they love.”

This historic site once served as the Tulsa Boys’ Home dormitories and then the Laura Dester Children’s Center. Originally acquired by the City of Tulsa in 2015 from the State of Oklahoma as part of an effort to manage stormwater in the neighborhood, the site was initially offered for redevelopment in 2017 by the City of Tulsa and Tulsa Development Authority (TDA).

After several redevelopment attempts, Amenome proposed a successful plan to renovate all five historic structures into affordable housing. The final project was made possible through a series of innovative public-private partnerships including Historic Tax Credits, Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) financing and a privately maintained park that the City has retained for future flood mitigation efforts. Additionally, TDA granted Amenome a five-year loan to defer the purchase price of the property.

“The recently released Tulsa Housing Strategy emphasizes the role creative public finance and public-private partnerships will play in solving Tulsa’s demand for 13,000 housing units over the next decade,” said Kian Kamas, PartnerTulsa Executive Director. “Quincy Park is an exemplar of what can be achieved when public entities like PartnerTulsa and the City work alongside and support private developers. I’m incredibly grateful to the Amenome team for their passion for this project and the role it will play in revitalizing the Pearl District neighborhood.”

First published last month, the Tulsa Housing Strategy is a key component of the City of Tulsa’s Path to Home initiative, and will serve as a roadmap for how to meet current and future housing demand identified by the Citywide Housing Assessment conducted in 2023. The strategy calls for increasing public and private funds for housing development, particularly for downtown Tulsa and in commercial areas.

Phase Two of the Quincy Park redevelopment, which encompasses a three-story, mixed-use building and townhomes, is projected to begin shortly after Phase One’s completion. Additionally, Amenome plans to activate the park space enclosed within the site with amenities such as community gardens, exercise and play spaces, and artwork.  

The architect for the project, Method Group, is a Tulsa-based firm with a passion for community-focused projects. They and their team of engineering consultants, with guidance from Rosin Preservation, provided design solutions and strategies that retained the character-defining elements while adapting the layout and finishes to meet the goals of the development. In Phase Two, the design effort will focus on providing a mix of new-construction residential and commercial uses, incorporating elements that complement the design and style of the historic buildings.

Each studio unit has a unique floorplan averaging 400 square feet. Amenities include several Wi-Fi-enabled common spaces, a dog run, a secure green park, smart locks, stainless steel appliances, quartz countertops and individually controlled heating and cooling systems. Rents start at $700 per unit and include the costs of Wi-Fi, electric, water and trash. Email [email protected] for additional information or rental inquiries.