About 19 new housing developments have been recently approved by the Oklahoma City Urban Renewal Authority. According to The Journal Record, two of the new housing units are affordable housing that will qualify for down-payment assistance or affordability programs and 17 units will be sold at market rate.

Almost half of the housing units will be developed by first-time property developers who participated in the PlaceKeepers program. PlaceKeepers launched in March 2021, provides resources to Black residents and stakeholders in NE Oklahoma City, equipping them as real estate developers, business owners, and job creators. Program participants attend training sessions, receive personalized resources and coaching, and connect to a network of investors and experienced developers. 

The program is now accepting applications for its third cohort with sessions that will kick off in June: www.neokcr.org/placekeepers. The program is also looking for potential allies: experienced developers, successful business owners, lenders and investors who are interested in accelerating professional growth within the real estate industry through facilitating future economic opportunities in northeast Oklahoma City. 

This story was first published by The Journal Record, May 4, 2022.