The City of Tulsa has completed a cleanup of the Old Morton Health Center, 605 E. Pine St., a former brownfield site. Tulsa was awarded a total of $350,000 in federal grants through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (stimulus) to clean up this City-owned facility so community redevelopment could occur.
Mayor Dewey F. Bartlett Jr., City Councilor Jack Henderson, and the City’s Economic Development Director Clay Bird toured the facility today.
“Brownfields represent some of the best development opportunities for redeveloping Tulsa with a long-term view,” Mayor Bartlett said. “This helps preserve the historic Old Morton Health Center in north Tulsa and makes this area highly desirable for redevelopment opportunities.”
The Old Morton Health Center dates back to 1921, and was deemed a brownfield site due to the environmental contamination of the site. “Brownfield sites” means real property, the expansion, redevelopment, or reuse of which may be complicated by the presence or potential presence of a hazardous substance, pollutant or contaminant.
Through the City of Tulsa’s recent Brownfields Areawide Planning Grant from the Environmental Protection Agency, the Old Morton Health Center was identified as one of six key sites for redevelopment. This project focused on a study area within the boundaries of North Martin Luther King Boulevard, East 36th Street North, North Peoria Avenue and Interstate 244.
The City of Tulsa created a video, which provides more information about Tulsa’s brownfield sites. This video was also used by the Environmental Protection Agency across the country to highlight Tulsa’s brownfield program: http://youtu.be/28j_jvBJT3w.