The Cherokee Meadows Senior Housingdriveway curbs are finally fixed, after seniors have fallen, two lawsuitsand two years later. Leading the fair housing effort for seniors and disabledpersons, State Representative Regina Goodwin said, “It has been a force offolks at work.” Her list included four senior women, Councilwoman Vanessa Hall-Harper, Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Tulsa Development Authority,Oklahoma Housing Financing Agency, great attorneys, tenants, communitymembers and various agencies.
Cherokee Meadows resident Rosetta Baldwin says, “I’m pleased thedriveways are fixed, however, they never should have been done wrong. It toreup the bottom of my van, and it was leaking. I had to get another car. Now, thedriveways are much safer.”
Cherokee Meadows is owned by Terry Carty/Carland Properties. TheCity of Tulsa allocated $200,000 in public HOME funds to partially finance the Cherokee Meadows project. Approx. $7 million in tax credits were awarded to Carland Properties who had specific driveway plans with curb cuts approved by the Tulsa Development Authority, however, Carland Properties constructeddriveways with curbs. The City of Tulsa inspectors reported the curbs met code.
The City of Tulsa permitted premature occupancy of seniorcitizens at Cherokee Meadows. The senior complex at that time haddangerous driveway curbs, no house/street lights, no telephone land lineinfrastructure, no mail delivery and no landscaping.
Goodwin and four women filed a formal complaint with HUD. Overtime, lighting, phone lines and mailboxes were installed by CarlandProperties. Numerous electrical and plumbing problems were reported. Lightingremains a problem at the two year old senior housing complex. Resident Sharon Cobb says, “I have beencomplaining about these lights for a long time. It is pitch dark! They need tocorrect these solar lights. Half the time they don’t work. It is more dark thanit is light. People are putting their own indoor lamps on their porches.”
HUD came to Tulsa and conducted a year-long federal investigation into the work of Carland Properties. HUDfindings documented the City of Tulsa also failed to meet Section 504Rehabilitation Act federal housing standards regarding safe access and reasonable accommodations at Cherokee Meadows. Lawsuits were filed by TulsaDevelopment Authority and residents against Carland Properties. Driveways were recently redone by Carland Properties. Goodwin said, “We have worked on this fair housing issue non-stop, thank God, the power of persistence led to literal groundbreaking work, concrete was busted up and every driveway curb was redonein the 48 unit complex. Now we are hearing about rent increases, ourseniors are worth the fight.”
Speaking of the newly redonedriveways, resident Cobb said, “I’m glad it is done versus my car running offthe curb and getting torn up. It should have been done right the firsttime.”
