In Progress

Bringing Life to a Historic Site

Located on E. 8th Street and S. Rockford Avenue, the Laura Dester site – once home to the Tulsa Boys Home – faced years of uncertainty following its acquisition by the City of Tulsa to support long-term stormwater facility planning in the Pearl District. Following multiple failed development proposals, PartnerTulsa, along with the Tulsa Development Authority, partnered with Amenome, LLC. and developer Kevin Rice to breathe life back into a site that will anchor one of the largest developments in the Pearl District.

nighttime skyline of Tulsa, OK.

Fast Facts

$14M Total Capital Investment
72 Housing Units Expected To Be Created
Explore the Project

Laura Dester Redevelopment

Upon completion, the $14 million development will include 72 apartment units in the five existing buildings, as well as a new, three-story, 18,000-square-foot retail/office building and 10-15 townhomes.

Project Overview

A historic redevelopment of the former site of the Tulsa Boys Home will yield 72 affordable apartment units.
Phase 1
Negotiation and Sale
Partner Tulsa and Amenome Development have completed contract negotiations on the Redevelopment Agreementand the property has transferred ownership.
Phase 2
Construction
The site is currently under construction/redevelopment with an expected completion date in early 2023.
Phase 3
Pre-leasing and Project Completion
The property will be conducting pre-leasing beginning in late 2022 and expects to move in its first tenants beginning in March of 2023.

The Stories That Inspire Us

Aerospace
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October 28, 2025

Tulsa Innovation Labs, PartnerTulsa, and the Opp Project Launch “Pathways to Autonomy” to Inspire Tulsa’s Next Generation of Innovators.

Source: Tulsa Innovation Labs  Tulsa Innovation Labs, PartnerTulsa, and the Opp Project today announced the launch of Pathways to Autonomy, a citywide STEM initiative designed to prepare Tulsa youth for careers in autonomous systems, robotics,…
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September 11, 2025

Three New Tax Increment Finance Districts Greenlighted; TIFs to Promote 1,800+ Housing Units, More Retail Development

Drafted by: The City of  Tulsa  The next steps for three new Tax Increment Finance (TIF) districts have been approved, and promote the development of more than 1,800 housing units and additional retail/economic development opportunities…
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September 2, 2025

PartnerTulsa Welcomes Tyler Duncan to the Board of Trustees

We’re thrilled to announce Tyler Duncan as the newest member of the PartnerTulsa Board of Trustees.. A small business owner and community advocate, he brings valuable insight into how entrepreneurship, equity and local investment can…
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