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.
Fast Facts
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.
The Stories That Inspire Us
June 19, 2026
Meet the Team: John Tankard, Economic Incentives Manager
Meet John Tankard, PartnerTulsa’s new Economic Incentives Manager. With a passion for cities, urban planning and creating opportunities that strengthen communities, John brings a unique blend of experience and perspective to the team. Get to…
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Meet Maria Almeida: Empowering Tulsa’s Entrepreneurs to Thrive
With a career spanning international finance, community development and entrepreneurship, Maria Almeida brings a wealth of experience to PartnerTulsa. Learn more about her journey, her passion for supporting small businesses and her vision for Tulsa’s…
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April 21, 2026
Meta Breaks Ground on New $1 Billion Data Center in Tulsa
Today, local and state leaders joined Meta to break ground on the company’s newest data center in Tulsa, representing an investment of more than $1 billion and marking one of the largest economic development projects…
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