Veteran Services USA Withdraws Zoning Application On Tulsa Hotel Redevelopment

Organizers behind the plans to redevelop the vacant Crowne Plaza hotel near East 81st Street and South Lewis Avenue pulled their zoning application before the Tulsa City Council could take action on Wednesday. The project has faced some opposition, and organizers now plan to spend time having discussions on why it would be beneficial to the city.

Veteran Services USA, the developers, sent a letter to the city council before the meeting asking for a potential vote to be pushed to next month. In the letter, they claimed the recent purchase of the property was where their attention was focused and they needed more time to prepare for the meeting.

There was no guarantee the request would be granted so organizers ultimately decided to pull the application.

Veteran Services USA Principal Advisor and Board Member David Webb released the following statement to News On 6:

“Last week, Veteran Services USA completed a milestone with the purchase of 10 former hotel properties in cities across the U.S., including Tulsa for a total real estate portfolio of $230 million. We feel it is important to actively listen to the community-at-large and withdrawing our application provides more time for those discussions. Today, we had the opportunity to visit with several members of the City Council and we appreciate their time to listen to our plans. In the coming weeks, more conversations are needed among business and civic leaders, the Muscogee Nation, surrounding residential neighborhoods, Oklahoma’s Veteran organizations, and senior citizens. With their feedback and input, Veteran Services USA is committed to revitalizing the property with a significant capital investment and providing the best programming to serve seniors and Veterans in the greater Tulsa region. As a new hotel operator in the community under the national brand, Radisson Hotels, we look forward to connecting with Tulsa Regional Tourism and the Metro Tulsa Hotel and Lodging Association to be supportive of Tulsa’s new Tourism Improvement District.”

The plans to redevelop the vacant hotel include affordable housing for senior veterans on some floors while others would operate as a traditional Radisson Hotel. Additionally, conference center space would be converted into an adult daycare center.

Some people living in the area have signed petitions and letters in opposition to the project.

The rezoning application will now have to be resubmitted. Organizers have not indicated when the process will begin.