Members of the Greater Tulsa Area African American Affairs Commission reported work by the land, community and economic development committee to identify undeveloped parcels in North Tulsa, map ownership and pursue options for transitional and affordable housing.

Commissioner Greg Taylor and committee members described an effort to map more than 100 acres of available land in North Tulsa and to engage stakeholders including neighborhood associations, tribal liaisons and title companies. The committee’s working mission statement — described to the full commission as “reclaiming the land to create housing and economic opportunities for people impacted by injustice” — frames short-term goals such as transitional housing and longer-term goals including pathways to permanent affordable housing.

Members said they have begun outreach to a tribal liaison and to a Cherokee cultural liaison, and reported contact with land-records staff to explore mapping and ownership overlays. Committee members noted part of the county’s land records are public but that deeper title and abstract research often requires subscriptions or the assistance of title companies; one commissioner offered pro bono assistance from a title company contact to help with deeper abstracting and chain-of-title research.

The commission discussed Oklahoma’s land-title context: one speaker said Oklahoma is an “abstract state,” meaning historical chain-of-title and abstracting can resurrect previously unregistered ownership claims; commissioners cautioned that abstract work can be “daunting” and may require paid research or title-company support.

Committee members asked staff to check whether the county or city holds subscriptions that would allow more detailed digital searches and to follow up with tribal liaisons, neighborhood associations and potential partners for mapping and stewardship. They said future work will include stakeholder meetings and site tours with tribal council members and neighborhood leaders.