NPS Form 10-900-b OMB No. 1024-0018 United States Department of the Interior National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Multiple Property Documentation Form This form is used for documenting property groups relating to one or several historic contexts. See instructions in National Register Bulletin How to Complete the Multiple Property Documentation Form (formerly 16B). Complete each item by entering the requested information. ___x___ New Submission ________ Amended Submission A. Name of Multiple Property Listing Tulsa Public Housing, 1966-1975 B. Associated Historic Contexts (Name each associated historic context, identifying theme, geographical area, and chronological period for each.) C. Form Prepared by: name/title: Emily Lenhausen, Historic Preservation Specialist & Amanda K. Loughlin, National Register Mgr organization: Rosin Preservation, LLC street & number: 1712 Holmes St. city or town: Kansas City state: MO zip code: 64108 e-mail: [email protected] telephone: 816-472-4950 date: October 2020, rev December 2020 & February 2021 D. Certification As the designated authority under the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, as amended, I hereby certify that this documentation form meets the National Register documentation standards and sets forth requirements for the listing of related properties consistent with the National Register criteria. This submission meets the procedural and professional requirements set forth in 36 CFR 60 and the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards and Guidelines for Archeology and Historic Preservation. _______________________________ ______________________ _________________________ Signature of certifying official Title Date _____________________________________ State or Federal Agency or Tribal government I hereby certify that this multiple property documentation form has been approved by the National Register as a basis for evaluating related properties for listing in the National Register. ________________________________ __________________________________ Signature of the Keeper Date of Action NPS Form 10-900-b OMB No. 1024-0018 United States Department of the Interior National Park Service Tulsa Public Housing, 1966-1975 Oklahoma Name of Multiple Property Listing State Table of Contents for Written Narrative Create a Table of Contents and list the page numbers for each of these sections in the space below. Provide narrative explanations for each of these sections on continuation sheets. In the header of each section, cite the letter, page number, and name of the multiple property listing. Refer to How to Complete the Multiple Property Documentation Form for additional guidance. Page Numbers E. Statement of Historic Contexts E1-E-24 (If more than one historic context is documented, present them in sequential order.) I. Public Housing in the United States E1 II. Public Housing in Oklahoma E6 III. Public Housing in Tulsa, Oklahoma E9 F. Associated Property Types F25-F32 (Provide description, significance, and registration requirements.) Low-rise Housing Project F25 High-rise Housing Project F26 Administration Building F26 Significance of Projects F27 Registration Requirements F30 G. Geographical Data G33 H. Summary of Identification and Evaluation Methods H34 (Discuss the methods used in developing the multiple property listing.) I. Major Bibliographical References I35-I38 (List major written works and primary location of additional documentation: State Historic Preservation Office, other State agency, Federal agency, local government, university, or other, specifying repository.) Paperwork Reduction Act Statement: This information is being collected for applications to the National Register of Historic Places to nominate properties for listing or determine eligibility for listing, to list properties, and to amend existing listings. Response to this request is required to obtain a benefit in accordance with the National Historic Preservation Act, as amended (16 U.S.C.460 et seq.). Estimated Burden Statement: Public reporting burden for this form is estimated to average 250 hours per response including time for reviewing instructions, gathering and maintaining data, and completing and reviewing the form. Direct comments regarding this burden estimate or any aspect of this form to the Chief, Administrative Services Division, National Park Service, PO Box 37127, Washington, DC 20013-7127; and the Office of Management and Budget, Paperwork Reductions Project (1024-0018), Washington, DC 20503. NPS Form 10-900-a OMB No. 1024-0018 United States Department of the Interior Put Here Tulsa Public Housing, 1966-1975 National Park Service Name of Multiple Listing Tulsa County National Register of Historic Places County Oklahoma Continuation Sheet State Section number E Page 1 Section E: Statement of Historic Context The purpose of this cover document is to explain the development of public housing in Tulsa, Oklahoma between 1966 and 1975. In the United States, “public housing” refers to housing for low-income persons that is provided or subsidized by the government. When the state legislature passed the Oklahoma Housing Authorities Act in 1965, Oklahoma became one of the last states to authorize the creation of local public housing authorities. The Act authorized municipalities to establish public housing authorities to address the lack of safe, sanitary, and affordable housing in Oklahoma communities, particularly for those with low incomes. The City of Tulsa established the Tulsa Housing Authority under this directive in 1966. Construction of the first purpose-built public housing projects in Tulsa began two years later in 1968, and the final project was completed in 1975. Following the completion of this project, the Tulsa Housing Authority continued to provide public housing services, however it shifted focus to programs such as rent subsidies for private properties. This cover document addresses those resources specifically built as public housing under the purview of the Tulsa Housing Administration. I. Public Housing in United States Public housing programs operating within a local context are intrinsically tied to federal public housing policies. Understanding the national context within which the city of Tulsa established its public housing program is critical to understanding the methods and processes utilized to develop public housing locally. This section briefly explains this underlying historic context. Attempts to address the scarcity of acceptable and affordable housing for the poor in the United States at the national level began in the early twentieth century as the Great Depression threatened the availably of housing. The National Industrial Recovery Act of 1933, the first major Federal housing program legislation, was passed in 1933. The Act created a housing division within the public Works Association (PWA) which served two primary purposes: the creation of much needed low-rent housing and jobs. The National Housing Act 1934 was passed the following year and established the Federal Housing Administration (FHA). This Act authorized FHA mortgage insurance for construction of single- to four-family dwellings and insured mortgages on non- government-built low-income housing. Although both acts addressed the issue of housing, neither made provisions for public housing. The first major legislation in relation to public housing did not come until three years later, when Congress passed the United States Housing Act of 1937. Under this Act, the United States Housing Authority (USHA) replaced the PWA housing division, and a partnership formed between the federal government and local public housing agencies (PHAs). It is this Act that serves as the basis for the current federal public housing program. NPS Form 10-900-a OMB No. 1024-0018 United States Department of the Interior Put Here Tulsa Public Housing, 1966-1975 National Park Service Name of Multiple Listing Tulsa County National Register of Historic Places County Oklahoma Continuation Sheet State Section number E Page 2 Although the United States Housing Act of 1937 made strides towards establishing public housing programs in the nation, the outset of World War II and its related restrictions and moratoriums on construction briefly paused public housing development shortly after is passing. Federal action in relation to public housing did not resume until after the conclusion of the war. With the conflict terminated, Congress once again turned its attention to housing in America. Through the Housing Act of 1949, Congress declared that adequate housing was essential to both national security and the general welfare of the nation. Promising “a decent home and suitable living environment for every American family,” the Act prioritized new housing for low-income residents displaced by slum clearance and redevelopment and authorized the direct involvement of the federal government in public housing creation through primarily financial input. Key elements of the Act included slum clearance under urban redevelopment programs, increased FHA mortgage funding, and the purchase and repair of single-family rural homes. Notably, the Act confirmed a federal commitment to providing public housing for impoverished citizens both through the production of housing units and through financial means including the placement of caps on construction costs, tenant income, and rental prices. Although the Housing Act of 1949 advanced public housing construction, it did not produce enough public housing to meet demand. This