Inclusive housing project coming to Broken Arrow’s Rose District

A Broken Arrow group plans to build an apartment complex to house both people with intellectual disabilities and those without disabilities.

The Gatesway Foundation says the apartment complex will cost close to $50 million and be located near the Rose District

WHAT RESIDENTS THINK

The people at Gatesway tell me they are excited to offer people an affordable place to live and offer independence for people with disabilities.

"So I can be more independent and more on my own,” said Miracle Guthrie.

"Girl, I love it,” said Saundra Downey. “It's going to be so amazing. I so want to go there and it's new opportunities, new experiences, new things."

People who live at the current location are grateful for all the opportunities Gatesway offers them.

"I have a feeling that there will be no trouble and we will be blessed and we will be happy in our new apartments,” said Edward Valencia.

WHAT GATESWAY SAYS

Kristina Watkins, the Communications and Marketing Officer for the Gatesway Foundation, says this project has been years in the making for Gatesway.

They want the complex to feel like a community, with a diverse group of people living there.

"It's designed to people with disabilities, and also families, people starting out, first responders, teachers, healthcare workers, those sorts of things,” said Watkins.

She says watching this project come to life over the years has been incredibly rewarding.

"The story isn't about the apartments,” said Watkins. “The story is about the people that's going into the apartments. And that's what we want everyone to understand, is why we're doing this. These friends deserve independence, they deserve love, they deserve their own place, they deserve to have what they want in life just like everyone else. If we can bring a small part of that to them, we absolutely want to do that."

She says it’s also a comfort for family members to see their loved ones having a nice place to live.

"To be able to bring them something that gives them at least a little bit of security, that there's a good spot for somebody that is a loved one of theirs to be in, just warms my heart,” said Watkins.

BY THE NUMBERS

$48.5 million: Gatesway says this is the cost of the project.

62 years: How long the Gatesway Foundation has been operating.

41.2-acre property: Where Gatesway says the project will go.

180 units: How many units Gatesway says the complex will have.

20-50%: How many units Gatesway says will be devoted to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

January 2025: When the project was approved by the Broken Arrow City Council.

May 2025: When the organization was awarded $10 million in state and $22 million in 4% Low Income Housing Credits.

January 2026: When Gatesway says construction is expected to start.

5 years: How long Gatesway says construction is estimated to take.

RENDERINGS