Jenks City Council approves $55M development at 106th & Elm: What you need to know

Q: What major development did the Jenks City Council vote on?

A: The council unanimously approved a $55 million public infrastructure project at 106th & Elm.

Q: What will be built as part of the new development?

A:

1. 270-unit condo complex
2. Interactive sports facility
3. Retail space
4. Softball and baseball fields

The developer proposed the project two years ago, but some Jenks residents created a petition to put the project rezoning up for a vote. The state supreme court ruled in June that the petition misled people and blocked it from going to a vote.

Q: Will this raise taxes for Jenks residents?

A: No. The project will use Tax Increment Financing (TIF) dollars, which delays collecting some future tax revenue instead of increasing current taxes.

Q: What is a TIF?

A: A city designates a TIF district, usually an underdeveloped or blighted area it wants to improve.

A base tax value is set — the amount of property tax the city is currently collecting from that area.

Then, new development happens (like condos, shops, sports facilities).

Property values go up, so the area generates more tax revenue than it used to.

That extra tax revenue — the “increment” — is set aside to pay for improvements in the district (like streets, sewers, parks).

Q: Why is the city using TIF instead of regular funding?

A: Vice Mayor John Brown says it would be too expensive to pay for upfront costs like stormwater infrastructure and a costly lift station using city revenue alone.

“Trying to front that out of city revenues would be very expensive... By doing this through TIF, it’s basically allowing the development and future tax dollars to help fund it for the citizens," Brown said.

Q: Will schools benefit from this project?

A: Yes. 25% of the TIF revenue will go back to Jenks Public Schools.

Q: Has the city announced a construction start date?

A: Not yet. There's no official timeline for when building will begin.

Q: What’s the latest on the Low Water Dam project?

A:

1. It would stretch from Tulsa’s Zink Lake northward.
2. Initial cost estimates were $67 million, but it’s now projected to cost $115 million.
3. A design workshop will be held next month to discuss the next steps.

Previous Stories:

1. Some Jenks Residents Sign Petition In Hopes Of Putting Sports Complex Issue On Ballot
2. Tulsa, Jenks, Muscogee Nation Sign Agreement For New Arkansas River Dam