By Robert Medley
Managing Editor
There will be 450 new houses on streets with Oklahoma City water and utility services on land that was farmland for decades.
In eastern Canadian County, along NW 150 just west of Morgan Road, Deer Creek passes on the north side. A wheat field is on the west side. And earth has moved at the southwest corner of Morgan and NW 150.
Under the protection of a corrugated steel hut that has protected many farm tractors over the years, Gov. Kevin Stitt joined Ann Felton Gilliland and others from Central Oklahoma Habitat for Humanity for a groundbreaking ceremony on a chilly afternoon Tuesday, April 2.
It was the same day that voters in the Piedmont Public School District were deciding the fate of their largest bond issue in district history, about $114 million for buildings and transportation. And the new development by Habitat for Humanity, called Cornerstone Creek, is in the Piedmont Public Schools district. It will bring more students to the schools. More traffic will follow with population increases in Oklahoma City’s Ward 1, about a mile from the Piedmont city limits.
Gov. Stitt talked about the need for affordable housing, and he praised Gilliland for bringing the project to fruition with a team of dedicated people.
“I’m such a huge fan of Ann Felton like everybody else in this room,” Still said in his remarks at the groundbreaking. “I get inspired when I get a chance to travel all over the state to see a lot of these projects and a lot of these ribbon-cuttings. And really, it’s usually one person’s vision that makes these things happen. So, we can do it. We can do it as Oklahomans. And as government officials and government leaders we put $215 million into affordable housing this year. And we know that is something we want to partner with the private sector and build more affordable homes and entry level homes for people. So, we are so excited about this project. And Ann comes along in the private sector and the Noble Foundation and Dr. David Brown and his family and all of this worked together. It is really cool to see these projects come to fruition,” Stitt said. “The neighbors want the neighbors, and it is the Oklahoma standard, and I just see that all over the state. I am really excited about this project. Home ownership is an important part of our society. I think it is so important to give people that feeling of ownership,” Stitt said.
The first phase of construction will build 91 houses.
Gilliland said she found out about the 160 acres for sale about five years ago. There will be three parks built in the housing addition with a gazebo. It is “Our largest affordable housing project ever,” Gilliland said.
