Revitalization Plan Underway In Midwest City

Big changes are happening in the original square mile of Midwest City. The city's revitalization plan is breathing new life into the historic area.

The neighborhood is known as the front door to the city. It's called The Original Mile and was developed more than 70 years ago for families working at Air Depot that later became Tinker Air Force Base.

“Originally it was a lot of military families and retirees from the military that worked a tinker and it's gradually transitioned to where it's more rental property," said Jackie Gilley, an Original Mile resident.

Gilley moved in to her home in the Original Square mile in the late 80s and has seen many of these changes. After feeling forgotten for the last several years as new development pops up around her, she's excited to see the facelift to her neighborhood.

“It had gotten very run down. There was a big problem as far as transients, renters, people who would show up and rent for a couple of months and disappear without paying their rent,” she said.

Work to restore and preserve the neighborhood began with a plan in 2011 and is paid for by sales tax revenue.

“We're land locked and we have built out to all of our other borders so it's just a good thing to reuse and reinvent instead of leaving something behind,” said Julie Shannon, Midwest City Comprehensive Planner.

And it's the little things like neighborhood markers, new sidewalks, and updated landscapes that is making a difference. Restoring the neighborhood where the city all began.

This is only part of the restoration project, there are dozens of other projects planned. The city hopes private investors will step in and fund the rest.

Read more about all the planned projects.