Oversight board nixes 6 proposed Oklahoma County jail locations, including one offered for free
School administrators, residents and a county commissioner voiced their concerns Wednesday about the possibility of building a new Oklahoma County jail next to a high school in northeast Oklahoma City. Members of a committee appointed to help select the future jail site made their concern known, too, and nixed the site as a possible location the same day.
Oklahoma County's Citizens Bond Oversight Advisory Board voted Wednesday to recommend the county drop the idea of using a free, 77-acre site near Britton Road and Kelley Avenue — and five additional sites — from its list of a dozen potential jail locations.
County commissioners have the final say in selecting the new jail's location and design. However, the oversight board's recommendation this week came after meeting with the project's architects, who are advising board members on strengths and weaknesses of each proposed location.
In 2022, Oklahoma County voters approved a $260 million bond issue to replace the existing jail. County Commissioners since have set aside $40 million in federal funds to include a mental health unit as part of the new facility.
Earlier this year, Oklahoma County sought proposals from landowners across its jurisdiction to consider as potential new locations for the jail.
But many of those offered sites were in northeast Oklahoma City, something that upset residents throughout that community who expressed frustrations they were the dumping site for projects no one else wanted in their backyards.
The oversight board's recommendation comes as county commissioners continue work to replace a troubled jail that opened downtown in 1991.
Since it opened, the jail has been plagued by numerous escapes, failed health inspections and more than 40 deaths involving detainees inside of the facility since its operations were taken over by a trust. The jail's operations also have been criticized by federal agencies and a multi-county grand jury.
Possible Oklahoma County jail sites trimmed from oversight committee's list
The oversight committee trimmed its list after discussing sites with architects hired to design the new jail during an executive session lasting nearly 90 minutes. Other sites it recommended dropping are:
38 acres of land at Portland Avenue and SW 29 offered for sale for $3.5 million or through a trade for the county jail property at 201 N Shartel Ave. by South Rail Port, LLC.
132 acres of land at 7501 N Midwest Blvd. offered for sale for $3 million or $2 million for 80 acres by the Ted Eckroat and Pat Eckroat Revocable Living Trust.
63 acres of land at 18437 SE 29 offered for sale for $7,531,197 or $5,989,500 for 50 acres by Tslagi Development LLC.
60 acres of land at 900 S Council Road offered for sale for $15 million by Bigbee LLC.
63 acres of land on the southwest frontage of the interchange of Interstate 35 and the Kilpatrick Turnpike offered for sale for $11.7 million by Meadows 61 LLC.
Six locations, including the jail's current home at 201 N Shartel, remain under consideration
The board and county-hired architects HOK and REES are now evaluating six locations, including the jail's current home at 201 N Shartel. Architects said the goal is to recommend a preferred site and jail design in November, unless county commissioners disagree or decide to solicit additional offers from county landowners.
Beyond the jail's existing site, the other locations include:
71 acres of land at 1901 E Grand offered for sale for $5,415,000 by Willowbrook Investments LLC and Garret & Co. Resources LLC.
53 acres of land at 6945 S Post Road offered for sale for $3.3 million by TJK Investments LLC.
45 acres of land at Post Road and I-40 offered for sale for $1.5 million by Moore Real Estate Development LLC.
Up to 160 acres of land at 5201 S Meridian Ave. offered for sale for an undisclosed price by the Oklahoma City Airport Trust.
Up to 192 acres of land at Regina Avenue and SW 54 offered for sale for an undisclosed price by the Oklahoma City Airport Trust.
Several people told the oversight board Wednesday they oppose building a new jail near the airport, fearing it could make it difficult to get detainees to and from court hearings and make it harder for attorneys to meet with their clients.
"If you can't get people to the courthouse in an efficient way, you can't get them out of your jail," attorney Clay Curtis told board members.
Could current Oklahoma County jail site be used for new jail?
Jeff Bradley, director of HOK's global justice practice, told oversight board members building a new jail at its current location is possible.
However, a new jail there likely would have to be six stories in height, plus additional land would be needed either north or east of the existing jail property, both for detainee temporary housing and to provide room for future expansion.
"If you were to rebuild there, it would take about two to three years and everyone would have to be moved out of the existing building. Where would you put them in the meantime? How would you handle the safety and security of that?" asked Bradley.
A two-story jail on 45 acres with a center wing used for intakes, evaluations and releases, a mental health facility on one wing and the jail itself on the other makes more sense, Bradley said.
"It would be a lot more foot work with no elevators, which have been a real thorn in the side of the existing jail for all these years, impacting both its detainees and staff."
As for attorneys' concerns about difficulties in meeting with clients or making required court dates, remote technologies could address those issues, Bradley said.
While not an option here, some communities actually have moved their courthouses and jails out of downtowns altogether, he said.
Bradley and Farooq Karim, vice president of REES in Oklahoma City, said their goal is to help the oversight board reach a consensus about what kind of jail to design and where it should be built.
The biggest issue, Karim said, is to decide whether or not the county wants another high-rise jail.
Beyond that, he said detailed analyses are needed to evaluate how difficult it would be to get from the new jail's location to the courthouse downtown, how surrounding properties are used, whether any schools or churches are nearby and whether or not proposed locations have needed electric, water, sewer, gas and data communications services.
Properties' topographies, flood plains and environmental issues must be evaluated as well because they impact project costs significantly.
Based on what's learned, the architects will develop lists of pros and cons on each remaining property to discuss with the board, he said.
"We have got a tough job, but it is an important and rewarding one that we can work through together. It is going to take a village to get this done," Karim said.
School leaders, residents voice concerns about possible northeast OKC jail
More than a dozen people addressed the board Wednesday to oppose the possible jail location off of Kelley Avenue north of Britton Road, next to Harding Charter Preparatory High School.
Speakers included the high school's top administrator, as well as Oklahoma City Public Schools Superintendent Sean McDaniel, Millwood Public Schools Superintendent Cecilia Robinson-Woods and Barry Schmelzenbach, executive director of the Oklahoma Public Charter School Association.
Steven Stefanick, Harding's superintendent, said the high school is one of Oklahoma's best with its 114 graduates from 2023 accumulating more than $7 million in scholarships from universities they went on to attend.
Additional schools, new homes and commercial developments have followed the high school to the neighborhood after it moved there in 2018, he said.
"I urge you members to make the right decision to fill our classrooms with windows of opportunity, not images of Oklahoma County's jail," he said.
After Wednesday's board meeting, Oklahoma County District 1 Commissioner Carrie Blumert, who represents that part of Oklahoma City within the county, issued a statement indicating she would not support locating the jail on the free 77-acre property offered by Bergen Real Estate.
"I am confident we can find a site that meets the needs of all stakeholders without inflicting continued harm on northeast Oklahoma City,” Blumert said.
Last week, District 3 Commissioner Myles Davidson also told The Oklahoman he would not support locating the jail on the Bergen property.
Davidson said he often hears people remark today's public schools are just pipelines to prisons. Building a jail next to a school "takes that argument to the extreme," he said.
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: New Oklahoma County jail likely won't be located near NE OKC school
