{"id":34854,"date":"2022-05-13T04:00:20","date_gmt":"2022-05-13T09:00:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/?p=34854"},"modified":"2022-05-13T09:56:50","modified_gmt":"2022-05-13T14:56:50","slug":"oklahoma-doesnt-want-us-families-grapple-with-looming-displacement-from-turnpike","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/2022\/05\/13\/oklahoma-doesnt-want-us-families-grapple-with-looming-displacement-from-turnpike\/","title":{"rendered":"&#8216;Oklahoma doesn&#8217;t want us&#8217;: Families grapple with looming displacement from turnpike"},"content":{"rendered":"<div style=\"width: 100%; height: 200px; margin-bottom: 20px; border-radius: 6px; overflow: hidden;\"><iframe style=\"width: 100%; height: 200px;\" src=\"https:\/\/player.captivate.fm\/episode\/23610777-791b-4ce8-8a7e-2ac86dcfa930\" frameborder=\"no\" scrolling=\"no\" seamless=\"\"><\/iframe><\/div><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Darla LeBlanc thought there had to be some kind of mistake.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">She remembers the day vividly. Gov. Kevin Stitt had just announced Oklahoma\u2019s turnpike network was about to expand significantly, and that expansion was going to take a toll road right through her property.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cFebruary 22\u2026 I saw a post on the Ward 5 Norman Facebook page that had 100-something comments. And I looked at it, and it was about, \u2018Hey, has anyone seen this proposed turnpike?\u2019\u201d LeBlanc said. \u201cAnd then I looked at the link, and I looked at the map, and I said, \u2018What? Don\u2019t they know that people live here?\u2019 Like, I thought that was a mistake. I thought something must be wrong. I had no idea that a few people in suits in some corner office could take a map, draw a line on it, and destroy thousands of people\u2019s lives.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_34858\"  class=\"wp-caption module image alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 672px;\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-34858\" src=\"https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/files\/2022\/05\/IMG_5771-2-672x448.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"672\" height=\"448\" srcset=\"https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/files\/2022\/05\/IMG_5771-2-672x448.jpg 672w, https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/files\/2022\/05\/IMG_5771-2-1920x1280.jpg 1920w, https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/files\/2022\/05\/IMG_5771-2-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/files\/2022\/05\/IMG_5771-2-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/files\/2022\/05\/IMG_5771-2-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/files\/2022\/05\/IMG_5771-2-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/files\/2022\/05\/IMG_5771-2-620x413.jpg 620w, https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/files\/2022\/05\/IMG_5771-2-1620x1080.jpg 1620w, https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/files\/2022\/05\/IMG_5771-2.jpg 2000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 672px) 100vw, 672px\" \/><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-media-credit\">Peggy Dodd\/The OU Daily<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-caption-text\">The LeBlanc&#8217;s greenhouses features a variety of plants, including many meant to attract pollinating insects.<\/p>\n<\/div><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Though the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority (OTA) has not yet confirmed the number of houses to be demolished to build the turnpike, the resistance group Pike Off OTA \u2014 nearly 7,000 members strong \u2014 <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pikeoffota.com\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">has counted 665 homes<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> currently in the paths of the proposed <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pikeoffota.com\/south-extension\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">South Extension<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pikeoffota.com\/east-west-connector\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">East-West Corridor<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. They estimate over 4,700 homes sit within a half-mile of the routes and are concerned these properties could depreciate in value.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The OTA has said its <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.accessoklahoma.com\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">ACCESS Oklahoma<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> project will take 15 years to complete, but as property owners are staring down an <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.statista.com\/chart\/27405\/us-median-home-price-days-on-the-market\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">exceptionally volatile housing market<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, concern about availability, especially in Norman, runs high.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">According to the real estate website Zillow, as of publication, there were 263 houses available in Norman, though that number includes some houses on or near the turnpike paths. Homes in rural settings are even rarer. Only 19 properties with an acre or more of land &#8211; which is the size of many of the properties in the South Extension\u2019s path &#8211; are for sale.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In response to a <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cnhinews.com\/oklahoma\/article_902ac0a4-b780-11ec-9b03-b3c6f54b428a.html\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">records request<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> for individual purchase prices for several Turner Turnpike property acquisitions, the OTA told news agency CNHI it was exempted from disclosing that information, citing the material was potentially \u201cprivate financial information.\u201d Later, the agency <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cnhinews.com\/oklahoma\/article_3e6a4550-c022-11ec-91cb-f314767db4d0.html\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">reversed course<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and released the numbers.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sen. Mary Boren, D-Norman, filed <\/span><a href=\"http:\/\/webserver1.lsb.state.ok.us\/cf_pdf\/2021-22%20INT\/SRES\/SCR28%20INT.PDF\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Senate Concurrent Resolution 28<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> on May 9, which would require the OTA to release information about any property acquired for the Kickapoo and ACCESS Turnpike projects in Cleveland County.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cThere\u2019s no way for the average person to negotiate in equal standing with the Turnpike Authority without knowing what property has been bought and sold, and how much it was bought and sold for,\u201d Boren said. \u201cThere\u2019s no Zillow out there for turnpike acquisition of property. The only thing we have to go off of is public records and whatever they\u2019re willing to disclose.\u201d<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Upon passage, the agency would have to release all deeds, the amount paid for property, the amount of state funds used to purchase property for right-of-way access, copies of the contracts between state and property owners, and any rental or lease agreements.<\/span><\/p><p><b>How does property acquisition work?<\/b><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In an <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/2022\/04\/22\/access-turnpike-engineers-provide-timeline-for-environmental-impact-studies-address-water-pollution-concerns-for-oklahoma-turnpike-authority-project\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">interview with StateImpact<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, Kirsten McCullough, the environmental team leader for one of the engineering firms working on the ACCESS project, said environmental impact surveys will be completed prior to any property acquisition. The one exception would be residents who approach the OTA now about purchasing their homes.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">According to handouts provided by the OTA at information sessions, the agency will notify residents whose property is in the path of the turnpike, hire an appraiser to assess the property value, and \u201cin most cases,\u201d the agency will have a second appraiser review the appraisal.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">According to the handout, if a resident doesn\u2019t agree with the appraisal, the agency \u201cwill give full and complete consideration to the property owner\u2019s concerns and negotiate in good faith to reach a fair settlement for both the owner and OTA.\u201d If a settlement can\u2019t be reached, the OTA will defer to the eminent domain process.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">According to an <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.accessoklahoma.com\/property-acquisition\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">informational video on the ACCESS Oklahoma website<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, if eminent domain is used, the OTA would first file paperwork with the district court in the county the property is located. A judge would then appoint three disinterested landowners \u2014 termed \u201ccommissioners\u201d \u2014 to inspect the property and file a just compensation report. The OTA would then deposit with the court the determined amount by the commissioners. By that point, the OTA normally obtains entry to the property, and the resident normally has access to the deposited funds.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">However, in cases where the resident or the OTA objects to the amount decided on by the commissioners, the question could be put up to a jury trial for final determination. According to the video, because a jury trial can take years, the OTA would continue negotiations with the resident in the meantime.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">After closing on the property, the resident normally has 30 days to move out. According to the handout, the agency can negotiate a one-year Occupancy Agreement, which may be able to be extended.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Darla and her husband Cedric LeBlanc \u2014 who were high school sweethearts at Norman High \u2014 don\u2019t want to leave the house and the town they\u2019ve invested their hopes and dreams in.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Norman has too many memories \u2014 Darla was the drum major of the high school marching band, Cedric has spent the last 13 years cultivating a garden and nursery on their property, and their 8-year-old son Nolan was even born in their living room. But for now, the family\u2019s plans of a future in Norman are on hold.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cNorman is a big part of me, and I had never thought I would leave. It\u2019s really hard to consider leaving, but we have talked about it after this,\u201d Darla said. \u201cIt feels like Oklahoma doesn\u2019t want us; our government doesn\u2019t want us.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Darla LeBlanc thought there had to be some kind of mistake.She remembers the day vividly. Gov. Kevin Stitt had just announced Oklahoma\u2019s turnpike network was about to expand significantly, and that expansion was going to take a toll road right through her property.\u00a0\u201cFebruary 22\u2026 I saw a post on the Ward 5 Norman Facebook page [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":216,"featured_media":34857,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[301,16],"tags":[1404,1405,33,1396,1395,1400],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/34854"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/216"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=34854"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/34854\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":34865,"href":"https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/34854\/revisions\/34865"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/34857"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=34854"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=34854"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=34854"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}