With the goals of densifying the region and providing development solutions to income segments that were not being addressed, the Page Woodson Masterplan is a multi-phase project that consists of affordable, market-rate, and senior housing options within Oklahoma City’s urban core on land acquired from the Oklahoma City Urban Renewal Authority. The master plan seeks to renew the once historic JFK neighborhood, bringing it back to life through a mixture of interconnected public and private spaces, and diversification of density.
Phase 2, known as The Seven at Page Woodson creates a modern juxtaposition to the adjacent historic Douglass Auditorium and prioritizes private courtyard spaces to encourage community interaction. This phase consisted of 14 buildings north of The Douglass, the redeveloped historic high school building, with 80 rental units and is named after seven important black historical figures: Inman Page, Zelia Breaux, Ralph Ellison, Henrietta B. Foster, Charlie Christian, F.D. Moon and Abram Ross. A Gardner-designed coffee shop became the first retail tenant for the community.
Gardner’s work on Page Woodson is multi-faceted, with units of varying sizes and layouts, meant to provide a modern, eye-catching complement to the adjacent historic buildings.