The decade-long transformation of the historic Page Woodson school into a catalyst for revival of the John F. Kennedy neighborhood is about to wrap up with the creation of a commemorative plaza honoring the history of the Black American landmark.
The school was a blight on the neighborhood for more than 20 years. Ron Bradshaw, who purchased the school and surrounding properties in 2013 after bidding for the Urban Renewal project, met repeatedly with neighbors as he and project manager Gina Sofola developed the mix of affordable and market-rate housing in addition to restoring the school into apartments.
They’ve taken the same approach with a proposed $6 million commemorative plaza designed by Hans and Tori Butzer, the same pair who won international accolades for the Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum.
“The plaza itself, the idea, has always been a part of our master plan,” Sofola said. “When we presented the overall plan, when we competed for this, we presented this to Urban Renewal. Everything that has been built is in anticipation of this.”