For decades, Brookside has enjoyed a thriving restaurant and shopping scene with a bustling nightlife. But at the heart of this vibrant, walkable neighborhood sits a long-vacant church — shuttered and decaying for years.
Built in 1952, Brookside Baptist Church sprung up when the strip between East 31st Street and East 51st Street on South Peoria Avenue was colloquially called the “restless ribbon,” referring to the amount of folks that cruised up and down Brookside.
Sixty-six years later, the church dropped “Baptist” from its name amid declining attendance. After the COVID-19 pandemic, the church never reopened. Since it closed, animals have taken shelter in the abandoned building, which now dons wooden boards in place of stained glass.
Dr. Chet Thomas, a veterinarian who practices at City Veterinarian Hospital catty-corner from the church property, said the Brookside Business Association used to hold meetings in the building.
“They came out one day and said it’s past repair and it’s going to cost too much for the church to fix it up,” Thomas said.
Tim Clark, president of the BBA, is unsure what will happen to that property. It most recently changed hands in June, but no development has taken place.
“We’re as much in the dark as anybody,” Clark said. “They haven’t told us anything.”
McCrary Lowe is listed as the registered agent for 36 Peoria Development LLC, which owns the property. The company purchased the Brookside Baptist Church property and an adjoining strip of land for about $3.27 million in June. Reached via email, Lowe said he is unable to speak about plans for the property.
A ‘sad’ sight
Years ago, Clark said there was a deal in place to put a seven-story apartment complex on the land with restaurants, retail and parking space, but it fell through.
“We thought that was the moon,” Clark said.
Joe Trizza, co-owner of New York Bagel Cafe, said a developer is going to have to build something with enough square footage to turn a profit — but he believes the neighborhood will stand against it.
In recent years, the Brookside neighborhood has fought development proposals larger than two stories.
“Something needs to happen there, but whoever develops it has to be able to make money,” Trizza said. “In order to do that, you’re going to have to develop it in a way that a lot of people are not going to like.”
Trizza said he is open to anything “within reason.”
“Highrise apartments or condos. You’ll definitely need retail,” Trizza said. “A mixed-use (project) would be nice, a parking garage possibly.”
Thomas said he could imagine a mixed-use development with retail on the bottom and loft apartments on top. However, he said it would have to be a “reasonable” height to be accepted by the neighborhood.
“That’d be great. You see that happen in these revitalized areas in Austin. It seems to work,” Thomas said. “You just got to build something nice and get some retail space down there. It makes sense.”
Clark is hopeful someone will make use of that space soon.
“It’s just sad for Brookside to see it sit there vacant,” he said.
‘Pie in the sky’ hopes for the space
Denise Brewer is a former state representative who has lived in Brookside for three decades. She says Tulsa has a strong arts and culture scene — and could continue that momentum by turning the Brookside church into an extension of the historic Church Studio.
“If we could use that for recording studios, make it the place for everyone we’re inviting to come to Tulsa and work in the arts — it could be a home base, if you will,” Brewer said. “If we could talk Church Studio into it and say lots of prayers for Leon (Russell) and ask for his blessing, it could be a big draw.”
The Church Studio, located in the Pearl District, was established by songwriter Leon Russell. Built as a church in 1915, Russell converted it into a recording studio in 1972.
While Brewer called that idea “pie in the sky,” she also said the neighborhood needs another community space for organizations to host meetings or events.
“You would have to get philanthropists plus the city on board and get some grants,” Brewer said. “But if we could provide music and art lessons and still also provide a nice place to hold meetings or gatherings of any sort — that to me would be a perfect place for that.”
No matter what comes of the Brookside Baptist Church property, Brewer said the neighborhood does not need anymore white paint.
“It has come down Brookside like a tube of toothpaste,” she said. “Brookside has always been a really good, eclectic mix. That’s what makes it have personality, that’s what brings people to Brookside.”
While Brewer does not believe Brookside needs another fast food joint after Raising Cane’s and Chick-Fil-A recently opened, she does make one exception.
“Brookside has been in mourning for years ever since they took away our Sonic,” Brewer said. “That is my one caveat to fast food, is if they’ll give us our Sonic back. It has to be a good Sonic though.”
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