The Center of the Universe is getting a $7 million makeover — and Tulsans will get a chance to see it begin in November.
The local tourist attraction, famous for its acoustic anomaly, will have a groundbreaking ceremony at 10 a.m. Nov. 16 to unveil its new green space and structural improvements. There will also be a time capsule sealing filled with messages from locals. Residents can submit a letter to future Tulsans here.
Renovations were first planned back in 2019, with city officials hitting pause during the COVID-19 pandemic and then restarting in 2021. The project includes a maintenance fund to ensure future repairs are paid for.
“I think what we’re doing is even better than fixing it. We’ve worked with the city and county to make sure the bridge is safe for pedestrians, and then we’ve got a whole new experience,” Kristina Scott, president of Downtown Tulsa Partnership, told more than 100 members at the group’s annual meeting Tuesday.
BOK Financial is the lead donor, contributing $1.75 million to the renewal project which is located on its shared plaza. Other partners include the city itself, PSO and the George Kaiser Family Foundation.
Speaking at the meeting, Mayor Monroe Nichols shared more about his vision to enhance downtown, including increasing the city’s tax on short-term rentals like hotels, motels and Airbnbs. Voters will have their chance to weigh in on the proposal Nov. 3.
If approved, the tax would nearly double from 5% to 9.9% beginning Jan. 1 and help pay for upgrades to the city-owned BOK Center and Arvest Convention Center. It’s estimated to generate $20.6 million for the city, a $10 million increase from the current tax percentage.
The tax would apply to rental properties with five or more rooms. Tulsans last voted to increase the lodging tax in 1984.
“Tulsans will not pay. It’s the people who are coming downtown, the visitors coming to the (Bob) Dylan Center, going to Greenwood or going to something at the BOK Center,” Scott said.
Scott became DTP’s president in August after an eight-month search following the departure of former president Brian Kurtz. Scott, who moved to Tulsa from Ohio, told The Eagle her plan as president is to help the city reach its full potential.
During her conversation with Nichols, they discussed different ways to address downtown’s growing population. The goal ties directly into the mayor’s plan to increase housing across Tulsa.
“Homelessness has been one of those challenges. (We’re) figuring out how you meet the moment with compassion, but also aggressive action. Safe Move has been part of that,” Nichols said.
Downtown Tulsa Partnership, by the numbers
Downtown Tulsa Partnership shared milestones from the last year, including:
- Downtown Tulsa had $760 million in investments at the end of 2025.
- Cherokee Nation Businesses’ $42 million purchase of the Williams Center Complex positioned downtown to bring in more than 800 jobs.
- 44% of respondents in the partnership’s annual survey said downtown safety had improved over the past year, up from 30% in 2025.
- The group’s Ambassador Team collected 375,870 pounds of trash — nearly 188 tons — and removed 3,287 graffiti incidents.
- The 918 Day Festival welcomed more than 2,500 people and 75 vendors. Its Shop Downtown initiative generated more than $80,000 in local spending and supported more than 35 small businesses.
Disclosure: George Kaiser Family Foundation has provided financial support for The Oklahoma Eagle and Tulsa Flyer. News decisions at The Oklahoma Eagle are made independently of our board members and financial supporters. Read more about our editorial independence policy here.
Ismael Lele is a Report for America corps member and writes about business in Tulsa for The Oklahoma Eagle. Your donation to match our Report for America grant helps keep him writing stories like this one; please consider making a tax-deductible gift of any amount today by visiting this link.
