OKMULGEE – On March 28, 2019, the Muscogee (Creek) Nation held a groundbreaking ceremony and announced the beginning of the AKHVSE TVTCENEN- Three Ponds Elder Housing construction project. It has been six years since the project was announced.
The project, as part of the MCN Tribal Master Plan, includes 72 cottage-style single housing units to elderly MCN citizens. The community-structured housing development would be located near the tribal complex off Mission Ave. in Okmulgee. The plans, designed by New Fire Native Design Group, featured a 36-acre development that would also host a central activity center, community gardens, and walking trails.
At the groundbreaking, then Principal Chief James Floyd commented on the need for elderly housing. “More of our citizens are getting into the elderly category in normal time. So, the demand is only going to rise but they are living longer and we wanted to make sure that we have a plan for them to have a healthy lifestyle as they age.”
The $13M HUD funded project was awarded to Harris Construction in June 2020. MCN Executive quarterly reports from 2019-2025 paint a picture of a project marred by setbacks and delays. Since announcing the project, the MCN has had six different Secretaries of the Department of Housing: Jaime Nichols, Beverly Snow, Tracy Revis, Natie Beauty, Jeff Fife, and current Secretary of Housing Little Snowfield. According to the reports, the official start date of the project was July 2020 with work to be completed in early 2022. This start date was pushed back to July 2021 with the reports citing “site grading and weather issues.”
Work began on slabs, framing, and civil work in Oct. 2021 and continued until July 2022, when a wetlands issue emerged in the reports. Scant information is given about the necessary restoration, but according to the reports, the restoration was completed nearly a year later in June 2023. The cottages and activity center were completed by April 2024.
According to the 1st quarterly report from FY 2025, “Akhvse Tutcenen (Three Ponds) project units and buildings are complete. The roads are still under construction. The manager has been processing applications and working on the waiting list. The maintenance staff has helped with cleaning up around the buildings, mowing, weed eating, placing sod down and watering the grounds.”
According to the recent 2nd quarterly report from FY 2025, “Three Ponds Drainage, Roads and Driveway Construction began on October 1, 2024 with McGuire Brothers Construction. It should be completed by July 2025. The Elders Center (Three Ponds) and the Maintenance Building is at 100% complete and utility services are online. The Roads are being worked on by the McGuire Brothers. They are working on the roads and drainage project under the direction of the Federal Roads.” It also states, “The road and drainage project are 40% complete. The total project is 98% complete.”
The site served as a location for FX series “Reservation Dogs” set, appearing in Season 2, episode 3 “Roofing” that aired on August 10, 2022.
Mvskoke Media has reached out to Principal Chief David Hill, Chief of Staff Jeff Fife, and Housing Secretary Little Snow Fields for a statement about the setbacks and an updated completion date. As of press time, we have not received a response.
