Norman resident says turnpike expansion proposal will devalue home

NORMAN, Okla. (KFOR) – The turmoil over a controversial turnpike enlargement proposal continues as a Norman widow points out how she, like potentially hundreds of some others, will be impacted negatively if it turns into a actuality.

The Oklahoma Turnpike Authority is proposing a new turnpike together Indian Hills Road, 1 that would hook up Newcastle to Norman. They are also wanting to prolong the Kickapoo Turnpike west of Lake Thunderbird, essentially connecting the Kickpoo Turnpike to Purcell.

Possibly standing in the way of that proposal, having said that, is an approximated 600 households, one particular of them belonging to a widow who says the turnpike expansion will at most depart her with no her beloved home and at greatest severely devalue it.

Tassie Hirschfeld invited KFOR to her Norman dwelling Friday to exhibit us how, according OTA’s recent plan, the turnpike would be developed about a quarter-mile from her house. She lives close to Southeast 84th Avenue and Cedar Lane Road.

“Who wishes to obtain a house next to a freeway?” she questioned, her voice stuffed with emotion. “The current path, it will be suitable there. I suggest, basically, my neighbor’s property is in the eminent domain zone, and so, rather of the tranquil nature, it’ll be semi-vehicles and website traffic and air pollution and dazzling lights proper there.”

Hirschfeld claimed even assumed ideal now she’s not in the eminent domain zone of the turnpike’s planned path, she’d possible have to move to regain peace in her life.

She discussed that this is also about much more than just income to her, but about shedding a residence cherished to her heart, 1 her late husband custom made-created in 2007.

“It just feels like shedding him all more than all over again, but in an even worse way than I could have imagined,” she reported.

Her partner Corson Hirschfeld was a effectively-regarded artist. He died of dementia in 2020.

“This residence is particular simply because my partner and I developed and built it,” she mentioned. “He was an artist. It demonstrates all of his really like of splendor and producing stunning factors. He did almost everything from picking out and staining people cedar columns [by the front door] to generating that stained glass window [above it], to building and planning all of the landscaping, planting all of the trees and expending several hours and times and months reading about prairie ecosystems so we could make a wildlife habitat here. So, that all speaks to who he was as a particular person, and that all of that like of land and splendor and nature can be stolen from me by a turnpike that the town doesn’t want or have to have is so mistaken.”

Hirschfeld explained she also fears that an adjustment of the turnpike’s route could likely set her in the eminent area zone, where dozens and possibly hundreds would be taken off from their houses.

She claimed the OTA has place a really hard pause on all of their lives.

“They’re keeping our residences hostage for the reason that we can not make lifetime decisions, we can’t make strategies, we can’t think about promoting or relocating mainly because there is just so substantially uncertainty,” she mentioned.

On Tuesday, Norman City Council passed a resolution expressing their opposition to the growth.

An Oklahoma Turnpike Authority formal responded to KFOR by email, prior to the council’s vote Tuesday, indicating concerns and fears go on to be dealt with, and that it would maintain “several public conferences in the impacted places to talk about the corridor and get enter from regional property house owners.”

Prior to that, the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority provided Information 4 with the adhering to statement:

“March 11th, OTA formally assigned a dozen engineering design teams to start off function on specific initiatives in the course of the Obtain Oklahoma program. These assignments set off the beginning of preliminary reports and preliminary styles. Aerial and ground survey work together the proposed venture places is among the the 1st functions to come about. You should notice – this is the commencing of a extended procedure. On the other hand, some tasks, these types of as widening the John Kilpatrick Turnpike, can start faster considering that no appropriate-of-way is necessary for design.

OTA’s general public reaction workforce continues communicating with worried citizens who have attained out for info on the plan. Thoughts and concerns continue on to be dealt with as they are obtained, ordinarily within 24 hours.

For the most up-to-date facts about this software, make sure you go to www.AccessOklahoma.com. To notice, OTA presents an informational podcast via the web site.”

OKLAHOMA TURNPIKE AUTHORITY SPOKESPERSON