Oklahoma Faces 200,000 Abandoned Buildings Crisis, Lawmakers Study Solutions
- mike33692
- Aug 14
- 1 min read
OKLAHOMA CITY — Across Oklahoma, an estimated 200,000 abandoned buildings sit empty — many crumbling, attracting vandalism, and dragging down small-town main streets. These neglected structures, once thriving businesses or family homes, are now a growing burden for communities struggling to afford demolition or restoration.
State lawmakers are taking a closer look. An interim legislative study is underway to
explore the economic and safety impacts of these properties and how to address them.
State Senator Bill Coleman says the problem is twofold: “We have high costs for tearing them down, and in many cases, property owners who’ve simply walked away.”
High Demolition Costs Leave Cities Struggling to Remove Unsafe Structures
The cost to remove a single unsafe building can range from $10,000 to over $100,000, depending on size and location, making it financially impossible for many municipalities to keep up. Meanwhile, these properties can become fire hazards, attract crime, and lower surrounding property values.
Some communities are exploring grants, public-private partnerships, or incentives for redevelopment. Others are pushing for changes in state law to give cities more authority to seize and repurpose long-abandoned properties.
While there’s no quick fix, lawmakers hope the study will lead to solutions that balance property rights with the urgent need to revitalize Oklahoma’s downtowns and neighborhoods.