Restoring Moton: A Building Rooted in Community, Reimagined for the Future
The restoration of the Moton building in North Tulsa has been featured in the Tulsa World, highlighting the years of effort, community connection, and care behind bringing the historic structure back to life.
Coverage of the project reflects both the significance of the building itself and its role in the continued investment and revitalization of the Greenwood District.
The story captures something that has been true throughout the project. This building has always meant more than its physical structure.
For generations, the Moton building has been tied to family histories. It was a place where stories began, where milestones were marked, and where connections to the Greenwood community were formed. Even after sitting vacant for decades, that connection never faded.
Throughout the restoration process, community members would often stop by and ask what was happening and when the building might return. Many shared personal connections. They talked about relatives who were born there and memories tied to the space. There was a clear sense that the building had not been forgotten. It was being watched and waited on.
After more than 20 years of vacancy, the structure had fallen into significant disrepair. Portions of the roof had collapsed. Materials had deteriorated. The building had been left open to time and the elements. Inside, signs of abandonment were evident.
“It was boarded up, and people had been inside. We found personal belongings left behind. It was a building that had clearly been through a lot,” said Angela Sexton, Principal at Ethos.
But beneath those conditions, the structure’s core remained intact.
That foundation made restoration possible.
Working alongside Tulsa Economic Development Corporation, Beantown Enterprises, and the broader project team, the effort focused on bringing the building back through adaptive reuse. The goal was to preserve what could be saved while carefully rebuilding what could not. Much of the original masonry remains, with new materials thoughtfully integrated to support the building’s next phase. Even small details required precision, including hand matching new brick to the existing facade to maintain continuity.
Today, the building is home to Greenwood Entrepreneurship at Moton, or GEM. It is a hub designed to support small business development and expand access to emerging industries like technology and artificial intelligence. The project creates space for learning, innovation, and opportunity. It serves a new generation while staying rooted in the history of the community it belongs to.
The continued coverage speaks to the broader impact of the project, not only as a restored building, but as part of a larger story of reinvestment and opportunity in North Tulsa.
The story of Moton is ultimately one of persistence, partnership, and community investment. Its restoration reflects not only what was preserved, but what was made possible by the people who believed it could return.
Read “Restored Moton building opens, part of north Tulsa ‘revival’” in Tulsa World →
Read “Restoring historic Moton building took years, a labor of ‘community love’” in Tulsa World →