Wall-breaking announced for new Native-owned coworking space in Broken Arrow

(BROKEN ARROW, Okla.) Though officially platted as a townsite in 1902, like many other cities and towns in Northeast Oklahoma, Broken Arrow’s first permanent residents were Indigenous people. In the case of Broken Arrow, those people were the Muscogee (Creek), who settled in the area during the 1820s and 1830s following forced removal from their ancestral homelands. 

Now the fourth largest city in the state, Broken Arrow maintains a connection to its small-town heritage through dedicated efforts such as the city’s revitalized Rose District on Main Street.

For Steven Hollabaugh (Cherokee), this combination of Native American heritage and sense of community embodies the culture he honors through his business Native Strategies. It also makes Broken Arrow’s Main Street the ideal location for his next venture: Native Spaces. 

“The idea of Native Spaces came about in late 2022 when we started to recognize the needs for co-working, short-term rental space, and event venues as a mixed-use development in the Rose District,” Hollabaugh said. “My family has been on Main Street Broken Arrow since the 1930’s and this location has a historical significance to me.” 

Hollabaugh’s great grandfather was the superintendent of schools, operating the old school house on Main Street. His grandfather later followed in his Main Street footsteps as the town dentist until the mid-90’s.

“Broken Arrow Main Street is where I grew up,” Hollabaugh said. “And I hope for that to continue for the next several generations as Broken Arrow continues to grow in stature but remains a small town at its core.” 

Native Strategies, a certified Native American Owned Small Business and Indian Small Business Economic Enterprise, provides full-service civil engineering, construction management, and program management services. 

The company plans to build out the new space in two phases. The first phase, a co-working and short-term rental space, is expected to be completed in October 2024. The second phase, rooftop event venues, are expected to be completed in 2025. 

Hollabaugh is inviting the public to a wall breaking at 209 S Main Street in Broken Arrow on Friday, March 8, at 9:00 AM. Proposed renderings for the space will be available for viewing during the event, as well.  

“We’re humbled to develop a space where people will want to come work, stay, and have events that add to the Broken Arrow Main Street history,” Hollabaugh said.

You can sign up for updates about the project here.