Natalie Maldonado is a senior studying marketing and Spanish at the University of Tulsa and is scheduled to graduate in December 2025. Natalie is working together with several other students on the TURC Housing Policy project to develop AI-powered workflows that can streamline housing feasibility analysis.
Mark your calendars for the final presentation of the TURC Housing Policy Research team on August 8th from 11:30am-1pm. You are invited to join us for a lunch and learn event as the students showcase their research findings in Helmerich Hall, Room 219 (2900 E 5th Street). Please RSVP so that we have an accurate count for lunch: https://pp.events/bVQqqkXj
AI Workflows for Housing Development Feasibility
by: Natalie Maldonado
Tulsa, like many growing cities, faces the challenge of making sure its neighborhoods are safe, vibrant, and full of affordable housing options. The city has set clear goals to tackle issues like blighted properties and housing shortages by the year 2028. Achieving these goals means making smarter decisions faster. At the University of Tulsa, the research program emphasizes the importance of connecting academic work with real community needs. Alongside developing technical skills, students are encouraged to engage meaningfully with the city.
Guided by this approach, our team is building AI powered workflows designed to help city planners, developers, and policymakers quickly grasp property conditions and pinpoint areas that need the most attention. A major challenge has been handling vast amounts of property data, which traditionally requires hours of work from multiple people. This slows down the process of uncovering meaningful patterns and prioritizing redevelopment efforts.
My first workflow (created using n8n) automates the gathering of this data from public sources, summarizing it to give a current picture of violations across the city. This saves time and ensures decisions are based on the latest information.
From there, my second workflow takes a closer look by analyzing key details like how many violations have occurred, how recently they happened, and how often they appear over the last six to twelve months. These insights paint a clearer picture of which properties need the most urgent care.
As development continues, both of these workflows will be integrated with AI models to provide even more powerful analysis and decision support, enabling Tulsa’s leaders to act with greater confidence and precision.
By turning complex data into easy-to-understand insights, these AI tools are designed to empower Tulsa’s leaders to make more informed choices that support healthier neighborhoods and more affordable housing. We are excited to keep improving these workflows as Tulsa works toward its vision for a stronger, more welcoming city.