The building located at 1401 E. Highland shows no sign of what its future holds. By looking at it, one wouldn't know it is the future site of a rehabilitation center for sex offenders. That future has several Shawnee residents looking for answers and help from city officials.
Joann Jones, who lives next door to the center's intended site, said she had no idea what was being put in the vacant building until her son asked the workers what the building was going to be.
After she learned about the rehabilitation center, she started asking questions and passing out fliers to inform neighbors.
"My bedroom windows are 35 feet from the center," she said.
State statute prohibits convicted sex offenders from being within 300 feet of any school, licensed child-care facility, playground or park. The center is about 310 feet from Horace Mann School.
"The neighborhood is full of children," Jones said. "They walk up and down the street all the time. This is putting a host of people in danger."
Jones, along with other residents in the area, are questioning why the center is being put in a residential area where children always are.
The center will be open Wednesday nights, but residents are concerned about the neighborhood children who live and play in the area.
Resident Faith Jacoway said regardless of the classes being held at night, there are children playing in yards and in the street at all times of the day.
"If you can't be safe in your own home and in your own yard, where can you be safe," she asked.
"If they have to have armed guards on Wednesday nights, what does that tell you," she said. "What about the other six days of the week after they see all the children in the area?"
The center also will be located near several churches. The state law refers to schools, licensed child-care facilities, playgrounds or parks, but there is no mention of churches.
Jones said the churches have Wednesday night services and youth group activities with children coming and going. The children attending are in eye's view of the center, she said.
Jones said she measured the distance from the center's property to the church property where youth activities are held every Wednesday. The distance is less than 295 feet to the property, she said.
"It's scary that they can't be within 300 feet of a school, but they can be within 10 feet of someone's house," resident Kaci Vasquez said.
Jacoway said Horace Mann's school zone ends in front of the center's property. "You can't speed there, but you can have sex offenders there," she said.
Jacoway said the location is considered a business area because it faces Highland Street, but there are only four businesses in the area with everything else being residential. She said there is a scheduled bus stop directly in front of the building.
"Our children are within 100 feet," resident Russell Gelino said. "We're within arms reach."
Jacoway said she is concerned that no one was told the center was going to bring convicted sex offenders into their neighborhood every week.
Jones said the planning department told her that Oklahoma law doesn't require the neighborhood to be notified when this type of center is being put in.
"They have to register where they live, but they don't have to register where they are going to meet," Jacoway said.
Jacoway said if there is nothing the community could do to prevent the center from coming to the area, then the residents need to know who is using the center for rehabilitation and who will be in the neighborhood.
The residents need to be able to recognize the people coming in and out of the center, she said.
The group of residents aren't against rehabilitation centers for convicted sex offenders; the residents are wanting it in an area with fewer children and residences.
Jacoway said she is all for rehabilitation, but there is the potential that the center will not help everyone. For someone it will not help, the neighborhood offers temptation, she said.
"There needs to be something for rehabilitation, but it doesn't need to be there (Highland)," Jacoway said.
Another reason hits home for Jones and Vasquez. Both women have experienced sexual abuse or had family members who have dealt with it.
Vasquez said the victims that may live in the neighborhood need to be considered.
"I know what it's like," Jones said, referring to her experience. "I don't want it to happen to my grandchildren. I can't bear the thought of going through that with my grandchildren.
"If it (the center) goes in, I can't live there. The thought of having to live with it there, I lose my piece of mind and security," she said.
The center's owner could not be reached, but Mayor Chuck Mills said if the center is in compliance with the state law, there is nothing the city can do. He said if it is within the rights of the law, residents need to be aware of where it's at and what it is there for.
"Our hands are tied," he said. "It's a fine line we (the city) walk."
The residents who live near the center aren't going to sit back because the center can legally be there. They are going to the city commission meeting Monday night to plead their cause.
"It may be legal, but I don't find it ethical or moral to put children at risk," Jones said.
Amanda Gire may be reached at amanda.gire@news-star.com or at 214-3934.
