The Tulsa Forum by TulsaNow

At the end of the TulsaNow Annual meeting on on 1/29/07, brainstorming was done and ideas drawn out. After everything was on paper, everyone "voted" what they thought was important using sticky arrows. Here is the results (sorry for the large images, they have to be big to be legible.)

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What do you think is missing? What do you think is most important?

Smart, insightful, well mannered people eating free food and drink. Is there anything better?

Looks like to me that 4 of the items received the most votes: Form Based Codes, New Source of City Funding, Moratorium on Downtown Building Destruction and Grocery/Shopping Incentives for Downtown Development.

They are equally important to me. I still don't grasp form based codes but if Jamie likes it, Stevie likes it.

A note about the Grocery/Shopping incentives. IMO the future of Downtown relies on not just increasing density but expanding the concept of what comprises a shopping district. Density will then follow. What HomeDepot came to realize quite by accident was that their trade area was not downtown but all the surrounding neighborhoods not adequately served. By accident, because their MO is to locate near exit/entrances to busy expressways so as to be attractive to building trades. They found out that nearby Mapleridge, Brady, and others would become just as profitable.

So if a concerted effort to attract a grocer, drugstore, sundries type operation was effected it could be pointed out that a downtown trade area includes nearby Resevoir Hill, Gilcrease, Owen Park, Riverview, Maple Ridge and near Northside. Combine that with the transient business population coming and going each day and you have the density that a company desires before investing. Once shopping and services make living, walking & relaxing downtown obvious, the demand for housing will increase.

Don't be fooled into thinking that site selection people are wise enough to know that. They are comprised of suburban reared and educated MBA's that come into town for a few days, look around, drink and report back what their superiors already believed.

For instance I once saw a study of BA a few years ago done by a Boston survey group who suggested that a Farm Implements Store would be the best use of shopping center land at 145th & BA. The owners sold the buildings and missed the boom of retail there.

I agree--particularly for the northside, which is very underserved.  I would imagine that most residents of Riverview, Owen Park, Brady Heights, Gilcrease, etc... would much rather drive downtown than 41st or 71st, or wherever they need to go for shopping.

I don't see free wi fi on there. If we want people to live downtown and near downtown something must be done to improve the public schools these areas feed into.

Please take the time to attend this school board candidate forum for the District that covers downtown and most of the near downtown neighborhoods.

TPS board election forums set
By Staff Reports
1/28/2007


Candidates in the District 1 Tulsa school board race are set to speak at public events twice in the coming week.

Incumbent school board member Gary Percefull and retired Tulsa teacher Brenda Barre are candidates in the Feb. 13 election.

On Monday, the candidates will speak at a meeting of the Tulsa Indian Coalition Against Racism, or TICAR, at 6 p.m at the Maxwell Park Library, 1313 N. Canton Ave.

The candidates will have a presentation with Q & A.

On Feb. 1, Webster High School and the Southwest Tulsa Chamber of Commerce will host a candidate forum from 7-9 p.m. in the Webster school auditorium, 1919 W. 40th St.

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Originally posted by Rico

Originally posted by sgrizzle..

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What do you think is missing?

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You need to get Sean a box of markers with more colors in it..

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He brought a whole box but decided to only use the scented ones.

I like the idea for incentives to build energy-effient buildings...

But what would be considered 'affordable downtown housing?'

What is the average price of a house near downtown now?

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Originally posted by Hawkins

I like the idea for incentives to build energy-effient buildings...

But what would be considered 'affordable downtown housing?'

What is the average price of a house near downtown now?

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That was in reference to the fact that a few apartments have been built downtown, but those few are "luxury" apartments. Not much in the $600-700 range.

I am glad the important issue of affordable, sustainable, and (i hope)disaster resistant homes is finally on TulsaNow's collective radar. I hope this discussion continues in earnest and this conversation evolves into action. I am also pleased to see that lighting standards, public transit, and underground utility relocations will be included in this focus. TulsaNow ought to plan a forum to discuss making Tulsa an affordable, sustainable, automobile independent, disaster resistant community.

I am really surprised that neither improved public transit nor the comprehensive plan update came up.

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Originally posted by Kenosha

I am really surprised that neither improved public transit nor the comprehensive plan update came up.

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Smaller roads and more crosswalks were mentioned as part of the discussion on lowering reliance on cars.

The comprehensive plan was discussed earlier in the meeting and referenced as part of the collaborations to work on.

A change in thinking about transportation will certainly be a part of the comprehensive plan debate...and you can be certain that TN will stand firmly on the side of a pedestrian-friendly, transit-oriented, bikeable future.

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Originally posted by sgrizzle


Smaller roads and more crosswalks were mentioned as part of the discussion on lowering reliance on cars.

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According to the World, 15th Street will be getting some more crosswalks.  http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?articleID=070804_1_A9_spanc26420

I was pleased to read that the crosswalks will be painted instead of the faux brick unit paver types which have been installed downtown and across Peoria in Brookside.  The unit paver type of crosswalks are far more expensive, and they become uneven and hazardous walking surfaces when the unit pavers sink down into the sub-base, as has happened on Peoria near 41st and on Main Street at 6th and at 3rd.

I was saddened to read that Maria Barnes finds crossing 15th Street to be very scary and frustrating.  That's too bad.  Perhaps the painted crosswalks will make life in District 4 a little bit less frustrating for her.

I think Maria deserves some props for getting the lines painted and more clearly defined on the two left turn only lanes on the westbound intersection at 13th and Utica. That was a dangerous situation. It looks like work is finally beginning on the left turn lanes at the 15th & Utica intersection, too.

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Originally posted by Double A

I think Maria deserves some props for getting the lines painted and more clearly defined on the two left turn only lanes on the westbound intersection at 13th and Utica. That was a dangerous situation. It looks like work is finally beginning on the left turn lanes at the 15th & Utica intersection, too.

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I think they need to do to cherry street kind waht they did to brookside. Clear on-street parking, center medians, etc. Traffic can tend to be a bit speedy in that area.

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Originally posted by sgrizzle

I think they need to do to cherry street kind waht they did to brookside. Clear on-street parking, center medians, etc. Traffic can tend to be a bit speedy in that area.

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I'd like to see traffic reduced to two lanes and dedicated on-street parking instead of the current, often dangerous, parking situation.  It would help calm the traffic and reduce speeds.  I'd like to see some four-way stops along 15th, too.  It'd also help reduce speeds and would enhance pedestrian safety.

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Originally posted by DScott28604

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Originally posted by sgrizzle

I think they need to do to cherry street kind waht they did to brookside. Clear on-street parking, center medians, etc. Traffic can tend to be a bit speedy in that area.

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I'd like to see traffic reduced to two lanes and dedicated on-street parking instead of the current, often dangerous, parking situation.  It would help calm the traffic and reduce speeds.  I'd like to see some four-way stops along 15th, too.  It'd also help reduce speeds and would enhance pedestrian safety.

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                                           I think making Cherry St two lanes(no medians, they would interfere with parades and bike runs on Cherry St)between Utica and Peoria with directional diagonal on street parking with clearly defined crosswalks denoted with pedestrian flashers and crosswalk focused lighting at night would work very well with minimal costs. I don't think there should be any stop signs or signals between Utica and Peoria, however.

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Originally posted by Double A

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Originally posted by DScott28604

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Originally posted by sgrizzle

I think they need to do to cherry street kind waht they did to brookside. Clear on-street parking, center medians, etc. Traffic can tend to be a bit speedy in that area.

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I'd like to see traffic reduced to two lanes and dedicated on-street parking instead of the current, often dangerous, parking situation.  It would help calm the traffic and reduce speeds.  I'd like to see some four-way stops along 15th, too.  It'd also help reduce speeds and would enhance pedestrian safety.

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                                           I think making Cherry St two lanes(no medians, they would interfere with parades and bike runs on Cherry St)between Utica and Peoria with directional diagonal on street parking with clearly defined crosswalks denoted with pedestrian flashers and crosswalk focused lighting at night would work very well with minimal costs. I don't think there should be any stop signs or signals between Utica and Peoria, however.

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okay, no medians but I just want traffic slowed down.