The Tulsa Forum by TulsaNow

During my visits to the 18th & Boston/Sobo area I often think how much better it could be with a unified streetscape and some landscaping/trees.  Right now there are two restaurants with outdoor seating (Dalessandro's and Vintage 1740, with Oscar's now closed), two bars with outdoor seating (Mercury Lounge and the new sports bar), and Doubleshot coffee.  Currently there is parking on the west side of Boston and with the parking and outdoor seating there is not much room for a sidewalk or street trees.

In the streetscape proposal below there would be angled parking along the west side and existing parallel parking on the east side.  Trees could be planted along the sidewalk and the 'look' of the streetscape could mimic what has been done on Boston from 3rd to 7th.  Pushing back the parking allows for more outdoor seating space, especially at DoubleShot.  If Grindstaff's cleaners moved (possibly across the street next to Pink Bar?) there would be a new space open with ample outdoor seating.  Assuming something new goes in the Oscar's spot there is another infill opportunity (outlined in yellow) where the parking lot is located.  I can see this whole strip being several existing and new restaurants/bars with big outside seating areas shaded by newly planted trees.  The concrete triangle at the intersection could be landscaped to make it more of a feature in the district, as well as the stretch of 18th between Cincinnati and Main.  

What else would you do to improve this mini-district south of downtown?

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v316/bg918/boston.jpg)

Unfortunately, you need the off-street parking to the north of the old Oscars.  I know the owner of the grassy lot to the north of the Merc if you are interested in talking to him about infill possibilities.

Needed by code?  There is plenty of parking in the area, and on neighborhood streets. 

And yes PM me about the grassy lot.  It obviously used to have a house on it but that whole stretch is zoned commercial now.

Which means that if they build commercial business on that property they will have to tear down more stuff in order to meet minimum parking requirements.  :P

Exactly why a special code is needed for areas like this and Cherry Street, Brookside, etc.  However this lot has a parking lot to the east by the MV trail that is used by the Sobo businesses for overflow parking.  It and lots by Spiritbank are sufficient for this district.

Why do bars have parking requirements anyway?

I always found this funny.  We all know the reality, especially in Tulsa, but if drunk driving was really to be dealt with they would simply ban bars from having parking lots :D

Perhaps a snow cone stand would have enough space for parking under current codes.  Or another drive-up ATM.

It's possible the reason liquor stores and churches can't be next door to each other is that you would see how stupid parking requirements are when they both have their own lots, despite the fact they are never open at the same time.

I do wish for MORE parking requirements every time I drive past Asbury, however.

Why do fast-food joints only serve people in cars in the middle of the night? You'd think MADD would be all over that.

DAMM (Drunks Against Mad Mothers) has been effective in keeping the late night food places open. ;D

http://www.ok.gov/able/ (http://www.ok.gov/able/)

Give them a try.


...and may God have mercy

I came up with a little streetscaping and traffic calming diagram for the area... This area could be a really beautiful, hip place if we just put a little work into it!

(http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1281/4688970024_5af082df06_b.jpg)

The fire farters might not be real happy with their circle drive, but it sure looks cool enough.

They can just use the back ;)

Nice work, and something like that could really make this area great.  It's already right next to one of the most beautiful neighborhoods in the city and in between downtown and the river.  I was at Double Shot this morning and thought to myself how nice it would be to have a an outdoor seating area where that little parking lot is in front, with parking either parallel on Boston (like it is across the street) or angled.  Especially when it was raining today and there were a lot of people in there, it would've been a perfect time to sit under an umbrella or awning sipping coffee and watching the rain..

I am always amazed with the number of people around Tulsa not at work on weekdays during the hours before and after lunch break times.