I don’t disagree with that premise and want to see more density along the corridor but would rather see commercial space concentrated in existing commercial districts like Brookside south of Crow Creek (plenty of room for increased density along that corridor), Cherry St around 15th and the Pearl from the BA north to 244 (LOTS of opportunity along that corridor).
I do think you could integrate commercial space into a development at this corner but the proposal they put forward wasn’t the way to do it. If you’re going to urbanize that corner build up to the sidewalk, no plazas unless it’s for a large outdoor seating area. If you concentrate the density along the street where it belongs you could lower the density on the neighborhood side and preserve more of the big trees on that site.
Your second paragraph is an entirely rational objection to the project as presented. Essentially you’re hoping for community involvement in improving the form and function of the design. Wonderful. However, the problem is in this and SO MANY other projects the reflexive “no change is good change” attitude in Tulsa is killing us. Hell, even the Tesla factory proposed for way out on 412 was facing opposition because the city might grow and people were offended that a big old marketing tool (the driller) was being temporarily used for marketing. I mean is it actually the case that Tulsans just want this city to stagnate forever? If so I’ve severely overestimated the future of this town.