OK...sorry to start a whole new thread on this, BUT
When are we going to talk about the ridiculous odor that wafts over the 75 corridor and into downtown each and every day from our "friends" to the west? I know this city was built on refineries and wildcatters, but this is 2011. Do we really think that visitors and tourists in our city AREN'T going to talk about how much Tulsa literally "stinks" when they arrive for March Madness next month?
There was a good article written in the World about how Tulsa should try to be like Spokane as it looks to attract the NCAA tournament at least every couple of years. The financial impact on our city will be HUGE!! But I'm afraid that once folks get a whiff of our town, they won't want to come back for a decade!!
Incidentally...are any of these "odors" bad for our health?
::)
+1 bacjz00
I don't work downtown but live nearby. I never smell anything.
Quote from: SXSW on February 21, 2011, 03:25:00 PM
I don't work downtown but live nearby. I never smell anything.
I drive by them on 75 2 to 4 times a day. There are days when it's minimal and there are days that melt my nostril hair.
That's all I've got.
I work downtown, I lived downtown for some time, I now live near downtown, and I frequent the running trails on the river near downtown. I get a whiff of that smell once every blue moon, and it usually requires a combination of wind speed, direction, and overcast skies. I really don't think its an issue.
I'm more concerned with hotel accessibility and public transportation, especially if Texas and Kansas both get placed in Tulsa, in which case the crowds could potentially be huge, which would benefit this town tremendously. I'm an OSU guy and I actually won't mind if we lose to Kansas tonight because OSU is already (pretty much) out of the running for a tourney bid, but if KU were to lose tonight to OSU, they would probably be knocked out of a one seed and would not be placed in Tulsa. This town needs KU and UT to both get one seeds and a pod placement in Tulsa. It would be a large turnout, even if due more to lucky circumstances. The opposite was true last year of the C-USA tournament, where it suffered because Memphis and TU were both knocked out early. Memphis had a good fan turnout, but they all left when they lost. Some TU fans that would have shown up for a finals game also didn't show up, so it looked bad attendance-wise.
Quote from: DowntownDan on February 21, 2011, 03:34:46 PM
I work downtown, I lived downtown for some time, I now live near downtown, and I frequent the running trails on the river near downtown. I get a whiff of that smell once every blue moon, and it usually requires a combination of wind speed, direction, and overcast skies. I really don't think its an issue.
I'm more concerned with hotel accessibility and public transportation, especially if Texas and Kansas both get placed in Tulsa, in which case the crowds could potentially be huge, which would benefit this town tremendously. I'm an OSU guy and I actually won't mind if we lose to Kansas tonight because OSU is already (pretty much) out of the running for a tourney bid, but if KU were to lose tonight to OSU, they would probably be knocked out of a one seed and would not be placed in Tulsa. This town needs KU and UT to both get one seeds and a pod placement in Tulsa. It would be a large turnout, even if due more to lucky circumstances. The opposite was true last year of the C-USA tournament, where it suffered because Memphis and TU were both knocked out early. Memphis had a good fan turnout, but they all left when they lost. Some TU fans that would have shown up for a finals game also didn't show up, so it looked bad attendance-wise.
Agree. UT would be good, but the real kicker will be getting KU. Lots of KU fans in Tulsa already, and only a 4 hour drive from Lawrence/Kansas City. KU fans will pack the place if they are here.
I once worked at 21st & Union and smelled the refineries a few times but not very often and that was right next to them. I don't think a smell downtown should be something to worry about. This thread should also be in Other Discussion or Chat & Advice...
I notice the smell a few days a month and when it occurs it is usually worse in the mornings, particularly if it is overcast and humid. Hopefully, all of our NCAA guests will be sleeping in late due to late night revelry at our local eating and drinking establishments.
Speaking of which, since the games begin on March 18, the St. Patrick's parties downtown the night before could be particularly crowded and wild.
LA smells worse, like rotten fruit and liquid paper. Drive down to Gillroy and the garlic will knock you out of your socks.
Manhattan reeks depending on what street you are on and when the garbage schedule is for that street. Your nose is always on guard there.
I've been to Seattle when the fish smell literally coated the whole city. Made me actually want to get back on the plane.
I think it's a good idea to mitigate unpleasant odors in our city, but we are pretty fresh in comparison with many places I've traveled.
Quote from: Gaspar on February 21, 2011, 04:57:22 PM
LA smells worse, like rotten fruit and liquid paper. Drive down to Gillroy and the garlic will knock you out of your socks.
Manhattan reeks depending on what street you are on and when the garbage schedule is for that street. Your nose is always on guard there.
I've been to Seattle when the fish smell literally coated the whole city. Made me actually want to get back on the plane.
I think it's a good idea to mitigate unpleasant odors in our city, but we are pretty fresh in comparison with many places I've traveled.
Sure but "this is our hill...and these are our beans."
Wichatitty has got some stank in it toooo...!!!!!!
Don't forget Dodge City, KS and someone informed me that Amarillo, TX isn't any better.
Quote from: Red Arrow on February 21, 2011, 06:09:25 PM
Don't forget Dodge City, KS and someone informed me that Amarillo, TX isn't any better.
Mmmmmmmmmmm Amarillo.....Diesel and Cow-$hit....What a combo.....How bout Miami Ok...That got that fungus amoungus stank goin on up in there....
Ah, Amarillo....(shudder)
Quote from: Gaspar on February 21, 2011, 04:57:22 PM
LA smells worse, like rotten fruit and liquid paper. Drive down to Gillroy and the garlic will knock you out of your socks.
Manhattan reeks depending on what street you are on and when the garbage schedule is for that street. Your nose is always on guard there.
I've been to Seattle when the fish smell literally coated the whole city. Made me actually want to get back on the plane.
Sure makes me want to move to the big city.
Quote from: Gaspar on February 21, 2011, 04:57:22 PM
I've been to Seattle when the fish smell literally coated the whole city. Made me actually want to get back on the plane.
Tacoma is notorious for its "aroma" due to paper mills. Paper mills smell terrible, thankfully the closest ones to us are down in SE Oklahoma/SW Arkansas (Valliant, Ashdown).
I know Norman around OU at times smells awful depending on the wind direction due to the wastewater treatment plant at Hwy 9 & Jenkins. Similar to the smell that sometimes emanates from the plant on the west bank of the river by I-44.
There are smells that come from the west bank and travel over the river. They seem to bounce over the park and then land about two blocks in on the east bank.
The smells come from many sources. There are two refineries, a hazardous waste injection well, a plant burning trash, a hazardous waste processing company, and assorted heavy manufacturing. There is also a highway and a railroad that often carry hazardous waste.
The sulphur (rotten egg) smell is from the refineries. The others, (the ones that sit down and have a drink with you) come from other places.
It comes and goes.
Quote from: Breadburner on February 21, 2011, 06:06:40 PM
Wichatitty has got some stank in it toooo...!!!!!!
Yuck. "A sewer runs through it". How do you justify an open drainage ditch all along the length of I-135. And you think our section of the Arkansas stinks? How about that stench going over it in Wichita?
Quote from: Hoss on February 21, 2011, 09:11:35 PM
Yuck. "A sewer runs through it". How do you justify an open drainage ditch all along the length of I-135. And you think our section of the Arkansas stinks? How about that stench going over it in Wichita?
Big stinky ditch....hah....
I work 1/4 mile south of the Sinclair refinery and about 3/4 of a mile from the sewage treatment plant. I work out quite a bit in the River Parks area. The smell is negligible even riding past the treatment plants on the west bank. The smell there is similar to damp lint from your washing machine.
The "ditch" in Wichita FAIK is strictly storm drainage. I'd think the EPA would have had a big kitten already if they had open sewage flowing through a major city.
Makes me think of Ron White's bit on growing up next to a paper plant.
Ok guy's. A little slow here. Help me out with the Pink Elephant title.
Back in the 80s I remember that West Tulsa smell would waft all the way up 44 as far as Harvard. But that was usually in the evening and early morning.
I have to admit that is really not the case now. Maybe do to refinery restrictions or EPA regulations.
Quote from: DolfanBob on February 22, 2011, 09:03:08 AM
Ok guy's. A little slow here. Help me out with the Pink Elephant title.
I figured it was what a drunk 800 lbs gorilla would see.
Holly was just merged with Frontier Oil.
This may affect the operation of one or both of Tulsa's refineries.
Quote from: RecycleMichael on February 22, 2011, 09:40:03 AM
Holly was just merged with Frontier Oil.
This may affect the operation of one or both of Tulsa's refineries.
Like a rusting superfund site or a cleaned up, shiny refinery (ies)?
Wow, lot's of comments here already!!
Sorry if I came across a little hyperbolic.
I agree the smell is stronger on overcast, humid days and it seems to be particularly prevalent in the mornings. All I know is that once I get to about 23rd Street Northbound on 75 and until I get to about 7th and Denver the odor is enough for me to be CONSCIOUS of the fact that there's an odor. It smells like a chemical, not really rotten eggs, but almost sweet.
I realize that every city is going to have its own peculiarities, but we're NOT Amarillo and we're certainly not Dodge City, KS or Wichita. I think we should definitely set ourselves apart from other western Midwestern cities as often as possible. having the Ozarks nearby and so many wonderful lakes is something that I love about Tulsa. Just hate to see our prime area of redevelopment being consumed by noxious fumes.
Hey if it's not illegal, then I guess we should just go back to our regularly scheduled programming. I'd just like to know what the particular smell IS and whether or not it's harmful. The particular smell I'm thinking of hasn't changed in 10-15 years. So there's obviously one particular activity that's responsible for it. Would be great if it "went away" but I realize that everyone has to make money too.
Quote from: bacjz00 on February 22, 2011, 01:08:30 PM
Wow, lot's of comments here already!!
Sorry if I came across a little hyperbolic.
I agree the smell is stronger on overcast, humid days and it seems to be particularly prevalent in the mornings. All I know is that once I get to about 23rd Street Northbound on 75 and until I get to about 7th and Denver the odor is enough for me to be CONSCIOUS of the fact that there's an odor. It smells like a chemical, not really rotten eggs, but almost sweet.
I caught wind of that too, on around Friday or Saturday. It was strong enough that I thought a maple syrup truck had overturned and spilled its haul on the highway. I lived in Westport for a few years, and so I'm used to refinery (sulphur) smell. But this was sickly sweet, and not like anything I've smelled before in the area.
The smell is similar to phosphonic acid which is used in polymer cooling tower and boiler water treatments. I used to work in that industry, that's the only reason I know what it smells like. I smelled it more right by the galvanizing plant as I was riding onto Avery Drive on my bicycle Saturday. Could have been coming from the Sun refinery since it's just to the south and the wind was out of the south at the time. I also get that smell out by Sand Springs at times.
A portion of the NCAA tournament has been held at the BOK Arena before. I'm surprised that it came back at all considering the disappointing attendance the year it was here. As for the smell, I commute to work from South of Tulsa and take highway 75 to the hospital several times per week. As others have said, the smell has its days and usually does its worst during the morning hours. But after time, you just learn to roll your windows up and make sure air recirculating mode, not fresh air mode, is on.
Let's just hope Nam Hai doesn't open up shop next to the refineries or we're all in for a rude awakening.
Quote from: TurismoDreamin on February 22, 2011, 11:44:00 PM
A portion of the NCAA tournament has been held at the BOK Arena before. I'm surprised that it came back at all considering the disappointing attendance the year it was here. As for the smell, I commute to work from South of Tulsa and take highway 75 to the hospital several times per week. As others have said, the smell has its days and usually does its worst during the morning hours. But after time, you just learn to roll your windows up and make sure air recirculating mode, not fresh air mode, is on.
Let's just hope Nam Hai doesn't open up shop next to the refineries or we're all in for a rude awakening.
No it hasn't....However, Tulsa hosted NCAA tournament games five times, all at the Mabee Center on the campus of Oral Roberts University, between 1974 and 1985.
Quote from: OSU on February 23, 2011, 12:06:55 AM
No it hasn't....However, Tulsa hosted NCAA tournament games five times, all at the Mabee Center on the campus of Oral Roberts University, between 1974 and 1985.
Yep..guess that's doing your research FAIL...
He might be referring to the Conference USA tourney that was here last year.
Quote from: OSU on February 23, 2011, 12:06:55 AM
No it hasn't....However, Tulsa hosted NCAA tournament games five times, all at the Mabee Center on the campus of Oral Roberts University, between 1974 and 1985.
You're right. I was thinking of the Conference USA tournament. I went to it and it wasn't very impressive. I think they usually hold it in Memphis where it does better. Sorry about that...late night brain cells misfired.
Quote from: TurismoDreamin on February 22, 2011, 11:44:00 PM
But after time, you just learn to roll your windows up and make sure air recirculating mode, not fresh air mode, is on.
Unfortunately, our visitors won't be here long enough to "learn" anything.
In talking to a friend on the phone yesterday, it's become quite apparent that Tulsa has never really embraced the idea of creating a city where visitors feel welcome. Which is not to say that we as Tulsans are not overly friendly and accomodating, just that our city doesn't lend itself well to outsiders. As kitchy as it sounds, we still don't have a "one-stop shop" area for visitors to go to where they can have their dining, shopping and accomodations in one convenient area. Granted, most would argue that wouldn't be providing an authentic Tulsa experience to some folks, but let's face it...authentic Tulsa right now is a sprawling mess of poorly planned strip malls and pothole filled, grid-locked surface streets and of course highways as far as the eye can see that lead you to mile after mile of 3BR/ 2BA filled subdivisions.
Tulsa, probably more than any other city I've seen is very keen on making the city a nice place to LIVE, but NOT a nice place to visit. Look at our major areas for dining & shopping. Utica Square, Brookside, Cherry Street...how many hotels are there nearby any of those areas? ZERO. NIMBY crowd probably wouldn't have it, but you're basically turning your back to gads of visitors who would check in to those kinds of accomodations by the truckload and infuse our city with tax dollars by eating and shopping nearby. Why do you think Utica Square shuts down every night at 6:00 p.m.?? Because the only people they are targeting are folks who work all day and are with their families at night.
Downtown is slowly changing that, but even there we're heading down a very long winding road to critical mass by developing in all corners of the downtown area instead in one concentrated area. Sorry to be so negative, but I'm afraid that we've opened up our house way too soon with this NCAA tournament. Yes we have a bright shiny car in the driveway (see the BOK Center) but I'm terrified of what folks will see when they actually step inside the front door.
Quote from: bacjz00 on February 23, 2011, 08:57:28 AM
Unfortunately, our visitors won't be here long enough to "learn" anything.
In talking to a friend on the phone yesterday, it's become quite apparent that Tulsa has never really embraced the idea of creating a city where visitors feel welcome. Which is not to say that we as Tulsans are not overly friendly and accomodating, just that our city doesn't lend itself well to outsiders. As kitchy as it sounds, we still don't have a "one-stop shop" area for visitors to go to where they can have their dining, shopping and accomodations in one convenient area. Granted, most would argue that wouldn't be providing an authentic Tulsa experience to some folks, but let's face it...authentic Tulsa right now is a sprawling mess of poorly planned strip malls and pothole filled, grid-locked surface streets and of course highways as far as the eye can see that lead you to mile after mile of 3BR/ 2BA filled subdivisions.
Tulsa, probably more than any other city I've seen is very keen on making the city a nice place to LIVE, but NOT a nice place to visit. Look at our major areas for dining & shopping. Utica Square, Brookside, Cherry Street...how many hotels are there nearby any of those areas? ZERO. NIMBY crowd probably wouldn't have it, but you're basically turning your back to gads of visitors who would check in to those kinds of accomodations by the truckload and infuse our city with tax dollars by eating and shopping nearby. Why do you think Utica Square shuts down every night at 6:00 p.m.?? Because the only people they are targeting are folks who work all day and are with their families at night.
Downtown is slowly changing that, but even there we're heading down a very long winding road to critical mass by developing in all corners of the downtown area instead in one concentrated area. Sorry to be so negative, but I'm afraid that we've opened up our house way too soon with this NCAA tournament. Yes we have a bright shiny car in the driveway (see the BOK Center) but I'm terrified of what folks will see when they actually step inside the front door.
While those are valid points, I think you are being overly pessimistic towards Tulsa compared to other NCAA cities. Anyone staying dowtown is well within walking distance of a number of eating/drinking options (and I assume most visitors for the NCAA will stay downtown). With the shuttles that will be running, even walking will not be necessary.
To me the one glaring bad optical is the large surface parking lot directly across the street from the BOK - I wish the planned mixed-use development was brand new and open for business. Oh well, at least all those people who drive down from Kansas to watch KU will have a convenient place to park!
Quote from: DTowner on February 23, 2011, 09:45:28 AM
While those are valid points, I think you are being overly pessimistic towards Tulsa compared to other NCAA cities. Anyone staying dowtown is well within walking distance of a number of eating/drinking options (and I assume most visitors for the NCAA will stay downtown). With the shuttles that will be running, even walking will not be necessary.
To me the one glaring bad optical is the large surface parking lot directly across the street from the BOK - I wish the planned mixed-use development was brand new and open for business. Oh well, at least all those people who drive down from Kansas to watch KU will have a convenient place to park!
They should put up a big sign at 3rd & Denver with a rendering of the One Place development and Coming Soon. So visitors know it won't be a parking lot for much longer.
Quote from: bacjz00 on February 23, 2011, 08:57:28 AM
As kitchy as it sounds, we still don't have a "one-stop shop" area for visitors to go to where they can have their dining, shopping and accomodations in one convenient area. Granted, most would argue that wouldn't be providing an authentic Tulsa experience to some folks, but let's face it...authentic Tulsa right now is a sprawling mess of poorly planned strip malls and pothole filled, grid-locked surface streets and of course highways as far as the eye can see that lead you to mile after mile of 3BR/ 2BA filled subdivisions.
Tulsa, probably more than any other city I've seen is very keen on making the city a nice place to LIVE, but NOT a nice place to visit. Look at our major areas for dining & shopping. Utica Square, Brookside, Cherry Street...how many hotels are there nearby any of those areas? ZERO.
Actually 71st between Garnett and Mingo is a perfect example of what you just said we don't have. However, it's awful gridlock that I don't even go to. There's easily 200 restaurants within a 2 mile radius of the Renaissance and no idea how many movie screens and retail establishments. It's actually the sort of area someone from Dallas, KC, Atlanta, Houston, etc. would relate to.
The enclave of hotels and national chain restaurants at 31st & Memorial does make it look like we segregate our visitors as there's nothing else for shopping or serious entertainment right there.
One can't argue there's a severe lack of guest rooms to serve Utica Square, Cherry St., and Brookside though they aren't all that far from downtown and there are a couple of B&B options in Brookside as well as a small hotel near 6th & Peoria (the name escapes me at the moment). With the two medical centers in either direction as well as Cherry St. the vacant lot off the SW corner of where the BA intersects Utica would be a great place for a hotel, especially if they could get the lots to the south of that plot. That seems like such a no-brainer for business visitors as well. They are close enough to Downtown to take a shuttle for business and are within a safe walk of the night life on Cherry St.
Quote from: Conan71 on February 23, 2011, 12:24:05 PM
One can't argue there's a severe lack of guest rooms to serve Utica Square, Cherry St., and Brookside though they aren't all that far from downtown and there are a couple of B&B options in Brookside as well as a small hotel near 6th & Peoria (the name escapes me at the moment). With the two medical centers in either direction as well as Cherry St. the vacant lot off the SW corner of where the BA intersects Utica would be a great place for a hotel, especially if they could get the lots to the south of that plot. That seems like such a no-brainer for business visitors as well. They are close enough to Downtown to take a shuttle for business and are within a safe walk of the night life on Cherry St.
The long rumored hotel/condo tower on the H&P site at 21st & Utica would serve midtown well and would still be only a mile from the heart of downtown.
Quote from: SXSW on February 23, 2011, 12:46:16 PM
The long rumored hotel/condo tower on the H&P site at 21st & Utica would serve midtown well and would still be only a mile from the heart of downtown.
The Utica Sq./St. John area jumps out as undoubtedly the area most in need of a hotel. The rumor of a hotel on the old H&P building site has been around a long time, but nothing happens.
I don't see a big demand for hotel space in Brookside - maybe a boutique hotel, but not a typcial chain size. Peoria and I44 would be a great location for a hotel, just don't make it look like a castle or let a cult set up shop there....
Quote from: DTowner on February 23, 2011, 01:26:06 PM
The Utica Sq./St. John area jumps out as undoubtedly the area most in need of a hotel. The rumor of a hotel on the old H&P building site has been around a long time, but nothing happens.
I don't see a big demand for hotel space in Brookside - maybe a boutique hotel, but not a typcial chain size. Peoria and I44 would be a great location for a hotel, just don't make it look like a castle or let a cult set up shop there....
Well-played on that last sentence.
Those two locations are further from the epicenter of nightlife, but those hotels can provide shuttles which solves that problem.
Quote from: DTowner on February 23, 2011, 01:26:06 PM
I don't see a big demand for hotel space in Brookside - maybe a boutique hotel, but not a typcial chain size. Peoria and I44 would be a great location for a hotel, just don't make it look like a castle or let a cult set up shop there....
What is the status of the land behind the Food Pyramid at 41st and Peoria, and then there is another parcel behind the Arby's at 42nd and Peoria, that if you could acquire the land that Arby's and the small office building are on could be viable for something small/boutique hotel space in the area.
I've always wondered why Cherry Street and/or Brookside and/or Utica Square have no hotels, while hotels are sprouting up all over the outskirts of town isolated from any activity. When I travel, I like to stay near things. If a business travler has a choice to stay at one of those hotels at 91st and 169 surrounded by highway ramps, or a hotel off of Cherry Street, it just makes sense to stay on Cherry Street, if anything, so that you can get a good meal nearby without a taxi. There has to be something preventing that from happening. I would agree a hotel on the corner of the BA and Utica would be great. Easy shuttle to downtown and entertainment for the evenings. I would hate to have to take a business trip to Tulsa right now. The only place I would want to stay would be the Hyatt downtown being walking distance to blue dome and brady.
Quote from: DowntownDan on February 23, 2011, 02:38:03 PM
I've always wondered why Cherry Street and/or Brookside and/or Utica Square have no hotels, while hotels are sprouting up all over the outskirts of town isolated from any activity. When I travel, I like to stay near things. If a business travler has a choice to stay at one of those hotels at 91st and 169 surrounded by highway ramps, or a hotel off of Cherry Street, it just makes sense to stay on Cherry Street, if anything, so that you can get a good meal nearby without a taxi. There has to be something preventing that from happening. I would agree a hotel on the corner of the BA and Utica would be great. Easy shuttle to downtown and entertainment for the evenings. I would hate to have to take a business trip to Tulsa right now. The only place I would want to stay would be the Hyatt downtown being walking distance to blue dome and brady.
Man, I'm with ya.
31st and Memorial?
I44 and Yale? (in construction)
Quote from: DowntownDan on February 23, 2011, 02:38:03 PM
If a business travler has a choice to stay at one of those hotels at 91st and 169 surrounded by highway ramps, or a hotel off of Cherry Street, it just makes sense to stay on Cherry Street, if anything, so that you can get a good meal nearby without a taxi. There has to be something preventing that from happening.
Rental cars.
Quote from: Townsend on February 23, 2011, 02:46:45 PM
Man, I'm with ya.
31st and Memorial?
I44 and Yale? (in construction)
31st & Memorial is great if you like Cracker Barrel, McDonald's, Village Idiot, or IHOP.
Quote from: DTowner on February 23, 2011, 01:26:06 PM
The Utica Sq./St. John area jumps out as undoubtedly the area most in need of a hotel. The rumor of a hotel on the old H&P building site has been around a long time, but nothing happens.
I don't see a big demand for hotel space in Brookside - maybe a boutique hotel, but not a typcial chain size. Peoria and I44 would be a great location for a hotel, just don't make it look like a castle or let a cult set up shop there....
In addition to a large highrise hotel next to Utica Square and St John that could also serve Hillcrest, TU and downtown, I think something on the river would be nice for a smaller, second 'boutique' hotel in midtown. Maybe it could be part of the Crow Creek apartments redevelopment Kaiser is involved in at 31st & Riverside. A smaller hotel in that area would be next to the river trails, a couple miles south of downtown, and within walking distance of Brookside and Philbrook.
Quote from: Conan71 on February 23, 2011, 12:24:05 PM
Actually 71st between Garnett and Mingo is a perfect example of what you just said we don't have. However, it's awful gridlock that I don't even go to. There's easily 200 restaurants within a 2 mile radius of the Renaissance and no idea how many movie screens and retail establishments. It's actually the sort of area someone from Dallas, KC, Atlanta, Houston, etc. would relate to.
The enclave of hotels and national chain restaurants at 31st & Memorial does make it look like we segregate our visitors as there's nothing else for shopping or serious entertainment right there.
One can't argue there's a severe lack of guest rooms to serve Utica Square, Cherry St., and Brookside though they aren't all that far from downtown and there are a couple of B&B options in Brookside as well as a small hotel near 6th & Peoria (the name escapes me at the moment). With the two medical centers in either direction as well as Cherry St. the vacant lot off the SW corner of where the BA intersects Utica would be a great place for a hotel, especially if they could get the lots to the south of that plot. That seems like such a no-brainer for business visitors as well. They are close enough to Downtown to take a shuttle for business and are within a safe walk of the night life on Cherry St.
Don't forget that there is now a Marriot Courtyard right next to Woodland Hills mall, so that could be extended to Memorial, though the lack of highway for a mile and a half might hinder things a bit.
Quote from: Conan71 on February 23, 2011, 12:24:05 PM
Actually 71st between Garnett and Mingo is a perfect example of what you just said we don't have. However, it's awful gridlock that I don't even go to.
Hmmm, I'm pretty sure I said CONVENIENT. Even by your own admission, it's so INCONVENIENT that you as a Tulsan won't even go. You guys crack me up. Do you all actually ever leave Tulsa?
Quote from: bacjz00 on February 23, 2011, 09:14:39 PM
Hmmm, I'm pretty sure I said CONVENIENT. Even by your own admission, it's so INCONVENIENT that you as a Tulsan won't even go. You guys crack me up. Do you all actually ever leave Tulsa?
Actually, yes, and compared to area's in some of the larger cities where everything is pushed in together, the traffic on 71st is a cake walk.
Dear 71st Street whiners:
First off traffic is not that bad. It really only gets backed up on weekends. It is a convenient place to go for those of us who are stuck out south. Now, if you live in midtown/downtown, you live in a WAY cooler part of town, and please support your local businesses. But, for those of us down here, midtown is a very long drive to go shopping. So if you ever need to come down here, don't worry. The light will turn green soon, and you will resume movement... ;D
For the record, I don't have a problem with 71st Street...I'm just surprised so many of you think that's the best we should be offering out of towners.
Oh, I'm definitely not saying it's the best we have to offer.
Quote from: bacjz00 on February 23, 2011, 09:49:54 PM
For the record, I don't have a problem with 71st Street...I'm just surprised so many of you think that's the best we should be offering out of towners.
Never said that, just saying that an area such as you suggested does exist. Could we have better areas for out of towners? Without a doubt.
Quote from: bacjz00 on February 23, 2011, 09:14:39 PM
Hmmm, I'm pretty sure I said CONVENIENT. Even by your own admission, it's so INCONVENIENT that you as a Tulsan won't even go. You guys crack me up. Do you all actually ever leave Tulsa?
Depends on what your definition of convenient is, Mr. President ;)
It's about as convenient an area as I can think of though not easily walkable, but neither are areas I'm thinking of in Dallas, KC, Houston, etc. My main issue with the area is what I perceive as heavy traffic. I live near 31st & Yale so any stop light that's more than 15 or so deep looks like congestion to me ;D
I simply avoid high density retail areas unless it's a necessity, it's not my thing. I do agree it's not ideal, but it's what we've got for now. I'm very much in agreement more rooms in mid town would be great.
The unfortunate thing is, where is there a truly walkable area in Tulsa? You can say Utica Square, which once you get there is walkable, but some areas near there there is no place to walk without walking on the street or through someones front yard. And that can be said of a vast majority of Tulsa. When you get to Cherry Street, Blue Dome, Brady, BOk, and Brookside there are walkable areas. But as the former Mrs. pointed out on a visit there, you cant walk through Swan Lake, Terwilliger, Woodward Park or even mid town areas just to see the homes and walk down the streets. Most of Tulsa has very little basic pedestian friendly areas, and as others have pointed out, the bus system needs to be revamped to make it user friendly. And I totally agree that there is a lack of hotel rooms in the midtown area, and that is mainly because everything up until the last few years was built around highway interchanges, along I-44, ORU, or the Woodland Hills area. Other than the old H&P location, and the area around the BA and Utica, there dosen't seem to be any place for that.
I'm have been trying to get back to Tulsa for sometime, and haven't been able to hit the right combination of timing, but I will be there in July for my 30th Reunion, but there is no place that I can really think of to stay. The weekend of the Drillers have a home stand against the Travelers, the reunion is at Meadowbrook, and I have friends and family that I will visit as well.
Sorry just got on a rant. I get all of it, just wish I knew an answer to get things going in the right direction. BTW I will be planting my donkey at the Blue Rose, and taking a cab ride to and from wherever I'm staying.
last time I checked, there are sidewalks all up and down 71st st. I see more and more people walking, especially since you can park somewhere in the moddiel and get places faster than driving end to end on weekends. FOr those that advocate parking 10 mins away from the BOk center downtown this should not be much of a stretch. In fact, next time you go to 71st st, try parking around the Barnes & Noble area and see how many things you can hit by just walking.
On my admittedly infrequent trips down 71st the only people I see on the sidewalks are holding large signs advertising a liquidation sale at one of the businesses along 71st.