North Tulsa?

[namingallthestars]

So, my parents recently separated. Dad lives in South Tulsa, Mom lives in North Tulsa. Dad got really upset at me for going on a walk with my friend in Downtown, and I was wondering, is North Tulsa really as bad as it's made out to be? Personal stories, hearsay, etc; any input is welcome. Thanks!

[custosnox]

I would first like to point out that downtown is not North Tulsa.  Not to mention that downtown has a really undeserved rap on being a crime problem. 

As far as North Tulsa goes, a lot of crime does occure there, but painting it a crime zone or dangerous place with a broad brush is really not doing it justice.  There are area's that would really be best to avoid, but for the most part it's no more dangerous then any other part of town (South, West, East or mid).  I lived on an area that is a bit less then desirable (Apache and Harvard area) for about six months.  During this time my window broke.  It took me several weeks to come up with the money to replace it, yet during this time I was parked in the street every night and never had anything stolen out of it.  East Tulsa, by contrast, I have left my windows down once, for two hours, in a driveway, in the middle of the day and lost my stereo.  Windows down for a short time while I ran inside another time and lost a leather jacket.  You need to be aware of your surroundings no matter where you are, and just be aware of those hotbeds of criminal activity that there seem to be more of North of Admiral.

[SXSW]

The Section 8 apartments and some of the neighborhoods surrounding them are high crime areas and should be avoided, primarily the areas around N. 46th & Peoria.  Otherwise North Tulsa is a mix of lower income and solid middle class neighborhoods, and is mostly black with some Hispanic neighborhoods on the south end near 244.  One of the best schools in the state, Booker T Washington, is in the heart of the north side and the Brady Heights and Reservoir Hill neighborhoods north of downtown are home to a growing number of young professionals.  There are areas within North Tulsa that are bad but not the entire section of the city.  That would be like saying South Tulsa is bad because the 61st & Peoria area, one small part, is bad..

[namingallthestars]

Thank you both for replying!

I would first like to point out that downtown is not North Tulsa.  Not to mention that downtown has a really undeserved rap on being a crime problem.

Ah, sorry I didn't make that more clear. I meant both North Tulsa and downtown, because my dad was talking about both. My mom lives in North Tulsa but right near downtown, and it was in downtown that my friend and I were walking.

[heironymouspasparagus]

You should be careful in any area.  Day, night, or in between.

[custosnox]

Thank you both for replying!
Ah, sorry I didn't make that more clear. I meant both North Tulsa and downtown, because my dad was talking about both. My mom lives in North Tulsa but right near downtown, and it was in downtown that my friend and I were walking.

Well, as I said, downtown has an undeserved reputation.  In fact, now that a certain club owner no longer has clubs downtown, I would say that it is one of the safer area's of the city.  I have never had anything adverse happen to me downtown.  Most that spend significant time there that I talk to say that they have no problems as well.  Don't take this as a proclamation that downtown is crimefree, but it's not exactly a criminal magnent. 

[sauerkraut]

Tulsa neighborhoods both good/bad seem to be in pockets, a bad area could become a good area just a few blocks away. Parts of Lewis & Peoria have alot of crime but the neighborhoods nestled inside have big $200,000 homes, Peoria & 31st neighborhoods have some very nice homes when you get way from the main streets.

[bugo]

Compared to the "ghetto" areas of other cities, north Tulsa isn't bad at all.  Take a visit to the bad areas of Kansas City, Dallas, or even Little Rock and you'll find that north Tulsa isn't nearly as bad.

[waterboy]

I agree with that. Though I would also rate our worst with any other city's worst. Downtown is fine. Any view otherwise is kind of humorous. 31st and Peoria is stellar by any account. Just be very aware if you go as far North as 56th street.

[sauerkraut]

My favorite has always been west Tulsa, I like the old time charm of the area.

[custosnox]

My favorite has always been west Tulsa, I like the old time charm of the area.

West Tulsa has one of the higher crime rates in Tulsa, not to mention smells like the oil refinery everywhere except by the sewege plant. 

[waterboy]

I don't know about the crime rate in West Tulsa but you're not accurate with the smells. The prevailing winds coming down the valley that the river sits in blows most of the smell away. The sewage treatment plant off 44 though has no where to blow as Turkey mtn pretty much blocks the wind.

[custosnox]

I don't know about the crime rate in West Tulsa but you're not accurate with the smells. The prevailing winds coming down the valley that the river sits in blows most of the smell away. The sewage treatment plant off 44 though has no where to blow as Turkey mtn pretty much blocks the wind.

I used to live at 41st and Elwood and the sewage could be smelled there on a hot summer day.  It wasn't often but it happened.  The smell does generally linger in the close vicinity of the plant though.  I was refering to that area (which I know has very litle residential but still) when I made that comment.  However, the smell of the oil refineries are pretty prevailent until you get south of about 51st.  There are some nice area's back up in there, and some pretty bad ones as well.  My kids lived at 23rd and Southwest for years and that area is what comes to mind first for me when I think of West Tulsa, and it is a pretty bad area because of multiple low income apartments.

[waterboy]

Yeah, 23rd just west of the river is no picnic. I'll be glad when some enterprising company buys that plot and redevelops it.

side note: we used to take our middle school soccer team over to the park behind those apartments to practice. When the ball was kicked into the projects they had to go get it. Sometimes they didn't come back with the same ball. Made them more accurate with their shots and sharpened their socializing skills.

[custosnox]

It's area's like that and a few others that really push the crime rate up there.  Though it's really the violent crimes that are higher.  East and South tend to hold the line for robberies and such.