Hill Across from OSU Tulsa

[Jeff P]

I don't care if it's OU or OSU, and I support OSU since they are already downtown.  I just frustrates me to see OSU move so slowly with growing the Tulsa campus, and still require students go to Stillwater to complete most programs.  OSU should build up Tulsa as not only an urban campus but a center for research and health sciences (OSU Med Center).  OU should do the same at 41st & Yale.  Tulsa needs these public universities to grow and thrive.

You keep say they are "growing slowly" but do you have any figures that show that?  Like number of students when they took over vs. now? Number of degree programs offered then vs. now?

I'm not saying I do or that you're wrong... I'm just curious what their actual rate of growth is.

As for your "wish list" about making OSU-Tulsa a center for research and/or making it a large urban campus like some other large universities have, well, I'm afraid it's more than likely a money issue. 

OSU and OU are moderate-sized state universities.  They both have fewer than 30,000 undergraduates on their main campus and have roughly the same financial resources.  Neither are anywhere near the size nor have the resources of, say, the Texas or Texas A&M systems that have large urban campuses around Texas.

[Cats Cats Cats]

I heard that traditional enrollment isn't growing and that online classes are where the growth is at now. This is from somebody who talked to somebody high up at OSU.

[rdj]

I don't care if it's OU or OSU, and I support OSU since they are already downtown.  I just frustrates me to see OSU move so slowly with growing the Tulsa campus, and still require students go to Stillwater to complete most programs.  OSU should build up Tulsa as not only an urban campus but a center for research and health sciences (OSU Med Center).  OU should do the same at 41st & Yale.  Tulsa needs these public universities to grow and thrive.

Agreements with Langston keep OSU from offering more degree options.  Agreements with TCC keep them from offering freshman/sophomore level classes.

I would love to see a joint student/faculty housing project with TCC/OSU on the land west of the OSU campus and the sea of parking south of TCC-Metro.

The area around TCC could primarily be the student housing because freshman/sophomore level students are more likely to want to live "on campus" while the area near OSU could primarily be faculty/researcher/graduate student housing.  The area near TCC I envision being multi-family buildings with most units being studios.  The Blue Dome is growing south and if the East End is ever developed they could tie in nicely.  I envision a row house style development on the land west of OSU.  A few multi-family buildings but primarily units attractive to families.  With the proximity to the Brady & Greenwood Districts and an elementary school (which would need work to attract the families) the area west of OSU could be a great place for the non-undergrad student that is involved with OSU/TCC.

[Conan71]

Agreements with Langston keep OSU from offering more degree options.  Agreements with TCC keep them from offering freshman/sophomore level classes.

I would love to see a joint student/faculty housing project with TCC/OSU on the land west of the OSU campus and the sea of parking south of TCC-Metro.

The area around TCC could primarily be the student housing because freshman/sophomore level students are more likely to want to live "on campus" while the area near OSU could primarily be faculty/researcher/graduate student housing.  The area near TCC I envision being multi-family buildings with most units being studios.  The Blue Dome is growing south and if the East End is ever developed they could tie in nicely.  I envision a row house style development on the land west of OSU.  A few multi-family buildings but primarily units attractive to families.  With the proximity to the Brady & Greenwood Districts and an elementary school (which would need work to attract the families) the area west of OSU could be a great place for the non-undergrad student that is involved with OSU/TCC.

I like your proposal as a great use of land.  The only issue is, people generally don't move to other cities or move out of the family home to attend "community" colleges.  They are virtually 100% attended by local residents either right out of high school trying to save money on undergrad hours or adults already in the work force who are doing continuing ed.  If only the various powers-that-be would see the benefit in a four year public university and act on it...but that won't happen because no one likes to give up their little fiefdom for the benefit of the greater good in a community.

[rdj]

I propose the units near TCC & OSU be privately owned and operated.  TCC leases the land to the owner.  The units wouldn't be reserved only for TCC students.  Rather essentially workforce housing, that would be affordable for the community college student.  Give them a reason to move into downtown and immersed in urban living.  Rather than say staying with mom & dad in BA and driving into downtown everyday. 

The same could be true for the OSU land.

[SXSW]

I found this PDF newsletter from 2001 that shows the master plan which was part of OSU's "20,000 students by 2020" vision at the time.  This ties into the rendering that is still on their website showing a pond with development on the hill.  Obviously there have been some changes i.e. the Helmerich ATRC isn't there or even shown.  Interesting that everything is lined up on an axis with the existing buildings and mostly on top of the hill. 

http://bradyheights.org/newsletters/BHJune01.pdf

[sgrizzle]

I found this PDF newsletter from 2001 that shows the master plan which was part of OSU's "20,000 students by 2020" vision at the time.  This ties into the rendering that is still on their website showing a pond with development on the hill.  Obviously there have been some changes i.e. the Helmerich ATRC isn't there or even shown.  Interesting that everything is lined up on an axis with the existing buildings and mostly on top of the hill. 

http://bradyheights.org/newsletters/BHJune01.pdf

That plan also means Boston and Detroit exist ONLY south of the IDL, with all Detroit traffic being forced onto the I-244 access road.

[SXSW]

That plan also means Boston and Detroit exist ONLY south of the IDL, with all Detroit traffic being forced onto the I-244 access road.

It is definitely a flawed plan, especially with the ending of through streets and the area in between Boulder and Cincinnati is a mess.  But interesting that at one time OSU was really ambitious, and why aren't they now.  Leadership changes?  This would've been not long after OSU took over the UCAT property when OU decided to move to 41st & Yale and NSU to BA. 

It would be good to see an updated plan with the ATRC.  IMO they should infill the parking lots in between North Hall and the ATRC first and then expand up the hill.  If they can tear down the apartments to the north even better, those are a crime-ridden nuisance.

[sgrizzle]

It is definitely a flawed plan, especially with the ending of through streets and the area in between Boulder and Cincinnati is a mess.  But interesting that at one time OSU was really ambitious, and why aren't they now.  Leadership changes?  This would've been not long after OSU took over the UCAT property when OU decided to move to 41st & Yale and NSU to BA. 

It would be good to see an updated plan with the ATRC.  IMO they should infill the parking lots in between North Hall and the ATRC first and then expand up the hill.  If they can tear down the apartments to the north even better, those are a crime-ridden nuisance.

Tulsa isn't the most popular campus for OSU, hard to get money to spend here.

Also, I think the community college rules still really hinder OSU and OU

[SXSW]

I've said it before, but to me getting the laws changed so that OSU and OU can grow without inhibitions should be the highest priority for Tulsa's leadership. 

Here is an article from 2010. The goal then was 4,000 students by 2015, a far cry from the 20,000 by 2020.  I wonder where they're at with that goal? 
http://www.osu-tulsa.okstate.edu/news/email/2010/journalrecord-2010-07-15.html?utm_source=current&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=july152010

If they could offer more complete degree options without having to go to TCC or Stillwater, expand their Tulsa-based research center and construct a few more buildings to develop more of a cohesive campus then that would be a major improvement. 

[rdj]

Was told last week they are spending $3MM on their new guard tower.  All in the name of visibility.

[Conan71]

Was told last week they are spending $3MM on their new guard tower.  All in the name of visibility.

Let's see how many scholarships could be awarded to those living in lower income neighborhoods near there with $3mm?

[carltonplace]

Let's see how many scholarships could be awarded to those living in lower income neighborhoods near there with $3mm?

exactly, or even how many student housing units in all of that empty space they own.

[AquaMan]

I'm still angry at them for demolishing the oldest firestation in the city that once housed horse drawn firewagons so they could have yet another vacant lot to mow. It would have been a great building to re-hab and add character to the campus. But no, we need to build giant useless signs to validate our existence. At least some brick masons and architects got something out of it.

[sgrizzle]

Was told last week they are spending $3MM on their new guard tower.  All in the name of visibility.

The work on the hill, combined with new sidewalks and lighting, will cost at least $1 million.

"This will create a very walkable way into the Brady District and hopefully that will help people see we are part of downtown, this is downtown as well," Barnett said.

Betting the tower was closer to $300k, the rest spent on shoring up the hill, sidewalks, lighting, etc.