Oklahoma's next big city

[tim huntzinger]

See the hate for T-town, people? These people are so down on Tulsa that they have a hard time saying that Tulsa is a better town than Wichita, to the point of praising how great OKC is!  In my position I talk to a lot of transplants and not one of the people who have moved here from either of those places say they liked the other better.  Not one. Think Little Rock is nicer than Tulsa? Are you out your mind? Really?

The point is Tulsa is constantly being degraded and put down by people, like the author of the article above who was so up on his 'facts' that he missed the amount of the tax by a power of ten.

[Renaissance]

I love Tulsa. I love everything great about Tulsa.  The natural beauty, the gorgeous midtown, Brookside, Cherry Street, etc.  I grew up there and will be back soon.  My point is that when you leave Tulsa, you finally realize what Tulsa is lacking.  For lack of a better word, Tulsa is lacking "spark."  It's hard to get the sense that something is "happening" there.  When the Vision 2025 projects are compeleted this very well may change, and there is still momentum from these projects.  Many of us hoped to maintain this momentum with major river development, much in the way OKC has passed MAPS II and will pass their MAPS III.  

My memories of the Tulsa electorate from my time pre-college are of voters who shot down two school bond issues before a third passed; who shot down two civic improvement plans before a third passed; and who haven't been fully behind a mayor since, I don't know, Jim Inhofe?  

I'm not trashing Tulsa.  But I will say, loud and clear, that the city is falling behind other regional neighbors in providing the spark that leads to civic pride.  That's what the river "Yes" types wanted--a river development that was big and beautiful and that we could point out to visitors as evidence that Tulsa was on the move.  There are still other ways to do that, but losing the river vote was a major blow to folks that see things the way I do.

[tim huntzinger]

Falling behind? So others are ahead? Where is better than Tulsa in this region? What city has more amenities, events, services, etc than Tulsa? If we are between Little Rock and Wichita, we are behind one of them, which is it?

OKC is an aesthetic disaster, ugly and sprawling.  Anyone think OKC is more desirable place to live than Tulsa? Because their downtown ditch?

Jenks gets the aquarium. NOT good for Tulsa?  If not, then this whole talk of regionalism is BS, is it not?  Either regionalism is a two-way street or not.

[swake]

quote:Originally posted by tim huntzinger

Falling behind? So others are ahead? Where is better than Tulsa in this region? What city has more amenities, events, services, etc than Tulsa? If we are between Little Rock and Wichita, we are behind one of them, which is it?

OKC is an aesthetic disaster, ugly and sprawling.  Anyone think OKC is more desirable place to live than Tulsa? Because their downtown ditch?

Jenks gets the aquarium. NOT good for Tulsa?  If not, then this whole talk of regionalism is BS, is it not?  Either regionalism is a two-way street or not.

Yes, falling behind.

Little Rock has a great downtown with a real railed trolley. Wichita has a nice downtown riverfront area and Omaha beats them both. Really, Omaha and Little Rock have better and more thriving downtown/urban areas than Bricktown in Oklahoma City much less us. Albuquerque is a simply a great city. Ft Worth is working on a great river plan and has a really great downtown. Austin is simply one of the "cool" cities.

It wasn't so long ago that Austin and Ft Worth were smaller than Tulsa.  Every city on the list is growing faster than Tulsa, city and metro. Omaha has now passed Tulsa in city population and Wichita will soon. Austin, Ft Worth and Oklahoma City are closing in on being nearly twice the size of Tulsa for city population.

[T-Town Now]

I was in Little Rock last year, and I was amazed at how nice their downtown area is, especially the area around the Clinton Library.

There are lots of restaurants, shops, and places to see.

I've never been all that impressed with Wichita, but I do think Little Rock is headed in the right direction.

[TheArtist]

quote:Originally posted by tim huntzinger

Falling behind? So others are ahead? Where is better than Tulsa in this region? What city has more amenities, events, services, etc than Tulsa? If we are between Little Rock and Wichita, we are behind one of them, which is it?

OKC is an aesthetic disaster, ugly and sprawling.  Anyone think OKC is more desirable place to live than Tulsa? Because their downtown ditch?

Jenks gets the aquarium. NOT good for Tulsa?  If not, then this whole talk of regionalism is BS, is it not?  Either regionalism is a two-way street or not.

There is a whooole lot more going on in and near downtown OKC than "the ditch". Its really something to see how much they have been growing. Even from just a year to two ago there are lots of new buildings, condos, apartments, hotels, etc.

Comparitively speaking Tulsa is listless. I really like Tulsa but like someone above said. We are missing that spark, lively atmosphere, that contagious energy. We are just kind of coasting along.  These other places have "cranes in the air".

Hopefully the Tulsa Landing will happen, River District in Jenks, and the expanded Riverwalk. Those things may be just the spark to create some energy and momentum and help Tulsa get going.

[Renaissance]

quote:Originally posted by tim huntzinger

Falling behind? So others are ahead? Where is better than Tulsa in this region? What city has more amenities, events, services, etc than Tulsa? If we are between Little Rock and Wichita, we are behind one of them, which is it?

OKC is an aesthetic disaster, ugly and sprawling.  Anyone think OKC is more desirable place to live than Tulsa? Because their downtown ditch?

Jenks gets the aquarium. NOT good for Tulsa?  If not, then this whole talk of regionalism is BS, is it not?  Either regionalism is a two-way street or not.

Dude, just do some traveling.  You'll see.  Spend a couple of weekends out and about in each town and then come back and tell us that Tulsa is where it's at.  

And since you asked, I think we're behind Little Rock and ahead of Wichita.  Way behind OKC, Ft. Worth, Omaha, etc.

[tim huntzinger]

Better than traveling there, lets just ask someone who chose Tulsa over Little Rock.  Jennifer M just left the store, went to school in Little Rock but moved here.  Asked her if Little Rock was nicer and she looked at me like I was crazy.  24 years old.

[cannon_fodder]

Great story Tim.

Want to know how many young professionals I graduated law school with stuck around and how many moved to OKC, Kansas City, Dallas, or other cities?  If I did not have a family, it would be unlikely that I would stick around here.  I like the town, thats why I live here.  But as I said over and over its lacking some spark.  Hard to put my finger on it, but certainly walking/driving around you do not get the feeling that this is the place to be.

[tim huntzinger]

It sure was when Williams was going great guns.  It sure was when CFS and Wiltel were booming.  You want action, excitement? Just add high-paying jobs.

[waterboy]

quote:Originally posted by cannon_fodder

Great story Tim.

Want to know how many young professionals I graduated law school with stuck around and how many moved to OKC, Kansas City, Dallas, or other cities?  If I did not have a family, it would be unlikely that I would stick around here.  I like the town, thats why I live here.  But as I said over and over its lacking some spark.  Hard to put my finger on it, but certainly walking/driving around you do not get the feeling that this is the place to be.

We are becoming a huge bedroom community! Us and the burbs together...are boring. We need a spark like the Cowboys needed a coaches moment!

Tim, you are asking people who left a location how they feel about that location. Well, they had some reason for leaving that area that probably left a bad taste in their mouth. Ask those located there who left Tulsa and you find the same low opinion of Tulsa. New arrivals are not good reference.

[cannon_fodder]

quote:Originally posted by tim huntzinger

It sure was when Williams was going great guns.  It sure was when CFS and Wiltel were booming.  You want action, excitement? Just add high-paying jobs.

That would be the #1 thing on my list.  Making this a good town to do business is.  Good jobs = good towns.  PERIOD.

[Breadburner]

I'm perfectly happy...It's the people that make the town not where you go hang out.....They better jump on the Crow Creek corridor....Alot of these post make me laugh out loud.....