Greenwood: Potential Development

[MichaelC]

quote:Originally posted by Double A

quote:Originally posted by Conan71

It's pretty hillarious, a bunch of ostensibly white south Tulsa (and otherwise non-residents of NoTul) males discussing the root of problems on the north side, but I digress.

They need a holiday in Cambodia.

Hey, if you think North Tulsa can do it by themselves, let's give them a go.  We should de-annex that eyesore now, let's see those complaining SOB's run North Tulsa with only it's own tax base providing the funds.

[Double A]

quote:Originally posted by MichaelC

quote:Originally posted by Double A

quote:Originally posted by Conan71

It's pretty hillarious, a bunch of ostensibly white south Tulsa (and otherwise non-residents of NoTul) males discussing the root of problems on the north side, but I digress.

They need a holiday in Cambodia.

Hey, if you think North Tulsa can do it by themselves, let's give them a go.  We should de-annex that eyesore now, let's see those complaining SOB's run North Tulsa with only it's own tax base providing the funds.

Not a bad idea. Tulsa's Mohawk water treatment plant would be in the de-annexed area. I wonder how that could be utilized as a funding source? Maybe they could get east Tulsa to join them in de-annexation to form one new community that where both the A.B Jewel and Mohawk treatment plants would be located. Be careful what you wish for.

[MichaelC]

Be my guest, don't let the door hit ya where the lord split ya.  Don't want to be a part of Tulsa, surprise, I couldn't care less.  Just go.  Please, the sooner the better.

[MichaelC]

Do you live in North Tulsa Double A?  If so, would you be interested in doing some brainstorming, getting some people together, and coming up with some ideas?

Rico lives over near Owen Park, he might have a few ideas.  I think Hometown lives up in the North side somewhere.

I know a few ex-Northsiders, but I can't think of anyone else that currently lives in North Tulsa, off-hand.

[perspicuity85]

quote:Originally posted by Conan71

quote:Originally posted by perspicuity85

^^
I agree with you guys.  I did not mean to imply that a mixed-use community is automatically screened from blight or that is able to necessarily overcome years of economic segregation, as the north side has.  I think some of the keys to improving North Tulsa are: greater access to education, greater access to affordable health care, and an overall sense of community.  Langston U. Tulsa CC, and Tulsa Tech Ctr should be keys in providing educational access, while clinics such as the Morton Health Ctr. can greatly improve access to health care.  Development of Greenwood and possibly even Mohawk Park's expansion should be targets for community cultural revivals.  The mixed-use rule of thumb should be utilized whenever possible, perhaps a few years into the future if the area becomes safer for walkability.  The Greenwood District is a good place to start because of its proximity to Downtown and past success.

You are pointing to assets north Tulsa already enjoys and utilizes, the only one you didn't mention was upgrading public housing.  Yet none of it seems to make a difference in crime and under-performing schools.  

None of that will curb crime and make people take pride in their area until their individual paradigms change and tell them to support their kids in finishing school, pursue higher ed opportunities (TCC's tuition gift is wonderful) get and keep a job, and realize drugs, theft, and gang lifestyle are a dead-end.  That's a family and spiritual issue.  Infrastructure, clinics, schools, new grocery stores, better streets, better housing doesn't cure that.

We can throw all sorts of assets at a community, but it's like building a brand-new prison in McAlester.  Just because you have new facilities and a wide range of intervention/re-hab programs, unless there is a shift in personal paradigms, you can't change an individual or groups of individual's behavior.

Roscoe Turner and Jack Henderson aren't spiritual leaders, they are city counselors- it's really not within their job description to be preachers.

That is true about the personal paradigms-- the catalyst to a renaissance in North Tulsa will likely have to come from within.  One of my favorite quotes is "culture eats strategy for lunch," which basically means that you can make all the plans in the world and even carry them out, but in the end it comes down to the values of the people.  From an outside perspective, it is difficult to build culture.  However, I do think the Morton Health Clinic and TCC's northside campus are doing positive things for the area and should continue to be supported.  Another idea I've always had is to involve Tulsa Tech. Center as much as possible with the northside schools.  A lot of kids on the north side don't grow up in a culture that expects them to go to college, and Tulsa Tech. is an obvious great alternative to working minimum wage jobs.  I think there is a stigma in the US that people either go to college or work at McDonald's, when in reality, there are many technical jobs in high demand that require a two-year degree or less.  I think the northside schools should start educating students as early as middle school about TCC and Tulsa Tech Ctr.'s programs, including the concurrent high school enrollment programs provided by both institutions.  The city can provide the strategy and perhaps foster a culture of success, but the building of that culture will indeed arise from North Tulsa residents.

[MichaelC]

In the grand scheme, North Tulsa really hasn't been ignored.  The city has thrown money and services that direction.  The city has provided improvements to infrastructure.  The city sends  a disproportionate amount of police coverage that direction.

If anything is going to change with North Tulsa, I think you have start with the nuts and bolts.  The seemingly minor details, in seemingly insignificant places.  More neighborhood development programs, develop more stronger neighborhood associations, coordinate services, get NPOs talking to everyone and every other NPO including churches.  Find out what different areas of town want or need, and find out how to get it.  Search for philanthropy.  Get crazy with research, and exploit federal services to a fault.

After the nuts and bolts, there are the big fish.  Lobby for a special designation within the MTTA to get more expansive transportation options.  Survey MTTA routes, and redesign routes so that they're more valuable to residents.  Lobby for a special tax to complete the Gilcrease Expressway and create a TIF district for commercial development.  Lobby for the expansion of TPD by increasing property taxes or utility rates.  Keep constant pressure on the city to enforce building and property codes, and to repair infrastructure.  Support any potential development in Greenwood.  Explore the value of zoning.

I'm sure there's more.

[carltonplace]

Drove down Peoria yesterday and was noticed how nice it looks. There is a new lighted trail (no acorns patric) and lots of new trees and landscaping.