Tell me something bad about Tulsa... (Broken Arrow, Owasso: condos, construction, moving to)

[Indigo Cardinal]

I lived in Tulsa for almost four years, between 1994 and 1998. I came to Tulsa shortly after I left the military because I was offered a job there (telecommunications).

Like anyplace I've lived, there was good and bad about it. Beautiful scenery, and if you're like me and like to do "Sunday driving", that's going to be great. (With gas prices nowadays, I don't know if people still do that.)

By and large, very nice people--one of the few places I lived where my coworkers would invite me over to their homes for dinner and such. I actually liked it well enough that when I saw a lovely old-style house in Skiatook for sale, I had seriously been considering buying it and staying in Oklahoma permanently.

However, I did learn quickly you don't want north-facing windows in the winter. *grin*

Actually, in Tulsa's case, I think 'bad' wouldn't be the word I'm looking for. It's a great city for families, or if you grew up there. I was single and from out-of-state...which leads me to my point of if Tulsa has (or had) a problem, it seemed to be that Tulsa underestimated its own appeal. Any time somebody asked where I was from, and I said, "St. Louis," the immediate response would be, "So why would you move *here*?" It came across as putting down their own home city/state, which I don't think helped. Most of the single friends I made in Tulsa wound up leaving, and shortly after the last one left, I did too.

I don't know if the scene has changed for singles/non-natives, but I do remember always getting asked why I would want to move there. Maybe saying it that way sort of made Tulsa its own worst enemy.

[minira]

1. The cookie-cutter developments and tiny lots
2. Lack of affordable housing in the few neighborhoods with nightlife
3. Food culture of huge portions and starchy, fried/breaded everything
4. Constant assumption that if you're over 25 you must have a family and want a suburban lifestyle where you live in a too-big boring McMansion, drive everywhere, never go outside and care only about getting your kids into state universities. (Tulsa realtors, I'm looking at you!)

[linicx]

n/m

[Bill236c]

Originally Posted by linicx

n/m

Neiman Marcus?

[MOKAN]

Originally Posted by Bill236c

Neiman Marcus?

I think that meant "not much". Tulsa doesn't have a Neiman Marcus, but they do have both a Saks Fifth Avenue and a locally-owned upscale department store.

[Okiegirlfriend]

High property taxes are my pet peeve. That is why we are moving to Creek County where taxes are less than 1/2 of Tulsa taxes!

[artsy11]

The one bad thing that is really getting on my nerves is all of this construction. The city can't do a few projects here or there but have to have nearly twenty major construction projects going on. Can't stand that one bit.

[janacoo]

im considering moving to tulsa from saint louis,mo? will it be an easy adjustment

[flyingcat2k]

Originally Posted by janacoo

im considering moving to tulsa from saint louis,mo? will it be an easy adjustment

If you are moving here from St. Louis MSA, I think the biggest thing you'll notice is that downtown isn't really isolated by the higways. There are plenty of streets that go under/over the highway and connect downtown with the immediate areas surrounding them. The second thing you'll notice is that Tulsa city is MUCH safer than St. Louis city. Tulsa MSA has a higher crime rate than St. Louis MSA but there are far fewer suburbs to balance out the Tulsa city crime rate. If you were to eliminate North Tulsa, our crime statistics would look more like Denver's.

Aside from missing major sports teams, I don't think there will a big adjustment. The major concerts all come to Tulsa and several acts are repeat performers at the new 5 year old arena (BOK) like Paul McCartney, The Who, Elton John, George Strait, Katy Perry, Kings of Leon, The Band Perry, ect.

[Just add saltwater]

I would suggest an outer lying area . Better for bunch of reasons. I currently live just off of hwy 75 on 117. It's a small town called Sapulpa and you can be on a major highway or turnpike in less than 3 min. I have a home that is 2500+ square feet on a bit larger than an acre and my property taxes are @ 2200 a year and my insurance is 1980.00 a year. But in 2turns I am headed to the major shopping areas or on the way to OKC.

I am about to relocate to florida but only due my family.