The same smart growth strategies that make communities more attractive and affordable places to live also make them healthier places. Multimodal livable streets that are safe and comfortable for walkers and bikers encourage people to get more exercise and live healthier lifestyles as part of their daily routines. “Only about 25% of Americans get the…
Smart growth proponents see opportunities in the redevelopment of vacant, abandoned properties and brownfields sites. We observe that as development gets pushed further out from the core of our cities to the fringe of town, our main streets and central neighborhoods are often left neglected. There is enormous economic development potential in these abandoned storefronts…
Strategically locating homes, office buildings, roads and other developments can have long-term implications for the natural environment. Shorter trips and smart growth development decisions mean improved air and water quality by lowering greenhouse gas emissions, protecting the environment and helping families, businesses and whole communities thrive. By decreasing the amount of pavement per home built,…
Sound smart growth policies benefit businesses when it comes to recruiting and retaining a well trained workforce, by increasing access to jobs through better transportation options, by contributing to the vitality of downtowns. By attracting the millennial generation and creative class, smart growth helps workers, businesses and customers connect. By locating in smart growth areas,…
Some take their commutes to work for granted but access to dependable transportation is a major hurdle for many others. By locating more housing near jobs, and locating more jobs in existing transit rich communities the two can create accessible job opportunities where previously there were none. Walkable and pedestrian friendly urban cores with hearty…
A friend’s recent interest in publishing a piece on life in near north Tulsa in the 50’s had me contemplating memories from my time growing up at 228 E. King Street. So I set out to share some of my memories from those good ole days. I was born in Newton, Kansas while my father…
Help save the state-owned tracks connecting Tulsa and OKC xxxxx The Oklahoma Department of Transportation is poised to sell state-owned railroad tracks linking Sapulpa and Oklahoma City. A sale likely would deliver a lethal blow to prospects for restoring passenger rail between Oklahoma’s two largest cities. The state acquired the 97.5 mile Sooner Sub line in…
Historical Background information The Oklahoma Department of Transportation is poised to sell state-owned railroad tracks linking Sapulpa and Oklahoma City. According to many, if not most observers, a sale would likely deliver a lethal blow to prospects for restoring passenger rail between Oklahoma’s two largest cities. The state acquired the 97.5 mile Sooner Sub line…
Vision 2, Lesson Learned? That kind of systematic public evaluation of proposed capital needs and expenditures was missing in last year’s Vision 2 initiative and that is likely why it was handily defeated. The timing was wrong, public engagement was lacking and the spending did little to reinforce the goals of our long term comprehensive…
Tulsa, we have a problem. Too many of our historic and iconic downtown buildings have fallen prey to the wrecking ball. Too many ugly surface parking lots have taken their place. This untenable situation began in the 1960s and has been escalating since. It has led Tulsa to a most dubious distinction. We were…