Tulsa's downtown development reflects pride of those involved
History, architecture lead to differences in development in Oklahoma City's Bricktown, Tulsa's Brady Arts District.
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The Fairfield Inn, without any urban design ordinance to say otherwise, could have been built with a traditional stucco facade and suburban setback from the street.
Pride is standard
I asked Bob Fleischman, Brady Arts District Association president, to explain why the Fairfield Inn, the neighboring Metro at Brady Apartments, and other newer downtown Tulsa developments might have exceeded design and development standards in downtown Oklahoma City.
After a bit of discussion, the difference, it appears, comes down to property owners. It's a question of hometown pride and vision.
A tour of the two downtowns might lead one to speculate that Tulsa always has had the edge when it comes to pride in architectural design.
Tulsa's Art Deco heritage is well regarded worldwide, while the only international acclaim for downtown Oklahoma City architecture to note was for Stage Center. That theater, closed for the past two years, is being targeted for demolition and future redevelopment.
Such a historical comparison also is compromised by what remains of the buildings erected by the original town fathers in the two cities. Tulsa had its own urban renewal program, but it never called for the widespread demolition of hundreds of buildings that took place in Oklahoma City.
But look again at downtown Tulsa. The redevelopment is certainly a bit slower, and the comparisons are a bit challenging, but the difference in pride is beginning to show.
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