Food for thought for those moving to OKC (Oklahoma City, Tulsa: skyscrapers, travel)

[sparkman75229]

Happytown, that is a great analogy. January 2007 NTCOG, North Texas Council of Governments, estimates put Dallas at 1,280,500 and the Metroplex at 6,406,500. You really can't look at those as two unrelated entities. The same goes for OKC. Also, if you are looking at cool urban places, i surely wouldn't include the West End. Believe me, almost no one from Dallas goes down there. I also would never say OKC has more character...just different character.

The previous poster was right about the congestion, it is estimated that DFW is adding about 140,000 people a year. BTW, I love OKC and Tulsa but prefer to live in a really large urban area.

[peggydavis]

Originally Posted by flintysooner

My favorite restaurant in Dallas is Javier's - you were close to it, too.

That looks like a great place, Flintysooner. The menu items sound delicious. Mexican food can be a lot more than Tex-Mex. We were not really dressed that well to go there. We were more on the highway looking for restaurant signs, wearing jeans & t-shirts. With a little advance planning, we could go there in the future.

[Nameless]

Considering the way Houston is looked at by most people that doesn't sound all that wonderful. Or is it just the weather that people hate down there. The only time I went south of the Metroplex in Texas was back when I was 7 and we went to San Antonio. So I've got no clue about the gulf coast.

[happytown]

Originally Posted by sparkman75229

Happytown, that is a great analogy. January 2007 NTCOG, North Texas Council of Governments, estimates put Dallas at 1,280,500 and the Metroplex at 6,406,500. You really can't look at those as two unrelated entities. The same goes for OKC. Also, if you are looking at cool urban places, i surely wouldn't include the West End. Believe me, almost no one from Dallas goes down there. I also would never say OKC has more character...just different character.

The previous poster was right about the congestion, it is estimated that DFW is adding about 140,000 people a year. BTW, I love OKC and Tulsa but prefer to live in a really large urban area.

I was going off of city data info...But like you I know the exact pops or close to them. Like OKC is around 550,000 as of 2005-7 instead of 503,000 or whatever....I havent looked up as much info on this as you. Didnt know the metro is that large for Dallas...WOW. I wonder what Houstons metro is?
I know the WestEnd has gone down hill....I will admit that Big D like many other cities are trying to stop the movement of entertainment districts. You end up with ghost towns....Many cities look at OKC Bricktown as a model to fix their own problems w/entertainment areas around urban districts. Im sure OKC will eventually have the same problems....more districts like AAlley/Western/Paseo area and others will take away from BTown. But Btown is very large and it snuggles into downtown OKC...so it has its advantages.

The character...I apologize. Not many would like to hear that one. I personally just think that OKC is very eccentric because of all the struggles, the ups and downs, and is now a city that is gaining a lot of attention lately.
Congestion...Well obviously I would never begin to compare or anything along with the current density of Dallas.

Nameless....I was merely throwing out cities that have a lot of land to work with and how they deal with it. How population soars because there is more land to a city. Basically I was trying to say that OKC is expected to be a monster of a city in the next few decades regarding to population. Personally I think Houston is a beautiful city with an exceptional Downtown skyline and Dallas too. The dif between OKC and them 2 monsters is that OKC is trying very hard in many ways to urbanize its Downtown. To make it a place where people can work, live and play.

[Synopsis]

Hi Happytown,
Living down here in the DFW area I can tell you that Dallas is doing exactly that. You should see all of development going on in downtown Dallas right now. Victory center, uber large skyscrapers going up that are entirely condominiums; there are cranes everywhere in downtown Dallas right now. There is truly a great urban environment that is evolving in Dallas. Don't get me wrong, I'm not taking away from OkC at all, it's got nothing but good things ahead. Similar to the tragedy that happened in Downtown Dallas with President Kennedy being assassinated, OkC recovered grandly from the Murrah bombing and somewhere I read that this is where the two cities could be similar, in that they took these tragedies and turned them into positives. Much of the growth in Dallas started after that tragic incident, and I feel that is what is happening in OkC.
Below are some of the new projects going up in downtown Dallas. Oh BTW, the DFW metro is larger than the Houston metro by a couple of hundred thousand people. DFW is the third or fourth largest metro in the US.





This will be called "The House" (28 stories condo and retail)



This will be 1 Victory Park (20 story office building)





The Cirque (under construction)




New Building (called the Mosaic)


Mandarin Oriental in Victory Park (Uptown) Dallas:


This is what it will look like when finished.


Recently completed W Dallas Hotel and Residences in Victory Park (Uptown) Dallas:


Victory Plaza:














Those last several pictures I just posted because I want people to realize (not that you don't HT) that actually Dallas is an exceptionally pretty city.

Anyway, I just like to post pics..

[peggydavis]

Every city has character. Dallas has its own character, so does Houston, Chicago, and New York City.

I think OKC has a character of people sticking together, having a can-do attitude, recognizing unlimited possibilities, and respect for everyone and our past. I think the character formed from all the struggles and the ups and downs, and our unique history. OKC was one of the cities built in a day, by a land run. Here's an interesting link:
Cafe Oklahoma - Maybe Rome Wasn't Built in a Day

Cool pics, Synopsis. Those show the Dallas people don't see much from the highways.

[happytown]

Really nice pics...That explains all the construction I see when driving by....It never seems complete! They are doing so many improvements to the downtown.

[Synopsis]

Originally Posted by happytown

Really nice pics...That explains all the construction I see when driving by....It never seems complete! They are doing so many improvements to the downtown.

I was in OkC a few weeks ago and it reminded me somewhat of Dallas. There were a lot of downtown living places going up. I'm an Okie through and through, but I've lived here in DFW for a long time. There's a lot that I don't like, and a lot that I do like (just as one would find in any place). Those pictures represent about 1/10th of the development going on in Big D. The area around Victory Park is simply astounding. I don't think alot of people realize just how pretty of a city Dallas is. I think the city government pretty much sucks, but the city is beautiful, really. I'm more of a Fort Worth person, because the city is so much more laid back, but Dallas is prettier, IMO.

I'm looking forward to seeing OkC rock the house over the next decade or two. I think it really is reinventing itself. It's an exciting time to be alive there.

[Nameless]

The census bereau lists Houston metro at 5,539,949 as of July 1, 2006. Houston is the 4th largest city in the nation and 6th largest metro. Dallas is the 9th largest city and 4th largest metro.

I really do hope OKC continues with the downtown development. I think we have the leaders who wish to do that, but at the same time there is absolutely nothing stopping OKC from spreading out more. Look at Mustang, Deer Creek, Piedmont, etc, etc. Speaking of Deer Creek, it's a miracle OKC hasn't annexed that.

[happytown]

Originally Posted by Nameless

The census bereau lists Houston metro at 5,539,949 as of July 1, 2006. Houston is the 4th largest city in the nation and 6th largest metro. Dallas is the 9th largest city and 4th largest metro.

I really do hope OKC continues with the downtown development. I think we have the leaders who wish to do that, but at the same time there is absolutely nothing stopping OKC from spreading out more. Look at Mustang, Deer Creek, Piedmont, etc, etc. Speaking of Deer Creek, it's a miracle OKC hasn't annexed that.

You dont have to worry about Downtown development in OKC...
If you understood what is happening now, what has been happening for the last 10 years and had an understanding of what is going to happen for the future...You wouldnt question it. Look over some past threads of mine and look up google OKCs rapid progress/Maps 3/ Current projects la de da da.

Of course OKC will continue to spread.....That doesnt mean the end of a city or less density or a less urban/cosmo environment. It just means people will continue wanting to stake out land to get away from the big city lights or have other options that are more pleasing to a certain palette....It will only increase in population. Its not like OKC was given a # of people to work with and thats all folks. The Rancher buys more cows. Downtown OKC has a target group. The group is young professionals that make some dough looking for an up and coming revitalized, fun, urban atmosphere that can be found currently in Downtown OKC and surrounding urban districts. Oklahoma County will be doing the annexing not OKC. Payne County is next. It only increases numbers for the metro.

Thank you for the numbers re: Houston.