Any Area's with more contruction? (Tulsa, Norman: jobs, sick, new home)

[sunshine85]

I suggest looking into Edmond. It's growing quickly with a lot of new construction.

[happytown]

Originally Posted by sunshine85

I suggest looking into Edmond. It's growing quickly with a lot of new construction.

I like both towns...Although Norman has kept its personality by having more restrictions....Almost 30,000 more in population...It has always been amazing to me how well Norman has kept the BIG UGLY BOX stores on its west side past I-35 for residents to access w/o the eyesore of having them all over the nice parts of town. The character of the town keeps its integrity that way. That is the only bad issue with Edmond is that when you drive into town.................rows and rows of fast food/Mega Stores/car dealerships greet you. It is basically just a very large brand new suburb of OKC. Traffic is literally painful and many have an aggressive IM from Edmond attitude. You def get more genuine waves and smiles in Norman. Norman is actually growing more in many ways now. Huge old trees line many streets because it actually has history. And of course the famed museums are outstanding on the OU campus along with the stunning campus(Okie Goth) looks like Candy Land......I kinda consider the museums as an investment on the behalf of OKC...Just so darn close to Norman....But that is just my opinion.

[flintysooner]

Edmond "feels" more vibrant and energetic and on the move than does Norman. There are really some wonderfully unique developments in Edmond, both residential and commercial. The "cookie cutter" idea is really unfair. Edmond often is "blamed" for development that is actually in Oklahoma City, too. Partly because growth between the Oklahoma City and Edmond has been almost continuous. There is a tension between smart or no-growth constituencies and pro-growth. Edmond is probably a little more politically conservative than is Norman.

Norman has a slower feel and a more conservative (and long term) approach to growth. Norman to me (and I did live there) is more parochial and independent than other cities in the metropolitan area. There is a rather public jealousy and competition with Edmond. There is still a lot of undeveloped land between Norman and Oklahoma City.

Otherwise though the cities are surprisingly similar. Both have unique and interesting residential areas, both new and old. Both have good retail and commercial development. Both are developing their own job producing business areas independent of Oklahoma City. Traffic is terrible in both although I would say it is worse in Norman actually.

I also like and enjoy both cities and visit each regularly.

[peggydavis]

Does this kind of jealousy and competition between cities happen everywhere? I am really curious about this subject, not joking around. Do posters who live in other states think this is normal to have rivalries such as, for example Kingston vs. Madill, two small towns in Oklahoma. I guess I should start another thread about this elsewhere.

[flintysooner]

It seems pretty common to me. In the Norman-Edmond case it seems more on the Norman side than Edmond to me. There was a bumper sticker at one point that contained "Don't Edmond my Norman" and that theme became more popularized. It means basically becoming overly developed especially with big boxes, chains, and McMansion additions.

So some of the competition arises from concern about the course of future growth of the community. Some of it just normal pride about the uniqueness of the community.

On an official level however there seems to me to be very good cooperation but with friendly competition between the Oklahoma City metropolitan area cities.

I don't know about other cities but I've pretty much observed some kind of competition and jealousy in every place I've lived. I don't think it is necessarily unhealthy.

[happytown]

Originally Posted by peggydavis

Does this kind of jealousy and competition between cities happen everywhere? I am really curious about this subject, not joking around. Do posters who live in other states think this is normal to have rivalries such as, for example Kingston vs. Madill, two small towns in Oklahoma. I guess I should start another thread about this elsewhere.

With the Norman/Edmond thing it really is playful and really doesnt exist (Norman just doesnt want to be tied into Edmond as a suburb...I have lived in Norman and Edmond and OKC for long periods of time)...But I would say Norman...Like many residents would tell you....Do not like huge development. It is a liberal town and that is why the town has a bohemian spirit. They love their town enough to make a bumper sticker...which I have posted before. I dont think either town really cares about eachother because they are so far away...But Norman obviously has residents that voice their opinion about more reservation than Edmond...Hence the bumper sticker voicing their opinion w/the statement.....dont edmond my norman....Traffic is only really bad on lindsay...Nothing wrong with it but edmonds traffic is OBVIOUSLY bad. An engineer would vow to that....Broadway which is an extention from OKC feeds into it making it one of the most conjested roads in the metro....

[flintysooner]

I suppose it is a matter of personal perception but I don't find the Norman-Edmond jealousy to be playful on the part of many in Norman at least. There have been some very unseemly if not downright nasty things said about Edmond and Edmond residents.

I do agree that the comments do come from the anti-development crowd which seems to be a pretty significant majority. I suspect it started just as a symbol to use in advocating a position but the coarseness of the discourse has hurt the reputation of the entire Norman community in my view. I also find it exceedingly hypocritical given the riches of the Norman community.

I find traffic to be terrible in Norman on Robinson, Main, Boyd, Lindsey, Flood, Porter, Ed Noble, and the Interstate access road. 24th Ave NW isn't so great either or Berry for that matter. The Interstate between Norman and Moore is horrible both ways and getting worse.

But it is just my opinion.

[peggydavis]

Words spoken in anger can leave lasting wounds. During the big Wal-Mart fight in Edmond, the former mayor made reference to "the people in the trees" which would include me at the time. That still bothers me. I did not live near Fox Lake, but I thought they really got a bad deal.

The people in Norman could have thought of a better slogan. They could have said "Don't Wal-Mart my Norman" and made the same point.

I don't like seeing all the farmland fill up with new houses, but I like all the jobs the construction creates. I'm happy we have high prices for oil and gas, but I hate the big truck traffic and the pollution from the drilling, and I don't like to pay so much to fill up my vehicle.

[flintysooner]

Amen Peggy - we desperately need to learn the art of polite discourse.

[happytown]

Originally Posted by flintysooner

I suppose it is a matter of personal perception but I don't find the Norman-Edmond jealousy to be playful on the part of many in Norman at least. There have been some very unseemly if not downright nasty things said about Edmond and Edmond residents.

I do agree that the comments do come from the anti-development crowd which seems to be a pretty significant majority. I suspect it started just as a symbol to use in advocating a position but the coarseness of the discourse has hurt the reputation of the entire Norman community in my view. I also find it exceedingly hypocritical given the riches of the Norman community.

I find traffic to be terrible in Norman on Robinson, Main, Boyd, Lindsey, Flood, Porter, Ed Noble, and the Interstate access road. 24th Ave NW isn't so great either or Berry for that matter. The Interstate between Norman and Moore is horrible both ways and getting worse.

But it is just my opinion.

My opinion also and my own personal perception...But....Norman has like 4 exits to get into the town. The only way to get to Edmond is the Broadway ext.(Which of course....was developed by OKC dollars). I think that makes a lot of sense. Next time get off at I-77.....you will have no problems/If you feel that is congested...Well, I really dont know if you know Norman all to well...not to be mean or anything at all (you also have to remember train tracks that hold up traffic- more cosmo/Amtrack). Many that live in Norman know I-77....simple secret/Outsiders just keep on going until it says exit Norman this way (which creates bad traffic rep)....Now game day is totally different.....It becomes like a tourist destination for a weekend. Argument...should Norman expand its roads for game day? Crested Butte/Aspen do not do this during winter...Why should they? Should Norman widen its inner roads for traffic destroying old homes and trees that make it so special...No...It values its integrity like Aspen or Crested Butte or Breckenridge. Lindsey is not even an option...It really is a way for Norman to show off its small town pride and a way for students to become familiar with the campus...Hence its historical and preserved Main street with all of its beautiful historic buildings. The roads are akin to Tulsa...Small and less concrete. I think that is really important in these days of over development for a smaller city. We might as well just admit that Edmond has way more concrete than Norman and even OKC....considering OKCs enormous size...That is a bad thing for some people....But others like it for convenience. I also believe citizens that advocate for their city only shows the intelligence of the city itself. Preservation to me is really important (but that is just my take on life). If Edmond did this in the first place it would not have a bad reputation for destruction of old buildings...That is why you dont find any historical districts or homes (or at least any homes at all)....I have freinds that live north of Edmond that settled there for the country side...They hate the over development and YES it is cookie cutter land....Why hide it? It is so obvious to everyone. Reputation...Well in my opinion/perception Edmond has developed (among its shiny new buildings) for being elite and snobby....This idea not only comes from Norman....But extends itself well into OKC that is really sick of that attitude. Of course OKC has its new areas....But they really are very North towards Memorial rd. into Edmond. You have to admit that for many many years and currently it has always been...Dont live in OKC...Its scary...Move to Edmond if you go into the metro. Now that is just really really silly. I personally like old homes with history, personality, culture and integrity that is found in OKC and Norman. So both must have a bad reputation in their own ways. But I personally would much rather have the reputation of Norman or OKC since Edmond tries to beat out the BIG dog....OKC..with new homes that all blend together....I just dont find it appealling. The riches of Norman?...They come from Norman. Well, the riches of Edmond...again stem from OKC in many ways. Now that is extremely hypocritical especially when the community has such a high distain towards its mother...OKC.

But that is just my 2 cents.