Looking at downtown Tulsa...need help (Jenks, Washington: apartments, rentals, loft)

[grocerygetter]

Hello everyone,

Both my wife and I are looking at moving to Tulsa. We have a great opportunity with a local company who will be flying my and wife and I out for a visit (and to convince us to take the job ). Question is....I know nothing of Tulsa and more importantly where to go visit as well as look at neighborhoods. We will be out their for about 4 days so we a hoping to see locations away from the employer. We are both professionals in our 30's without kids (for now) and are currently living in lower downtown Denver. We currently enjoy the nightlife and being able to walk to shops and restaurants from our single family home in Denver. We are looking for a similar step up in Tulsa. Which area would you recommend with the following:

1) Location where you can walk or cab to restaurants, bars, shops
2) Safe area
3) Single family homes w/garages
4) Good schools (planning for the future)
5) Close to parks (for the dog)
6) Quick resale potential
7) Well established (older homes with upgrades if possible)

I not worried about traffic (lived in Washington, DC for 7 years) or the high pace of city living and our budget is between 300k-450k. I've hear Mid-town as a option from some people? Thanks in advance!

[Goodpasture]

Originally Posted by grocerygetter

........... being able to walk to shops and restaurants from our single family home..........we are looking for a similar step up in Tulsa.............

Don't know about the other stuff but we are kinda like Denver that way......only here you walk to your car and drive to shops and restaurants.........

[grocerygetter]

Originally Posted by Goodpasture

Don't know about the other stuff but we are kinda like Denver that way......only here you walk to your car and drive to shops and restaurants.........

No place in or around Tulsa where you can walk too? Guess I have been spoiled with the city life in Denver and Washington DC...hundreds of stuff within walking distance in those cities. I would rather just park the car during the weekend and exercise my legs!

[BigOkie]

Cherry Street (15th Street) between Peoria and Utica might fit that bill. Lots of older homes and apartments within walking distance of many eclectic shops and restaraunts along about a mile. It's very walkable and I know people who loved living there before they trekked out to the burbs.

[grocerygetter]

Excellent thanks for the info!

Originally Posted by BigOkie

Cherry Street (15th Street) between Peoria and Utica might fit that bill. Lots of older homes and apartments within walking distance of many eclectic shops and restaraunts along about a mile. It's very walkable and I know people who loved living there before they trekked out to the burbs.

[BigOkie]

Originally Posted by grocerygetter

Excellent thanks for the info!

You're quite welcome. This link might also have some information for you.

Welcome to Historic Cherry Street in Tulsa, Oklahoma

[BigOkie]

Originally Posted by grocerygetter

Hello everyone,

Both my wife and I are looking at moving to Tulsa. We have a great opportunity with a local company who will be flying my and wife and I out for a visit (and to convince us to take the job ). Question is....I know nothing of Tulsa and more importantly where to go visit as well as look at neighborhoods. We will be out their for about 4 days so we a hoping to see locations away from the employer. We are both professionals in our 30's without kids (for now) and are currently living in lower downtown Denver. We currently enjoy the nightlife and being able to walk to shops and restaurants from our single family home in Denver. We are looking for a similar step up in Tulsa. Which area would you recommend with the following:

1) Location where you can walk or cab to restaurants, bars, shops
2) Safe area
3) Single family homes w/garages
4) Good schools (planning for the future)
5) Close to parks (for the dog)
6) Quick resale potential
7) Well established (older homes with upgrades if possible)

I not worried about traffic (lived in Washington, DC for 7 years) or the high pace of city living and our budget is between 300k-450k. I've hear Mid-town as a option from some people? Thanks in advance!

Another thing you might look at, although DT Tulsa has not evolved as of yet, are the new loft apartments at the Mayo. Just opened up recently, I believe.

The Mayo Hotel & Luxury Residences - Tulsa, Oklahoma

[Bill236c]

Beware - Midtown neighborhoods have no sidewalks except, of course, along commercial blocks. I just moved from Denver last fall to a midtown rental near Philbrook, and I was used to sidewalks. I didn't like walking in the street, so I moved to a newer area in Jenks.

[Brookside]

Hi grocery getter,

Tulsa is smaller than Denver -- it's a wonderful medium-sized city that is working to attain the amenities you are looking for - just not quite there yet!

After reading your post, I can tell you the Florence Park area sounds like it would be a good fit for you. It's very near the Cherry St. area others have mentioned (which has good restaurants, bars and a wonderful coffee shop). The area is roughly bordered from 15th (north) to 21st (south) and between Harvard (east) and Lewis to the west. Beautiful homes with classic architecture that appreciate mightily: a friend of mine just sold her house in the 1700 block of Gary Ave. for $90,000 more than she paid for it 8 years ago. (might sound small to you, but in these parts, that's very significant).

Also, Maple Ridge is very lovely. I don't think you can walk to restaurants and bars, but it is simply a beautiful neighborhood. Much like Florence Park -- classic older homes built in the 1920s-1930s - but larger and with larger lots. Boundaries are roughly Peoria (east) 15th (north) and 31st (south). The west side is bounded by Riverside Parkway -- if you can find a home close to the river, then you have all that our lovely River Parks have to offer in the way of walking/biking trails.

The Brookside area where I live (or lived -- I'm moving to Dallas next month ) is a fun, walkable neighborhood too. It has more apartments and rentals, but it has a definite "urban" vibe to it. Smaller houses, but closer to the River (west of Peoria) if that's your thing, and lots of restaurants, bars and shopping on Peoria. Boundary is roughly Utica to the east, 31st to the north, and Riverside to the west. The southern boundary is 41st St., although some streets (Detroit, Madison, Monroe) between 41st-45th are quite nice. There's a really pricey, brownstone-type development just east of Peoria off of 38th St (I think!) that looks really cool and upscale, but I'm not sure if construction has been completed.

These areas have consistently held their value and they will appreciate more quickly than just about any other area in town.

Just FYI -- Tulsa Public schools (where these neighborhoods are located) are a bit of a mixed batch -- elementary schools in these areas are fine (especially Lee and Elliot), but middle schools and HS not so much (I'll probably be slammed for saying that, but it's the truth). Most people living in these neighborhoods send their children to private schools (Marquette, Monte Cassino, Cascia Hall.)

Best of luck in your search and decision!

[grocerygetter]

Brookside thank you for input....I've received more information in the past 5 posts then 4 hours of searching on the internet! You guys rock! I found out quickly in DC (when the market turned) that I would rather live in a smaller lot and home to be in the most desirable location. Seems like your freind made out in Florence Park. Our current home in Denver is also a older home (built in 1910) thats been upgraded (roof, electrical, kitchen, bathroom,etc) - so those are definite options for us. Thanks again for the information....I look forward to visting these locations soon.

Originally Posted by Brookside

Hi grocery getter,

Tulsa is smaller than Denver -- it's a wonderful medium-sized city that is working to attain the amenities you are looking for - just not quite there yet!

After reading your post, I can tell you the Florence Park area sounds like it would be a good fit for you. It's very near the Cherry St. area others have mentioned (which has good restaurants, bars and a wonderful coffee shop). The area is roughly bordered from 15th (north) to 21st (south) and between Harvard (east) and Lewis to the west. Beautiful homes with classic architecture that appreciate mightily: a friend of mine just sold her house in the 1700 block of Gary Ave. for $90,000 more than she paid for it 8 years ago. (might sound small to you, but in these parts, that's very significant).

Also, Maple Ridge is very lovely. I don't think you can walk to restaurants and bars, but it is simply a beautiful neighborhood. Much like Florence Park -- classic older homes built in the 1920s-1930s - but larger and with larger lots. Boundaries are roughly Peoria (east) 15th (north) and 31st (south). The west side is bounded by Riverside Parkway -- if you can find a home close to the river, then you have all that our lovely River Parks have to offer in the way of walking/biking trails.

The Brookside area where I live (or lived -- I'm moving to Dallas next month ) is a fun, walkable neighborhood too. It has more apartments and rentals, but it has a definite "urban" vibe to it. Smaller houses, but closer to the River (west of Peoria) if that's your thing, and lots of restaurants, bars and shopping on Peoria. Boundary is roughly Utica to the east, 31st to the north, and Riverside to the west. The southern boundary is 41st St., although some streets (Detroit, Madison, Monroe) between 41st-45th are quite nice. There's a really pricey, brownstone-type development just east of Peoria off of 38th St (I think!) that looks really cool and upscale, but I'm not sure if construction has been completed.

These areas have consistently held their value and they will appreciate more quickly than just about any other area in town.

Just FYI -- Tulsa Public schools (where these neighborhoods are located) are a bit of a mixed batch -- elementary schools in these areas are fine (especially Lee and Elliot), but middle schools and HS not so much (I'll probably be slammed for saying that, but it's the truth). Most people living in these neighborhoods send their children to private schools (Marquette, Monte Cassino, Cascia Hall.)

Best of luck in your search and decision!