Tulsa Downtown

[Renovator2559]

Tulsa has many similarities to Omaha in population, and age. However, the approaches to urbanism on both cities is vastly different.

Tulsa is a much larger city in area to Omaha, at 66% larger despite being of almost the same in population. Tulsa is a much more car sprawling city than Omaha.


Here are a few pictures I took of Tulsa when I was there, a few weeks ago.
Tulsa Downtown at night and day:





The tallest building in Tulsa is the BOK tower at 663ft (only 14ft shorter than the future MoO), it is a replica of the World trade center and a reflection of that era.



Tulsa has two beautiful art Deco skyscrapers, adorned with intricate details in their crowns.






Downtown has plenty of parking lot blocks like these, and at times it was a challenge to take pictures that hid the parking lots and even some low density.

In contrast Omaha used to have parkinglots but they were converted to maintained greenspaces long ago.



This is one of the entertainment districts, that resembles the Capitol District



Of the only active construction developments I came across in Downtown, was this apartment complex that resembles the Brickline, but other than that; no other construction projects in downtown. As Tulsa appears to focus more in sprinkling developments in the outer edges, like the riverbank.





I only saw a person here and there walking in the downtown area during lunch hour.

Overall, Tulsa has nice skyscrapers however they need to do better in cleaning up the car infrastructure, as there are too many parking lots, freeway loop and snaking overpasses that wall of the downtown area. Which detract from its potential of being a vibrant downtown. Also, it would of helped Downtown much more, if the Gathering riverfront park system was nearby and not 15-20 blocks away in low density residential.

[daveoma]

Interesting visual, thank you for sharing. I really like that Omaha is more densely populated compared to other cities. Every necessity was close by and didn't require a 20 minute drive.

[TreeKiid]

Interesting fact about the white neo-gothic skyscraper. Grabbed from Wikipedia “The first 16-story structure was built in 1918. The top 20 stories comprise a separate structure, cantilevered over the first 66 years later” in 1984. The did an incredible job matching the original style.


1983 construction photo

[ChadJK]

There's a cool tunnel system that connect several of the downtown buildings. You can walk from BOK tower to Philtower, for example. and never go outside.

[Renovator2559]

Interesting visual, thank you for sharing. I really like that Omaha is more densely populated compared to other cities. Every necessity was close by and didn't require a 20 minute drive.

No problem! It's good to showcase our city peers, so that people can appreciate Omaha and take a page or two on what to do and not to do.

Interesting fact about the white neo-gothic skyscraper. Grabbed from Wikipedia “The first 16-story structure was built in 1918. The top 20 stories comprise a separate structure, cantilevered over the first 66 years later” in 1984. The did an incredible job matching the original style.


1983 construction photo

Very interesting details, no wonder the architectual prowess of that neo-gothic building of that time is impressive to my eyes! Its ornate and has plenty of visual variety.

There's a cool tunnel system that connect several of the downtown buildings. You can walk from BOK tower to Philtower, for example. and never go outside.

I didn't know that very cool! Reminds me of Dallas and Houston, maybe because Tulsa takes inspiration from Texas? Tulsa in a way feels like the outskirts of Texas.

[ChadJK]

When I was a kid we use to go to Tulsa to visit family and ate at Coney Islanders down there. I loved them.

Memory unlocked! We lived in Tulsa for 4 years and I've not seen their Coney Islander hot dog obsession anywhere else. They were tasty!

[Renovator2559]

While most of Tulsa downtown has giant blocks of surface lots everywhere, sometimes up to 6 large blocks, there are a few things they are doing right in the Arts District.





The Arts District is a much more polished version of the Old Market, bricks look new, people scrubbing the windows clean after rain. Everything in this area just looks traditional but new, no flaws in any brick layering.



Even on the weekend the foot traffic is low compared to the Old Market.











Love this building in how traditional brick the building is with those great arches and tall, Tulsa is not afraid of tall buildings.





Cute fresh sidewalks that are premium in feel and asthetics are everywhere in the Arts District





Other than that the rest of downtown has no activity, just a courthouse and a mental institution being renovated.

[Cermak]

Tulsa has some great art deco buildings downtown. Probably better than Omaha’s, and Omaha’s got some nice ones. A friend of mine who travels for work was in Tulsa he said the downtown was dead. I personally have never been there, but would like to check it out sometime since it’s one of Omaha’s most similar peer cities.

[Renovator2559]

Tulsa has some great art deco buildings downtown. Probably better than Omaha’s, and Omaha’s got some nice ones. A friend of mine who travels for work was in Tulsa he said the downtown was dead. I personally have never been there, but would like to check it out sometime since it’s one of Omaha’s most similar peer cities.

They love to integrate their midrterranean revival. Of Spanish terrace buildings with arches.

Omaha sticks to its roots but Tulsa mixes these two architectures as the oil capital that wanted to project luxury on its hayday. Tulsa has some nice brick architecture, its like an Omaha mirror with a few twists.

[remline]

Thanks for the detailed review and excellent photos. I learned from your photos that Woody Guthrie was born near Tulsa.

[TitosBuritoBarn]

This building has a twin in my neighborhood in St. Louis:

https://maps.app.goo.gl/t5Ka85kwncdZ7M757

[skinzfan23]

That would be a nice building on the corner of 11th and Harney, maybe something a similar but a little taller.

[Renovator2559]

This building has a twin in my neighborhood in St. Louis:

https://maps.app.goo.gl/t5Ka85kwncdZ7M757

The St Louis version has a clock as a nice touch and looks better, newer? The St Louis version is also one floor taller.




Here are another one of Tulsas distinct architectural flavor. This is in Utica Ave a investor hub and its pretty upscale, its outside downtown in Midtown Tulsa.

Utica Square is quite an upscale outdoor mall with stores selling premium.




This building is nice and very tall and wide, I wish we built something like this and redefine what condos can look like.
This building integrates into the low density neighborhood and makes it look like a Spanish fortress.



The building is called Utica Place Penthouse. Its all about comfort, security and luxury.
https://bamproperties.com/residential/u ... penthouse/



Tulsa doesn't mind building vertical.







Investor buildings keep the same Spanish theme





While Spanish revival is out of character for Omaha, Omaha could emphasize its red brick prowess to build impressive tall brick buildings.