Quote Originally Posted by betts View Post
Part of the problem with OKC's outer neighborhoods is that they don't have a gathering place/area. The appeal of the Plaza District, the Paseo, Capitol Hill, 23rd St. are the core of buildings suitable for retail that create a common area for people to gather and recreate. I see those same types of neighborhoods in Chicago making the area very desirable for homebuyers. It's great to walk to Southport, Wicker Park, Lincoln Park to shop, dine, listen to music. It recreates small town living in the city. Because of cars and shopping centers, newer(60s and newer) neighborhood don't have that restorable core that is so appealing nowadays. Perhaps there is a way to create something in a few selected neighborhoods to make a gathering place, be it a park with an adjacent public library, stop for streetcar or light rail that might generate some development to make a neighborhood more than simply where you sleep.
That's some of what I've been advocating. Will they be perfect, no. (Is anything?) They could be tremendous assets though.