Quote Originally Posted by jdross1982 View Post
I completely agree. The area in front and surrounding Showbiz should be full of retail, restaurants, niche buildings like gymnastics, dancing, an Edmond version of Score OKC, Apartments and offices above retail stores could all go in this area and absolutely kill it but it will take the developers working with investors to make it happen. There is a TON of land in the area beyond all that is already platted. Between this area, and the surrounding areas this could truly be a lifestyle center that would attract shoppers from as far away as Stillwater and have constant use from Edmond, Arcadia, Jones, Luther, Guthrie and beyond.
Edmond already attracts lots and lots of shoppers from Stillwater, due to Stillwater's quite pitiful lack of appealing dining, retail and recreational options for adults and children alike for a town of its size. That and the lack of decent paying jobs to attract families make Stillwater quite an undesirable place for many non-students to consider moving to. One who has kids to raise would rather not do it from the standpoint of a fast food, restaurant, store clerk or housekeeping job. Consequently, a good number of OSU employees live in Edmond and commute to OSU every day. If they got kids, they thank them for it. Perhaps in recent months things have gotten somewhat better. Yet, that AreaVibes would give Edmond a livability score of 78 while giving Stillwater 82 can only be regarded as an all-out total joke to many Oklahomans.

At least OU fans can take pride and joy in that AreaVibes gives Norman a higher score of 83. But it's questionable that AreaVibes is a credible source to help one find where living in a state is good or better in the first place.

Enid also doesn't exactly have an abundance of good dining and retail options, so north Edmond could attract lots of shoppers from there as well. Hopefully, Edmond will be able to manage its abundant growth off I-35 well.