Gatewood?

[OKCMover]

My partner received an offer to be a professor at the University of Oklahoma. They invited us down for the weekend to take a look at the area. We met with a realtor, and we saw a fantastic redone Victorian in the Gatewood neighborhood on 21st street between Ellison and Douglas. I was curious to hear local's thoughts on the area. I know it's right next to the Asian District, Classen, and Mesta Park, and perhaps a bit spotty, but how is life there? Is it trending up or down? What is crime like? Nearby restaurants and amenities? Is it amenable to a 30-ish gay couple? What is the commute like in rush hour to Norman?

It was really a fantastic home, and it is listed on the Gatewood Neighborhood Association page as a historic place. I'd greatly appreciate any responses.

[metro]

Gatewood is totally trending up. Great neighborhood. Nearby amenities and restaurants are awesome. It's near the gay district, plus the inner city is pretty cool with modern lifestyles anyways.

[betts]

I would have no hesitation living there. I agree that it's trending up, although I've known people who've lived there for years.

[Pete]

What is the commute like in rush hour to Norman?

From that neighborhood, Norman is only 25 miles away and there isn't much traffic ever in the OKC area. Your commute time would be about 30 minutes.


And I agree with the other posts... That's a great location near all the cooler and interesting parts of town.

I'm sure you've already found that in OKC you can get a lot of house for your money.

[bornhere]

And if you mean Oklahoma City University, not the University of Oklahoma, it's the best neighborhood you'll find adjacent to the campus.

[Doug Loudenback]

In case you don't have it already, see http://www.gatewoodokc.com/. I drive through it from Classen on NW 16th regularly to see my son who lives much further west, but 16th is a convenient thoroughfare. The neighborhood has definitely improved (and continues to) over the past several years.

[BG918]

And if you mean Oklahoma City University, not the University of Oklahoma, it's the best neighborhood you'll find adjacent to the campus.

Perfect location for proximity to OCU. OU though would be a 20-30 min. commute depending on I-35 traffic. You might look at the older neighborhoods around campus in Norman as well and compare the two.

[OKCMover]

Thanks everyone, I did mean the University of Oklahoma, not Oklahoma City University.

[betts]

It is a fair commute to Norman from Gatewood, but it really depends on what kind of commute you are used to. It is a bit against the tide, however, as there are more people coming from Norman to OKC than the reverse. The same would hold true in the evenings. I would guess a 30 min. commute from there, as you're relatively close to the Broadway Extension exits of 10th or 23rd.

[Midtowner]

Gatewood is trending up, but I wouldn't say it's quite up yet, if you catch my meaning. What price range are you looking at? If you like the older homes, I'd check out Mesta Park and Crown Heights. Particularly the later (homes between NW 36th and 50th, between Robinson and Western -- do NOT go on the Eastern side of Western). Gatewood, in my experience, is pretty spotty. One block is just fine, the next is much less than fine. You can usually tell this by looking the windows. If there are bars on 'em, it's a no-go. If no bars, you're good to go. If you don't care about particularly unique homes and just want to live in a decent suburb, Norman actually isn't a bad place to live. It's pretty progressive and is constantly rated as one of the nicer suburbs to live in. Further, you can find some historic homes near campus.

[earlywinegareth]

Depends on what you want really. Sounds to me you would be very comfortable in Gatewood, if you have decided to live in the city and want a historical neighborhood. Crown Heights is my favorite. If you are skilled and enjoy DIY projects, then there are several pockets of older homes scattered across inner north OKC you might consider. A good realtor should be able to provide a good overview.

I'd give Norman a hard look also. There are some very attractive neighborhoods near the university, pretty much between Berry Rd and Chautauqua Ave due west of campus. Lots of tree-lined streets with bicycle paths. Norman is considered Oklahoma's most progressive/liberal city, you & your partner would feel comfortable there also. Welcome!

[CaseyCornett]

How has nobody mentioned the Plaza District when they are asking about Gatewood? http://www.plazadistrict.org/

[silvergrove]

My partner received an offer to be a professor at the University of Oklahoma. They invited us down for the weekend to take a look at the area. We met with a realtor, and we saw a fantastic redone Victorian in the Gatewood neighborhood on 21st street between Ellison and Douglas. I was curious to hear local's thoughts on the area. I know it's right next to the Asian District, Classen, and Mesta Park, and perhaps a bit spotty, but how is life there? Is it trending up or down? What is crime like? Nearby restaurants and amenities? Is it amenable to a 30-ish gay couple? What is the commute like in rush hour to Norman?

It was really a fantastic home, and it is listed on the Gatewood Neighborhood Association page as a historic place. I'd greatly appreciate any responses.

It's a good, safe neighborhood. A lead singer of a local band lives in the area.

[bornhere]

With gas prices what they are, I would look at some Norman neighborhoods, too.

[metro]

Mid, you mean west of Western.

Casey, probably because south of NW 16th is very sketchy and north of 16th is Gatewood, at least the nicer areas.

[Midtowner]

^ yes.

[krisb]

There are $200,000 homes in Gatewood, very comparable to what you'd find in Mesta Park or Crown Heights...but perhaps a little more down to earth.

[Larry OKC]

My aunt worked in the Financial Aid office at OU and when she lived in Bethany (a bit further away, just off NW 39th a couple blocks north of the Nazarene college/university) it typically took her 45 min to an hour to get through morning rush hour traffic.

[EBAH]

I'd have to say that Gatewood would be a "buy". It is already a lovely neighborhood, very cool houses and very convenient location. It will only improve with more retail and dining opening in the Plaza in the coming years. I have several friends who live in that neighborhood, and I regularly ride my bike through it on my way to midtown/downtown. Like any inner city neighborhood, you don't have to go far to find poverty and crime, but it feels very safe and is really quite beautiful.

[onthestrip]

You could also check out the neighborhoods of Shepard and Cleveland.

[betts]

It's a good, safe neighborhood. A lead singer of a local band lives in the area.

You could probably say "The lead singer of an internationally known band" instead. I believe he owns an entire block.

[Spartan]

between Robinson and Western -- do NOT go on the Eastern side of Western).

Even though you meant the western side of the Western/Classen strip, I don't think this is accurate. For instance, there's Putnam Heights which is a very nice neighborhood. There's also the "38th Street Promenade" which is a stretch of houses that has been spiffed-up.

Also, Gatewood is immediately west of Western/Classen. Gatewood is an interesting neighborhood because it spans a whole mile and is made up of many disparate parts. There's the Classen-fronting part, where OKCMover is looking at, which is similar to Mesta Park in nature. Then there's the Penn-fronting part, which is still sort of trending and might have a few blocks that are still a little sketchy. Then there's the middle portion, which is probably the most iconic part of Gatewood--especially with Carey Place, one of the coolest streets in OKC. The middle portion, where the streets shift to a more linear n/s grid, has some very nice homes and it also features one of OKC's better Catholic churches. So in this regard, I'd say it greatly resembles a nice, historic Midwestern neighborhood in the middle of a totally sun-belt city.

But I would recommend Norman more. If you're looking for something more socially liberal and "tolerant" it's Norman. Truly one of the U.S.'s more awesome college towns, I can't believe you're looking further than OKC. If the problem is that you would prefer a city with 580,000 over a city with "only" 120,000, I'd say population counts aren't everything. Norman has a really cool vibe, which I actually miss a lot wherever I go. Even though I'm living in Europe now, when I look back at home and the good things that I miss, I often think of Norman--rather than downtown, the "Westmoore" area I grew up in, etc. It makes much more since, if you guys are looking for a mature urban environment and actually care about commute length, for you to look at Norman. Block by block, it is the best urban environment in Central Oklahoma. You've got booming Downtown Norman, the trendy Campus Corner district, the beautiful OU campus, great neighborhoods like Chautauqua and as far as shopping or culture, the only thing OKC has that Norman doesn't is the Thunder. And skyscrapers.

[OKCMover]

Thanks for all the great responses, everyone. We actually haven't settled on whether to accept the offer yet, as it is great for my partner's career, but I would be starting from scratch. I am an attorney and would have to take the bar exam again, as well as leave a secure job at a mid-sized Denver law firm for possible unemployment (and no domestic partner health benefits).

We looked at both Norman and Oklahoma City. I guess I've always tended to live in the urban parts of the central city, so it is a bit of an adjustment to think that Norman might actually be a better place to live than Oklahoma City. Perhaps it is.

Denver is really a great place to live, walkable, educated populace, great outdoors opportunties, etc. Can anyone convince me that Oklahoma is worth it?

[earlywinegareth]

Like any big decision you gotta weigh the plusses and minuses then flip a coin.

[Spartan]

Thanks for all the great responses, everyone. We actually haven't settled on whether to accept the offer yet, as it is great for my partner's career, but I would be starting from scratch. I am an attorney and would have to take the bar exam again, as well as leave a secure job at a mid-sized Denver law firm for possible unemployment (and no domestic partner health benefits).

We looked at both Norman and Oklahoma City. I guess I've always tended to live in the urban parts of the central city, so it is a bit of an adjustment to think that Norman might actually be a better place to live than Oklahoma City. Perhaps it is.

Denver is really a great place to live, walkable, educated populace, great outdoors opportunties, etc. Can anyone convince me that Oklahoma is worth it?

I will say this. Norman is as good as Boulder, minus the mountains. However, OKC is obviously not as urban as Denver. Sounds like it depends how good it is for your partner's career, because for you, keep in mind this is Oklahoma we're talking about. No offense to any other fellow Okies in this thread, but as much as OKC needs new interesting people, it doesn't need people who move here and dislike it. Be warned that you would be part of an urban pioneering class. That can be incredibly exciting, especially when you get involved in the community, but it also leaves a lot (and I mean a LOT) to be desired sometimes. Both real things, services, infrastructure things, and ideological things..