A better MWC...

[mmonroe]

Anyone else noticing all the remodeling around the different parts of town?

[dmoor82]

Every time I go to MWC to visit my Mother and Sisters I have noticed MWC looking better all the time.I dont know what it is but something makes the city look more attractive,maybe the street improvements or landscaping?

[mmonroe]

I'm not sure... the only part I don't like is that instead of upgrading a little more in the core, everything seems to start being developed on the outskirts.... the Douglas corridor is starting to look better every day, town center is starting to pull together more, not to mention the ice rink sponsored by Chick-Fil-A coming in for the winter, more and more empty buildings are being filled in along Air Depot, Life Church has def started to pull in more people to the Reno area, the Neighborhood market is a nice addition to what seemed like a dieing area as far as retail goes, even Carl's Jr is remodeling. The addition of the school board building on 15th some time back and updates to the uptown area are nice too. I would say the overall area is cleaning up its look and making a good impression as a bedroom community to Tinker and OKC.

[bombermwc]

The school board building has been there almost 20 years now. The built that thing way back in like '95 so i'm not sure that qualifies for even "some time back".

[mmonroe]

it still looks good, don't pee on my parade bomber, lol it really did a lot for making that area look good.

[Lauri101]

I agree - the improvements have been slow but steady. Town Center has been a huge boon to the OSM - all we need is a full service grocery store (Target expansion to Super Target would work) and the neighborhood is complete. I have to admit, though, I'm surprised MWC hasn't caught on more with downtown workers. 12 minutes to work, 15 minutes home - even with construction ongoing.

[Redskin 70]

I agree - the improvements have been slow but steady. Town Center has been a huge boon to the OSM - all we need is a full service grocery store (Target expansion to Super Target would work) and the neighborhood is complete. I have to admit, though, I'm surprised MWC hasn't caught on more with downtown workers. 12 minutes to work, 15 minutes home - even with construction ongoing.

Yeah, the downtowners and such all hav eto have Edmond, Norman or west OKS......................Its the gangs, they precieve us in the east have has a hughe gang problem.......................haaa.........like south west OKS isnt a little barrieo now

[adaniel]

I agree - the improvements have been slow but steady. Town Center has been a huge boon to the OSM - all we need is a full service grocery store (Target expansion to Super Target would work) and the neighborhood is complete. I have to admit, though, I'm surprised MWC hasn't caught on more with downtown workers. 12 minutes to work, 15 minutes home - even with construction ongoing.

I'm surprised as well. Its all about perception, and it will be a while before it changes unfortunately. MWC has always had the image of the gruff, blue collar military town, sorta like a small Lawton. And in some ways that element does exists. But there are many neat neighborhoods, many of them older but well maintained. Plus the further east you go the more "cross timbers" feel you get.

At the same time, I think lack of new home construction may deflect possible residents towards Norman, Moore, or Edmond. Remember we live in a part of the country where any home/neighborhood older than 30 years old must be ghetto or trashy.

[mmonroe]

What happened with the study that was conducted on the OSM?

Recent polls in the Rose State school newspaper showed student interest in a movie theater replacing the old bomber tower.

I guess MWC will remain THE best kept metro secret.

[Lauri101]

What happened with the study that was conducted on the OSM?

Recent polls in the Rose State school newspaper showed student interest in a movie theater replacing the old bomber tower.

I guess MWC will remain THE best kept metro secret.

No complaints here - I love living in the OSM. Sure, there are trashy houses - I doubt you'll find any neighborhood anywhere without at least one of those. After a while, the problem resolves via neighborhood action of some sort. Give me a "gruff, blue-collar military" neighborhood anyday - sounds like the right stuff to me! (And I bet the percentage of concealed carry permits is high also)

[Stew]

What happened with the study that was conducted on the OSM?

Recent polls in the Rose State school newspaper showed student interest in a movie theater replacing the old bomber tower.

I guess MWC will remain THE best kept metro secret.

What is OSM?

[Lauri101]

What is OSM?

The OSM is the Original Square Mile of MWC - boundaries are SE 29th, Air Depot, SE 15th and Midwest Blvd. The houses were built in early 1950's (some late 40's). Town Center - with Target, Best Buy, Kohls, etc - was built at the turn of the millenium and caused many of those original houses to be torn down or moved because of emminent domain.

[Stew]

The OSM is the Original Square Mile of MWC - boundaries are SE 29th, Air Depot, SE 15th and Midwest Blvd. The houses were built in early 1950's (some late 40's). Town Center - with Target, Best Buy, Kohls, etc - was built at the turn of the millenium and caused many of those original houses to be torn down or moved because of emminent domain.

Thank you. I actually own a house in the "OSM" on Lilac Ln. I never heard that acronym before. It's not a bad neighborhood at all. Recently I've seen several houses around the house I own bought and remodeled to very nice condition.

Unrelated perhaps...The city of Midwest City bought 106 w lilac ln a little over a year ago and the house has sat empty since. I've wondered why the city bought the house. Anybody know?

[Lauri101]

I'm on W. Rickenbacker - have owned my house since 1983. I added 500sf in 98 and have fixed it up over the years. We have renters on eiter side, but overall, the immediate neighborhood is stable.
Didn't know MWC bought that house on Lilac - strange. Wasn't that a drug house or something?

[mmonroe]

I was born in a little house on Arnold some 24 years ago. My how the times have changed for that area. I know lots of home owners in the area, i'd actually like to see some historic signs and entrances to the neighborhood. Would be nice to get the homeowners together to start a community group to start efforts in fund raising to see this happen. I'm sure the local churches would like to see this too and would join in. So.. where do we start?

[Lauri101]

I was born in a little house on Arnold some 24 years ago. My how the times have changed for that area. I know lots of home owners in the area, i'd actually like to see some historic signs and entrances to the neighborhood. Would be nice to get the homeowners together to start a community group to start efforts in fund raising to see this happen. I'm sure the local churches would like to see this too and would join in. So.. where do we start?

Not sure how to get it started, but I'm interested!

[dmoor82]

I lived on Ercoupe for a while growing up,I loved riding my bike through the winding streets and alleys behind the old shopping center on 29th!I did not go to MWCHS but my Father and I would go to every Bomber Home game every Friday in the late 80's early 90's,and I still root for them today!I Love MWC!

[mmonroe]

Well... i graduated a titan, but kindergarten was spent at East Side and my 7th grade year was spent at Jarman and I dated girls from MWC and went to the football games too. I lived in a variety of houses on Givens, Ercoupe, Grumman, Jacobs and born on Arnold.

Not sure how to get it started, but I'm interested!

I'll send some emails to our Mayor, let him know we're interested in something like this and see what suggestions he has to get started.

[mmonroe]

http://midwestcityok.org/citizens-ad...munity-meeting

Citizens Advisory Committee to Host Community Meeting

The Citizens Advisory Committee (CAC) is hosting a community meeting on Monday, November 28, at 6:30 p.m. to hear comments and concerns regarding Midwest City neighborhood and community needs.

The role of the CAC is to advise the city about activities to be funded with Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds.

The CDBG Program works to improve housing, neighborhoods, provide community services and provide economic opportunities for low/moderate income citizens.

The meeting will be held in the Midwest City Council Chambers, 100 N. Midwest Blvd. For more information, call 739.1216

[TaoMaas]

I have to admit, though, I'm surprised MWC hasn't caught on more with downtown workers. 12 minutes to work, 15 minutes home - even with construction ongoing.

I'm a downtown worker and my wife works in Del City. We used to live in Edmond, but when gas went up over $4/gal several years ago, we knew we needed to change. We looked at homes in several different areas, but settled on MWC because the quality of home/neighborhood we could afford, compared to trendier parts of OKC, was unbeatable. I think MWC is on the verge of being the "next great thing" here in OKC.

[mmonroe]

I'm a downtown worker and my wife works in Del City. We used to live in Edmond, but when gas went up over $4/gal several years ago, we knew we needed to change. We looked at homes in several different areas, but settled on MWC because the quality of home/neighborhood we could afford, compared to trendier parts of OKC, was unbeatable. I think MWC is on the verge of being the "next great thing" here in OKC.

I could not agree more with you TaoMaas!


Has anyone else noticed the way in which Rose State is addressing the updating of their buildings. The blue really stands out. I'll be out taking pictures today and i'll post them a little later today.

[Lauri101]

I'm a downtown worker and my wife works in Del City. We used to live in Edmond, but when gas went up over $4/gal several years ago, we knew we needed to change. We looked at homes in several different areas, but settled on MWC because the quality of home/neighborhood we could afford, compared to trendier parts of OKC, was unbeatable. I think MWC is on the verge of being the "next great thing" here in OKC.

I paid $25K for my house in '83, what with add-ons, repairs, CHA, complete new re-plumb and re-wire, have sunk about $50K over 28 years and everything paid for by next April. Will probably die in this place. Selfishly - I hope MWC doesn't become too popular as far as traffic, but wouldn't mind our reputation increasing appropriately.
The character of the OSM neighborhood - and the houses - can't be beat. I wouldn't trade my house for the fanciest mansion in Edmond!

[mmonroe]

[Lauri101]

nice upgrades to buildings at Rose State - thanks for pics! I never get the chance to really look at them, since I'm always driving by.

[poe]

Last month, I drove my mom over to Oklahoma City and we ended up staying at The Sheraton in Midwest City. The hotel was ok - grounds and staff were great - but overall, we were really impressed with Midwest City as a whole. I would definitely look to that area if I ever moved back.