OKC's Image Issue

[PWitty]

I have a question, for those who are transplants or know people who have recently moved to OKC. My perception on this is a bit skewed by the posts on the City-Data forum as well as Thunder blogs where Seattleites still feel the need to constantly come in and bash OKC. If you take those two sources, it would seem that Oklahoma City is the city America loves to bash. I no longer have a City-Data account but when I did, I got a lot of very negative DMs when I posted that I was moving to OKC from Charlotte. My question, has OKC reached a point yet there this is somewhere people actually WANT to move? For instance, if a person had two job offers, one somewhere else and one in OKC that they would pick here even if they don't have ties to this place? Or, is this still a place that people move out of desperation due to the economy elsewhere? I mean nothing against OKC by asking this, I am just trying to correct my perception of this city's outside image if it is indeed wrong. Personally, I think the city's perception is important because as the nation urbanizes from coast to coast, OKC needs to be able to compete.

I think it has come to the point where someone wouldn't turn down an offer just because it is in OKC. Now OKC just needs to continue its momentum so it's somewhere people would specifically choose to look for a job at over other cities.

It also depends on where the person we're talking about is from. I'm from KC, so for me accepting a job after graduation in OKC didn't take much convincing because I am familiar with this region of the country and know what OKC is like. Someone who is from a large city on the coasts, however, probably wouldn't think twice about it because they can't imagine not working in a city like NYC, BOS, DC, SF, etc.

I can't stand CityData myself, because the entire site seems to be full of members from the alpha dog cities I mentioned above. And like I said, they can't even comprehend the fact that life is even worth living if they're not living in a metro of 5,000,000+ in the NE or west coast.

I have friends I met at KU who were from Boston, and came to KU because their grandparents went to KU. They thought they would move back to the east coast right after graduation, and they all ended up staying in nearby KC instead because the lifestyle wasn't as boring as they had expected and they had extra money to spend because of the lower COL. Of course, they're both in finance so at some point they expect to end up back on the east coast because they have a higher earnings potential there, but that is besides the point.

[OKVision4U]

I don't think we have an image "issue", but a Placement of Image. Our image is the reflection of you & me. We are warm. We are welcoming. We help our neighbor and give them the shirt off our backs. We hold family pretty high on our priorty list. ...and we like good friends. Our work ethic is more in line w/ what our parents taught us... "Early to bed, early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise." We enjoy life...and we enjoy activitives w/ our children and our friends. This is home. I love my home.

As a city & state, I think we have our swagger back. This is not by accident, but a lot of sweat poured out by the ones that came before us. We are Oklahoma Rising !

I will let you in on a little secret, people get "bored" in LA too. If you ask them "why they love LA, they will tell you they have the beach, the mountains, the desert, and the great weather" ...but the locals don't go to the beach. If you stand on the foothills, you still can't see the mountais for the smog. There is almost 20 Mil in the southern California area and they get tired of the crowds, the lines, the traffic, the stress.

Oklahoma City is not Miami, but it ain't bad either. People usually gather (social groups & clusters) in All cities, that is our nature. I like the group here in the central US. ..and I'm really fond of the ones in Oklahoma.

..."love thy neighbor". If we do that, our image will always be one we can be proud of.

[bchris02]

I think it has come to the point where someone wouldn't turn down an offer just because it is in OKC. Now OKC just needs to continue its momentum so it's somewhere people would specifically choose to look for a job at over other cities.

It also depends on where the person we're talking about is from. I'm from KC, so for me accepting a job after graduation in OKC didn't take much convincing because I am familiar with this region of the country and know what OKC is like. Someone who is from a large city on the coasts, however, probably wouldn't think twice about it because they can't imagine not working in a city like NYC, BOS, DC, SF, etc.

I think this is spot on. People are no longer opposed to OKC if they get a good job offer here but its not yet a place people would seek out. I have seen a lot of people post on this board that OKC is poised to become a boomtown, but for that to happen, it needs to inch up to the next level where it will win out vs competing cities. Considering the local economy doesn't collapse, that may be possible within 5 years once Deep Deuce and Midtown are fully gentrified. I also think more attention needs to be given to our decaying suburban areas. Not everybody is going to want to live downtown and many of the inner suburbs, which were desirable areas 10 years ago, are starting to look like they've seen better days. OKC really needs a "cool" suburban area, like Ballantyne in Charlotte. Personally, I think Gallardia could possibly become that if one day more retail and restaurants are built. A new urbanist lifestyle center would seal the deal.

I can't stand CityData myself, because the entire site seems to be full of members from the alpha dog cities I mentioned above. And like I said, they can't even comprehend the fact that life is even worth living if they're not living in a metro of 5,000,000+ in the NE or west coast.

I agree. A few "flyover country" cities get respect on there, but they are the hipster ones like Austin, Denver, and Minneapolis. Pretty much everything between the Appalachians and the Rockies, other than those cities plus Chicago, is nothing but rednecks, yokels, and trailer trash if you go by that site.

[Teo9969]

I think this is spot on. People are no longer opposed to OKC if they get a good job offer here but its not yet a place people would seek out. I have seen a lot of people post on this board that OKC is poised to become a boomtown, but for that to happen, it needs to inch up to the next level where it will win out vs competing cities. Considering the local economy doesn't collapse, that may be possible within 5 years once Deep Deuce and Midtown are fully gentrified. I also think more attention needs to be given to our decaying suburban areas. Not everybody is going to want to live downtown and many of the inner suburbs, which were desirable areas 10 years ago, are starting to look like they've seen better days. OKC really needs a "cool" suburban area, like Ballantyne in Charlotte. Personally, I think Gallardia could possibly become that if one day more retail and restaurants are built. A new urbanist lifestyle center would seal the deal.

This seems weird to me. I don't imagine most people just decide to seek out different places in a vacuum. There's something behind a person's decision making process that is going to ultimately influence where they want to live. Inasmuch as that is true, the idea that there are people just out there floating around and seeing out "awesome cities" is probably not reality.

There are 2 somewhat universal reasons someone decides to live in a certain place. The first is the opportunity of friends and family, and the second is education and work opportunity (both for themselves and their current/future immediate family). Lifestyle opportunity is not likely a foundational input as to why someone might choose a certain place. Cost of Living is probably not a foundational input. The question is 1. Can they get a suitable job for their interests/qualifications/goals and 2. What's the family/friend situation and what are the opportunities to build those relationships?

I think the lifestyle aspect of the decision making process is as much a product of desires regarding friends/family as it is its own component.

[OKVision4U]

...from a cultural point of view.... We are getting there. When we get a couple more new towers in front of the Devon tower, it will help. When the Central Park is "open" for business, it will help. When the River has a more "finished" look, then it will help. When we get a couple of new large anchor multi-purpose developments. ....This will all be helpful in helping us increasing our "Coolness" factor w/ the rest of the US.

I would like to have an Energy Tower ( 500 -1,000 ft ) on the north bank of the Oklahoma River ( Seatles Tower ) and show the world we have arrived. ... Image / Brand Building 101.

[mugofbeer]

I visited my parents a few weeks ago and we took a drive in the 10th, 16th, Portland, MacArthur area. It surprised me how run down these areas had gotte . OKC needs to start paying attention to these areas because they are not far from being basic slums

[Teo9969]

I visited my parents a few weeks ago and we took a drive in the 10th, 16th, Portland, MacArthur area. It surprised me how run down these areas had gotte . OKC needs to start paying attention to these areas because they are not far from being basic slums

Not enough resources. And too many areas to choose from. 10th/Portland/16th/MacArthur is not any worse than a variety of parts located in the other 3 quadrants have been for how many decades now?

[bchris02]

Not enough resources. And too many areas to choose from. 10th/Portland/16th/MacArthur is not any worse than a variety of parts located in the other 3 quadrants have been for how many decades now?

That area has been gone for a long time. Back in the '90s when I lived in OKC before, that wasn't the best area. What is shocking to me however is how far the area between NW 39th and NW Expressway has fallen. Places like Bethany and Warr Acres. That used to be a decent area not long ago but now its marginal and will become ghetto if it keeps going in its current direction.

I stand by what I said earlier that OKC needs a "cool" suburban area along with continued downtown revitalization. Imagine if that apartment complex north of Quail Springs Mall would have been developed into the new urbanist development that was originally planned.

[Teo9969]

That area has been gone for a long time. Back in the '90s when I lived in OKC before, that wasn't the best area. What is shocking to me however is how far the area between NW 39th and NW Expressway has fallen. Places like Bethany and Warr Acres. That used to be a decent area not long ago but now its marginal and will become ghetto if it keeps going in its current direction.

I stand by what I said earlier that OKC needs a "cool" suburban area along with continued downtown revitalization. Imagine if that apartment complex north of Quail Springs Mall would have been developed into the new urbanist development that was originally planned.

The best area for a cool "suburban" area is May and Expressway.

I can understand Warr Acres going to hell...they lost Wal-Mart and haven't recovered since. I don't know what the heck happened to Bethany. I know that SNU is not in the best of situations right now and that's probably not helping the area. I really hope Bethany does well because they are the best chance for the 23rd - 39th/PCW corridor to at least maintain a level of decency. the PC North area should be fine for another 10 years, but I'd like to see OKC invest a little right now to save a lot later. PCO is nowhere near the worst area in the city.

[Plutonic Panda]

...from a cultural point of view.... We are getting there. When we get a couple more new towers in front of the Devon tower, it will help. When the Central Park is "open" for business, it will help. When the River has a more "finished" look, then it will help. When we get a couple of new large anchor multi-purpose developments. ....This will all be helpful in helping us increasing our "Coolness" factor w/ the rest of the US.

I would like to have an Energy Tower ( 500 -1,000 ft ) on the north bank of the Oklahoma River ( Seatles Tower ) and show the world we have arrived. ... Image / Brand Building 101.

Wow, two of some of the greatest posts I've seen yet on here! Keep it up man!!!!

[adaniel]

I stand by what I said earlier that OKC needs a "cool" suburban area along with continued downtown revitalization. Imagine if that apartment complex north of Quail Springs Mall would have been developed into the new urbanist development that was originally planned.

While a new urbanist type development would be nice out in the suburban areas, "cool" areas developing close to downtown is hardly an OKC thing when it comes to cities of our size. Even most of the active areas in an around Austin are within 3 miles of their downtown. Its just less risky to build things that cater to a certain crowd when said crowds are already established in (or near) a specified area.

The closest thing you will find to a cool or hip suburban area is Norman. I applaud the efforts of the Founders District to improve the area near NW Expwy and May but I don't see it becoming a destination like some of the more in-town areas.

[bchris02]

I think with all the new announcements of development in downtown OKC, this is going to be a very different city in 2020 and will be well on its way to shedding the negative stereotype. I found this well-done video online about Iowa, another flyover state, that debunks some of the myths people believe about that state. I think something like this would be cool to do about OKC, specifically debunking myths many people believe and showing examples of things about the city that contradict them. Take a look.

WARNING: it has offensive language.

[OKCisOK4me]

"so next time you're flying over, wave at us...we'll wave back" hahahahahaha!

[PWitty]

Hahaha that was hilarious, but also perfectly done without sounding offensive.

[bchris02]

Hahaha that was hilarious, but also perfectly done without sounding offensive.

Yeah I agree. OKC needs something like that, to attack the stereotype in an intelligent, witty way. It needs to be well-produced though.

[ljbab728]

Yeah I agree. OKC needs something like that, to attack the stereotype in an intelligent, witty way. It needs to be well-produced though.

No, I don't think we need an attack ad like that. I much prefer just using the positive type of advertising and videos that we now use. Most are very well done.

[hoya]

No, I don't think we need an attack ad like that. I much prefer just using the positive type of advertising and videos that we now use. Most are very well done.

Yeah, nobody is actually gonna pay attention to that video. Not a single person is going to change their mind about Iowa because of it.

[bchris02]

No, I don't think we need an attack ad like that. I much prefer just using the positive type of advertising and videos that we now use. Most are very well done.

I understand that, and I don't think the chamber of commerce should do an attack ad like the Iowa one I posted, but somebody independent should do it. I don't have the skills to produce it nor the public speaking ability otherwise I would. A lot of people from elsewhere criticized the "city on the rise" ad from last spring as being ingenuine. Something that directly addresses the stereotype would be cool in my opinion and would go farther than you would think if its well done. OKC's image is about 15 years out of date and is one of the main things, in my opinion, holding this city back from a serious population boom. Heck, many people who live here don't realize how much there is south of 63rd St and complain about there being "nothing to do in OKC".

[ljbab728]

OKC's image is about 15 years out of date and is one of the main things, in my opinion, holding this city back from a serious population boom. Heck, many people who live here don't realize how much there is south of 63rd St and complain about there being "nothing to do in OKC".

If someone wants to do that more power to them. However, as Hoya said, it would do basically nothing where it counts to change anything.

[Dubya61]

IF something like that "attack" ad were done, I think it should target locals, too. I think the best way to spread a positive image of OKC would be word of mouth from locals. There's not people in Philadelphia sitting round complaining about "nothing to do in OKC." Its the locals who are complaining. We need to be /groom better OKC ambassadors.

[hoya]

The best way to improve the image of OKC is to provide a positive experience to those who visit. Then we bring in lots and lots of visitors. Then we do that for 25 years.

[OKCisOK4me]

Yeah, nobody is actually gonna pay attention to that video. Not a single person is going to change their mind about Iowa because of it.

I found the guy on Facebook, messaged him, and told him he should do a video for flyover neighbor Oklahoma. He responded today with a "thanks for watching!" and sent a friend request which I accepted.