Architect and designer Le Corbusier once said, “A house is a machine for living in.” The three homes profiled in the annual luxury homes feature serve as extensions of the homeowners’ lifestyles. From sleek and modern to grand and over-the-top, these homes are at once dwellings, works of art and the machines that provide shelter, comfort and beauty to homeowners.
In an antique shop, atmosphere is everything. A sophisticated charm and innate playfulness can set one shop apart from all the rest. You don’t have to search out dark, dusty halls for the unique piece that sets the tone of a room. Tulsa’s readers turn to The Market time and again to find something unique whether shopping for a thoughtful gift or conversation-starter for the home. With its sister shop in Oklahoma City, the bright and colorful Market takes the antique booth to another level. Polo-Lodge Antiques received high marks, too, for its collection and vast expertise in buying, selling and appraisals of rare pieces. Zoller Designs & Antiques is known for its elegant home décor design tying elements of the past with sleek contemporary pieces that complement the personality of the owner.
Oklahoma City’s refined tastes require special attention to fine detail and a mind for practicality, which is why readers like the Antique Co-op in Oklahoma City. Whether you’re hunting for collectibles, Depression glass or furniture of by-gone days, Mockingbird Manor Antiques has it. If eccentricity is on your list, you have to check out OKC’s Feathered Nest Market, which readers voted into third place for its array of items from fun and funky to vintage and polished and in between.
Car lots are infamous for causing panic attacks and dread of the thought of pressuring sales folks doing their best to make the deal. Yet, there are places that gain a reputation for making the experience pleasant and, gasp, even fun. If you’re going to take the plunge buying a new vehicle, why not enjoy it? Lexus of Tulsa gets the highest marks in Tulsa for is customer service, which is in direct proportion to the Lexus luxury of standard – which is to say it’s very, very high. Readers also praised BMW of Tulsa as a top choice for the quality of its product as well as a selection of customization packages that make the driver know, indeed, “you are special.” Jim Norton Toyota and Don Carlton Honda tied for the third spot on our list for so many reasons, among them for their consistent presence in Tulsa and a commitment to serving the community. Oh yeah, they sell pretty good cars, too.
Drive over to Oklahoma City, and you’re sure to find dozens of dealerships, each with merit and deserving of patronage. Three, however, stand out year after year. OKC loves David Stanley Dodge for its selection of cars, trucks and vehicles that fit every need from personal use to business, from driving the kids from baseball practice to cruising town in ultimate style. The Bob Moore Auto Group took the second highest number of votes. Could it be the huge selection of makes – among them Audi, Subaru, GMC, Porche, Kia – or could it be Bob Moore’s leadership in community efforts, such as providing a drop-off location for items to help victims of the Moore tornado? We approve of both. Rounding out the top three is Jackie Cooper BMW, as fine a dealership as they come, with an excellent record of service and reputation for making the car-buying experience an awesome one.
Kids are pretty lucky these days. Clothes for the pre-teen-and-under set have become much more trendy than their parents had it. When Tulsa takes its kids shopping for back-to-school clothes, special occasions or just play, the top choice is GapKids for its offering of trendy, comfortable clothing as well as accessories and personal care products all age-suited. Dillard’s department store follows for an expansive selection of children’s wear ranging from clothes for newborns all the way to teens and with all the major labels. If boutique shopping is more your style, you can’t pass up Kathleen’s Kids, a midtown favorite for the stylish set and those who like the individual attention that comes with specialty stores. They don’t come much cuter than this.
Oklahoma City’s Uptown Kids is tops among readers for its upbeat lines of clothes for boys, girls and babies as well as accessories that would make any adult envious. Located on the trendy Classen Curve, this store is the epitome of toddler chic complete with a playroom and original work by area artists like the NBA’s Desmond Mason on display. Readers in the City also like GapKids’ selection of seasonal separates and ease of shopping. The Green Bambino rounds out the top three in OKC with a unique take on clothing your child. Look for only the finest natural and organic products, including cloth diapers and carrier slings, which we believe may technically be considered an accessory.
Seasons come and go, and style changes as quickly as a wind through downtown Tulsa. For those professionals, urbanites and fashionable adventurers, options are seemingly endless. Wise shoppers look no further than the top three stores chosen by our readers. Saks Fifth Avenue carries a large selection of designer labels from Armani to Elie Tahari along with everything else that comes with feeling your best, which makes it No. 1 on our list. Readers also love the experience of Miss Jackson’s, a Utica Square tradition and Tulsa mainstay for more than a century complete with fine shopping and service. Convenience, range and affordability reign at Dillard’s with everything from the basics to luxury items covered.
Balliets is all about the season and this Classen Curve favorite brings the hottest clothes, shoes and cosmetics to Oklahoma City, making it readers’ top pick in OKC. Dillard’s received the second most votes with its continued push of offering variety to every shopper. The famed Macy’s has it all for every member of the family and every room of the home, which is why readers made it a top pick.
Few people remember being pleased when the optometrist told them they would need to wear glasses. Lucky for us, Tulsa and Oklahoma City have great choices for eyewear to complement the season and every individual. Whether it’s prescription or not, Visions Unique Eyewear in midtown Tulsa has an exclusive line of frames and lenses, making it Tulsa’s top pick. Readers also like Hicks Brunson Eyewear, provider of great service and designer or custom eyewear, giving it high marks in our vote. The third spot goes to Black Optical, which can only be compared to the experience of an art gallery – open, deluxe and especially fine.
For the same reasons, Oklahoma City voted Black Optical its top choice for fashionable, premium eyewear. Trust and reliability are important to consumers, which is why our OKC readers chose Sam’s Optical and its two area locations. Eyemart Express makes choosing glasses a breeze, and with multiple locations in the capital’s metro area, it comes in at third.
Expertise rates high when consumers purchase fine jewelry. You want someone who knows her carats from her culets as well as a sense of good design. Bruce G. Weber Precious Jewels of Tulsa is synonymous with refinement and luxury, not to mention outstanding quality. It’s Tulsa’s No. 1 choice. Moody’s Jewelry isn’t far behind in votes out of Tulsa. It’s “where you get engaged” and get the ring, and that’s the truth. Star Jewelers is a star in its industry with more than 40 years of excellence in Broken Arrow.
BC Clark Jewelers puts the excitement into shopping for fine jewelry, offering $5,000 back on the purchase of an engagement ring if it rains or snows on the wedding day. Readers made this OKC fixture No. 1. Naifeh Fine Jewelry fills out the list in second for its custom quality and appeal, and a variety of pieces for all sorts of occasions and personalities. Mitchener-Farrand Jewelers makes the OKC list, too, as the place to find unique pieces as well as something that specially expresses your admiration for a certain NBA team. Go Thunder!
Birthdays, holidays and celebrations call for thoughtfulness and a unique stock of items. Gift-giving is fun and stress-free when you head to The Market, Oklahoma Magazine readers’ top pick in Tulsa, with a seemingly endless selection of one-of-a-kind pieces for all the people in your life. Tulsa also likes Nielsens, known for its list of fabulous brands (including Waterford Crystal and Herend). The Brookside shop ties with Cherry Street’s T.A. Lorton, filled with all things whimsical and beautiful. The final spot on the list goes to Ida Red, a great little shop for all things Tulsa and Okie cool, and also to Margo’s Gifts, where shoppers find the perfect keepsakes year-round at Utica Square. Make sure you visit at Christmas, too!
The dazzling The Market brings the equivalent of dozens of fashionable boutiques together under a single roof. You’re sure to find something personal and exquisite in one of the showrooms, which is why readers selected it for its favorite OKC gift store. Eclectic is the word often describing Blue Seven, second on the list, which means you’ll find an assortment of handmade goods uniquely wrought and completely unique. While in the City, don’t forget to stop by On A Whim on the Classen Curve and the civic-minded Shop Good to find out why OKC voted them among The Best of the Best.
If it’s a rare or extra special spice you need for that important dish, you’re sure to find it at the grocers that made our best list. In Tulsa, Petty’s Fine Foods brings the best in ethnic, imported and gourmet foods to shoppers just as it has since 1945. Make sure to stop by its deli! Whole Foods Market comes in a close second, and if you’ve seen the selection of natural and organic goods across all its departments you’ll understand why Tulsans are in love. Reasor’s Foods and Fresh Market round out the category – Reasor’s for its notable customer service and selection, and Fresh Market for bringing quality organic and open-air market charm to south Tulsa.
The expansive Whole Foods Market in Oklahoma City impresses with its façade, but when you step inside, you see why it is a readers’ favorite OKC spot to shop. The employee-owned Homeland chain of stores is favored for its hometown atmosphere (an underappreciated value) to place it second, followed by Crest Foods, an ever-expanding, locally-owned chain built on putting family first and offering a solid product.
It’s not just girls who are crazy about a sharp-dressed man. A good suit does wonders for your image. Abersons in Tulsa makes the point with all the essential pieces from the designers you want. Fashion is not only a woman’s game, and Abersons rises to the top of Tulsa’s best with Travers Mahan, known for its service, reliable labels and exclusive lines. Saxon Judd came in second place on Tulsa’s list for its tailored perfection, while Pinpoint Resource closed the top three with its collection of quality dress pieces and accessories from traditional to trendy.
Mr. Ooley’s of Oklahoma City sells the finest merchandise for both gentlemen and ladies, but the men’s department gets top nods with Oklahoma Magazine’s OKC voters for its classic and contemporary fashions and suits. For its high standard of customer service, Spencer Stone Company got enough votes to place it second, but having its own label and line of suits and sport coats helps. Over at Alltons in Edmond, the staff would love nothing better than to make every man stand out from everyman, and for that reason, it is one of OKC’s best.
No longer limited to merely a row in the grocery store, pet care has expanded into myriad specialty industries to keep Fluffy and Spot healthy and happy members of your family. PetSmart leads the way – when it comes to offering a variety of foods, products and services for you pets, the national company gets the vote for Tulsa’s best, followed by Petco, another giant of the industry favored for bringing choices to the consumer as well as specializing in small “exotic” pets such as lizards, hamsters and saltwater fish. Local-owned Southern Agriculture gets a big thumbs-up, too, from readers for its abundant area locations, veterinary care and exclusive brands.
Once more, PetSmart is tops, this time in Oklahoma City, where pet owners can shop for a shampoo/conditioner duo for their dog or have the store’s groomers take charge. Customers and their pets are family at A1 Pet Emporium, the self-proclaimed “headquarters for healthy and natural foods, treats and more for dogs and cats.” Readers agree, voting it into second place. Then, there’s Kickingbird Animal Hospital & Supply Center, a part of the VCA Animal Hospitals system and Edmond’s only stop for supplies, food, care, boarding and grooming – no wonder it’s a The Best of the Best pick.
Our readers love to find great selection without having to drive all over town. That’s why they flock to these shopping destinations. The top choice among Tulsa readers is Utica Square, the premier shopping destination with unique stores and restaurants set among beautifully manicured gardens and trees. Center 1 in the trendy Brookside district offers a distinctive selection of shops, many one of a kind, in a sleek modern environment. When our readers are checking off a long list, they also head to Woodland Hills Mall in south Tulsa with more than 165 fine stores.
Penn Square Mall takes top honors with Oklahoma City readers with more than 145 conveniently located shops, including major name such as Michael Kors and Coach. Shoppers headed to Classen Curve enjoy a unique collection of high-end local shops, such as Liberté and Uptown Kids in a trendy urban environment. The Outlet Shoppes at Oklahoma City is also destination for Oklahoma City shoppers in search of a bargain and stores ranging from Le Creuset to Saks Fifth Avenue Off Fifth.
In Oklahoma, we take our sports and our outdoor activities pretty seriously, so if you’re looking for a new pair of cleats or camping gear, you’ll find just what you need at these stores. Topping our list of The Best of the Best with seven Tulsa and OKC metro locations, Dick’s Sporting Goods carries everything under one roof, from team sports equipment to hunting and fishing tackle. Next, Academy Sports & Outdoors is one of the nation’s largest sporting goods and outdoor stores, so our readers know their four metro locations offer great deals and one-stop shopping. Rounding out the survey is Bass Pro Shops. Their OKC and Broken Arrow stores are a mecca for outdoor enthusiasts.
Whether they’re announcing the wedding of the year or sending a thoughtful note, our readers know where to go for real stationery – no e-vites. Utica Square style haven Miss Jackson’s is the top choice for our Tulsa readers; you can also pick out a china pattern to go with your wedding announcement. Next, Margo’s Gifts has been serving Tulsa since 1935, and they’re experts in stationery and proper stationery etiquette. You’re Invited completes our list with custom stationery design services for every occasion.
No Regrets is the top choice in Oklahoma City, and this fun gift shop makes it their mission to help customers express their personal style with a full range of personal and business stationery. The next spot goes to Paper Lion, one of the oldest gift stores in Edmond and purveyors of such lines as Crane & Co. and Birchcraft. If you’re looking for something different, head to Chirps and Cheers. They specialize in modern stationery and custom designed wedding announcements.
There are some great places to go for the latest toys. Toys “R” Us, that national chain that offers something for everybody, comes in first with Tulsa readers. Kiddlestix, an independently-owned and operated toy store that offers education toys, dolls and hobby supplies, comes in second this year. The chain department store Target, with its massive toy department full of games, action figures and tea party sets, rounds out the top three.
In Oklahoma City, Toys “R” Us also takes the top spot in Oklahoma City, where there are toys for people of all ages. Learning Tree offers toys, books and games that are both fun and educational for growing children. Online shopping is also available for this local toy store. Lakeshore Learning Center offers toys and games for all age ranges and grade levels. It’s a great resource for educational learning as well as for teachers looking for educational material for the classroom.
There are great places to lift up those spirits in Oklahoma. Tulsans vote Ranch Acres Wine & Spirits as the best wine or liquor store in the city. A wide selection of wines from local, national and international vintners makes Ranch Acres a great stop to stock up on a range of wines. Old Village Wine & Spirits comes in second this year. Stocking wine, spirits and a wide variety of high-point beer makes this Brookside store a favorite. Primo’s Fine Wine & Spirits rounds out this year’s top three. The knowledgeable staff at Primo’s can help customers find the perfect wine, beer or spirit to cater to their taste buds.
Byron’s Liquor Warehouse is Oklahoma City’s top pick for Best Wine/Liquor Store. More than 10,000 square feet holds thousands of wine and beer selections; benefits like joining Byron’s Wine Club or Brew Club make Byron’s a favorite among readers. Broadway Wine Merchants, in addition to selling thousands of wines, offers customized wine tastings, with new wines arriving daily. Beau’s Wine Bin and Edmond Wine Shop tie for the third spot. Beau’s Wine Bin offers a wide selection of wines and spirits as well as special events throughout the year. The Edmond Wine Shop imports wines from all over the world and also offers a wide beer selection.
There are plenty of boutiques for women’s clothing in Tulsa, but a few stand out from the crowd. Abersons earns this year’s top spot. Carrying luxury brands like Stella McCartney, Alexander Wang and Lanvin, Abersons carries clothing, shoes, jewelry, accessories and handbags. Rope and On A Whim share the second spot. Rope, located on Cherry Street, carries fashionable brands like ERIN by Erin Fetherston, IRO, Loeffler Randall and Frye. On A Whim, located along Brookside, offers clothing, accessories and handbags from such designers as Alice + Olivia, Kate Spade and Nanette Lepore. Donna’s Fashions and Rockin’ Sooner Ranch Mercantile round out this year’s annual survey. Donna’s carries clothing and accessories from designers such as Alberto Makali, Johnny Was and Karen Kane. Rockin’ Sooner Ranch carries Western-inspired items by designers such as Gentle Fawn, Wildfox and Babakul.
Gordon Stuart earns the top spot for Best Women’s Boutique in Oklahoma City. Carrying exclusive brands such as Chanel, Fendi and Gucci, Gordon Stuart is the place to go for luxury women’s clothing and accessories. On A Whim and Liberté both located in stylish Classen Curve, share the second spot. Carrying Parker, Trina Turk and Rebecca Taylor, On A Whim is a great shopping spot for clothing and accessories. Liberte carries exclusive brands like Herve Leger, Candy Woolley and Amy Matto New York. Gil’s Clothing & Denim Bar earns this year’s third spot. The biggest selection of designer denim in the state, Gil’s also carries dresses, blouses and other accessories for women.
Where’s the best place to get beautiful shoes in Tulsa? Readers say it’s Saks Fifth Avenue and Abersons that provide the top footwear. With brands like Tory Burch, Kate Spade and Jimmy Choo, Saks offers shoes for casual events and formal occasions. Pumps, sandals and slip-ons are all de rigueur at Abersons, with brands like Lanvin, Costume National and Stella McCartney. Miss Jackson’s carries a wide assortment of shoes, from sandals to stilettos, from designers such as Stuart Weitzman, Ferragamo and Donald J. Pliner. J. Cole Shoes, a trendy shoe boutique, rounds out the category for Best Women’s Shoe Store. Carrying Jessica Simpson, Sperry and Betsey Johnson, J. Cole Shoes offers a style for even the most discriminating shopper.
Balliets offers a wide variety of shoes and tops this year’s annual survey in Oklahoma City. Loeffler Randall, Rachel Zoe and Valentino are all brands available in Balliets’ shoe department. Gordon Stuart carries beautiful shoes from designers including Manolo Blahnik, Fendi and Gucci. Shoetopia, in the third spot, carries brands like TOMS, Nomad and Report.
We worked with faculty and academic deans about 10 years ago in identifying goals we would like to achieve. Not “pie-in-the-sky” things, but tangible accomplishments we can measure, like the quality of admitted students to the university and creating a residential environment for students. TU was essentially a commuter campus, so we started building housing, and now we’re more residential than most universities in the country. The transformation over the last decade has involved literally thousands of people who have a part. It’s one of the most rewarding things I’ve been involved in over my professional life.
We really did not seek conference realignment; we were happy in Conference USA, but it dissolved around us. We made a decision that we needed to change, as well. Leaving Conference USA and joining the American Athletic Conference gives us more exposure on the East Coast. We’ll be competing against new schools we’ve never played before. Those are big media markets, so I think it will be very beneficial in getting the word out about TU Athletics.
We have a lot of initiatives and programs underway, including a partnership with the City of Tulsa for Gilcrease Museum. We’re building a research center next to Gilcrease that will focus on archival research as part of support for the Gilcrease collections, but it will also be a venue for Americanist scholars to study aspects of the country’s founding, Indian removal and things that are fundamental to Oklahoma as well.
We are looking at very strong student enrollment growth. We’re going to have another record enrollment in the fall. That’s putting a lot of pressure on housing, so we’re breaking ground on new student housing. The quality of students continues to be outstanding. We feel like we’re very well positioned to continue to grow into the future."
For the bulk of her young life, Oklahoma’s Kristen Hemphill did most of her performing in a theatrical setting, appearing in numerous plays and musicals as she made her way through the Broken Arrow school system and on to Oklahoma State University, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in theater.
But while she was in Stillwater – a town known for its homegrown music – she fell in with some bluegrass musicians, who inspired her to begin forays into the genre. A post-OSU semester at South Plains College in Lubbock, Texas, gave her new guitar skills as well as an approach to singing that, as she notes with a laugh, “wasn’t so theater-like.”
Gradually, her passion for creating music began overtaking her love of the theater. And finally, bluegrass trumped Shakespeare.
“I’d planned on doing theater after college, and I went down to Dallas to audition for some Shakespeare productions,” she recalls. “But I ended up turning down a role to do a concert show. So I thought, ‘Well, if I’m getting parts, and I’m turning them down, I guess my heart really is in the music side of it.’”
So she followed her heart, began writing and playing wherever she could (including Tulsa venues like Smoke, the Hunt Club and Elwood’s), and finally recorded her first CD. She plans to debut it Saturday, July 13, in an event at the Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame’s Jazz Depot, 111 E. First Street.
The disc was recorded in Muscle Shoals, Ala., at a studio owned by longtime country-music figure Gary Baker, whose credits include a stint with the late ‘80s band the Shooters and a co-writing credit on the Grammy-winning song “I Swear.” As it turned out, Baker’s partner in the studio was also a former business associate of Hemphill’s father, which gave the young singer-songwriter a calling card. She and Baker hit it off, and the two began writing together, along with Baker’s songwriting protégé, Matt Johnson.
“I think we wrote eight songs for the album in four days,” she says. “It was one of those things that was just magical. We’d be in a room, and we wouldn’t eat lunch until we’d written a song. Then we’d come back, and we wouldn’t eat dinner until we’d finished a song.
“Dad was in the studio, and he loves to eat. He’d be saying, ‘You guys written a song yet? I’m hungry.’” She laughs. “So we were driven by hunger.”
For the CD release party, Hemphill will have a six-person band, including the noted fiddler Rick Morton. And while country music – Hemphill calls hers “country-Americana” – isn’t a staple of the Jazz Depot, Jazz Hall CEO Jason McIntosh feels that the show is a perfect fit.
“Part of what we do is help musicians,” he says, “and Kristen is a rising young talent. We’re very pleased to have her here for the CD release show.”
Admission is free to the concert, which begins at 8 p.m. with opening act Desi & Cody. Hemphill’s CD will be available for purchase throughout the evening.
Oklahomans are a patriotic bunch. We glue, staple, hang and tack the stars and stripes to everything from our porch columns to our dog’s bandannas. When July 4 comes around each year, expect to see a show in almost every community across the state. Edmond’s LibertyFest caught the eye of national media (CNN, USA Today) not too long ago as one of the nation’s best Independence Day festivals. Beginning in June, the festivities climax to a parade, festival and fireworks display on July 4. The Oklahoma City Philharmonic goes Red, White & Boom on July 3 at Oklahoma State Fair Park with fireworks set to orchestration. In Tulsa, the explosive magic takes place with Tulsa FreedomFest over the Arkansas River. Once more, spectators will head to River West Festival Park and Tulsa River Parks on July 4. Look for big happenings at Stillwater’s Boomer Lake Park (Boomer Blast), Grand Lake (Arts, Crafts, Music & Cajun Festival) and more in this issue’s events calendar.
Oklahoma isn’t quite Broadway, but thanks to Lyric Theatre, big-scale musicals and theater are essential to the arts scene of Oklahoma City and beyond. Founded in 1963, Lyric has spent the last 50 years bringing classic and contemporary works to the traditional stage and less orthodox venues, including Science Museum Oklahoma. At 50, the company is still known for bringing together Broadway’s brightest local stars and great tales for the modern audience. The company’s big summer series continues in July with The King and I (July 9-13), the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical about an English teacher hired by the king of Siam to Westernize his family in 1860s, and the revue-style homage The Will Rogers Follies (July 23-27) at Oklahoma City Civic Center Music Hall, 201 N. Walker Ave. Lyric also throws in a real treat, Tommy Tune: Taps, Tunes and Tall Tales (July 18-19) with the famous showman at Plaza Theatre, 1727 NW 16th St. Visit www.lyrictheatreokc.com for show schedules and tickets.
Last fall, a study named Oklahoma City ninth in the nation for violent crimes per capita, joined by the likes of Detroit, Baltimore and Houston – and crime rates in OKC have steadily lurched upward for the past several years.
Tulsa also has had its own share of dark deeds in recent months. In January, four women were found executed in the Fairmont Terrace Apartments near 61st Street and Peoria Avenue, sending a wave of horror rippling across the entire city. Tragically, the victims’ deaths were not the first to shock the Riverwood neighborhood; January’s slayings brought the total homicides in Fairmont Terrace alone to eight in two years.
But while certain neighborhoods and properties in both Oklahoma City and Tulsa have become bywords for violence, citizens, city officials and police are not standing idly by.
“Citizens have had all they can take of crime in their neighborhoods,” says Tulsa Police Department Major Jonathan Brooks, division commander for the Riverside district. “For so long, citizens thought, ‘Well, that’s not my neighborhood, so I don’t care,’ or, ‘That will never happen here.’ But now, Tulsans are concerned and making a difference by becoming involved.”
Many say that properties like Fairmont Terrace have become beacons for crime in part because they are owned by out-of-state interests (in Fairmont Terrace’s case, California companies) that take little, if any, interest in direct management of the property as long as the rent checks keep flowing. In the past, tenant efforts to organize and interact with management in similar properties have come to little, and crime in these absentee-owner complexes, of which there are several in the Riverwood neighborhood, continues mostly unabated.
“A hands-on ownership would certainly help in housing complexes,” Brooks says. “More important than that is a hands-on management approach of the property. Accountability is key for policing efforts when actions need to be taken in complexes. If the owners or managers are absent, then the problems are often out-of-sight, out-of-mind. If they are there and involved, then they are dealing with the day-to-day problems that lead to poor quality-of-life issues before they become crime problems.”
One Oklahoma City complex, also owned by a California-based company, has earned its own sinister reputation. For years, the decrepit Lantana Apartments near Northwest 10th Street and Rockwell Avenue has been the site of multiple fires, code violations and drug activities. In 2008, pizza delivery driver Jeremy Moore was lured to the abandoned complex with a false order. He was then shot to death for $42.91 worth of food.
Sadly, the Lantana is only one of several properties of its kind in Oklahoma City, all eyesores at best, tragedies waiting to happen at worst. According to The Oklahoman, seven housing complexes across the city have racked up more than 200 combined code violations, with owners owing more than $200,000 in fines and back taxes on the properties. The Lantana itself is slated to be sold at public auction by the city, although it is unclear if the property will be destroyed or if yet another attempt to “turn it around” will be undertaken by an out-of-state interest.
“It is true that Oklahoma City has an abandoned property problem,” says Jennifer Meckling, programs coordinator for the Neighborhood Alliance of Central Oklahoma. “Almost every neighborhood in urban Oklahoma City has at least one property that is abandoned and in disrepair. The effects on the surrounding properties are well-documented: It brings down housing values, creates safety hazards and is a great drain on city resources with higher-than-average police, fire and code-enforcement calls.” Meckling says that the city’s Planning Department is taking action and has hired a consultant to provide support and make recommendations to the City Council. “Resolution of this issue will require some changes in state legislation, and our council and city planning department are working diligently toward that.
“Changes never make everyone happy,” Meckling continues, “but as citizens, we need to demand that the owners of these resource drains be held accountable for the tax dollars they cost each of us and give the city the power to follow through. I would encourage citizens to get involved in the process and make their concerns known. Check out upcoming council agendas at www.okc.gov and engage in dialogue with your city leaders.”
James Greiner is the city councilman for Ward 1, where Lantana Apartments is located. He agrees that abandoned properties such as Lantana have a deleterious effect on neighbors.
“I think stagnant and depreciating property values are the biggest way abandoned properties affect neighborhoods negatively,” Greiner says. “Abandoned properties usually create more abandoned properties because they cause people to not want to live in those neighborhoods. When people don’t want to live in your neighborhood, your house isn’t going to be worth as much as it could be. They also hurt the school district and the morale of the neighborhood.”
While abandoned, absentee-managed properties have been the sites of highly publicized violence as of late, Brooks says the problem of urban crime, in both Tulsa’s Riverwood area and the urban areas at large, runs deeper. “The crime rate in Riverwood is the culmination of several issues,” he says. “First, when you have a large concentration of people, the probability of crime goes up. Having numerous complexes in a small geographical area increases the population of not only of residents, but visitors as well.
“Second, unaddressed socio-economic issues give rise for more crime opportunities. When education, employment and self-improvement are not primary goals or options for citizens, then the disservice starts and quality-of-life degrades. Children and youth will only know what they are exposed to and substantial free time without direction often leads to mischief, which leads to contact with police. From experience, it is not always the residents that drive crime in Riverwood, but often it is the visitors. Some of the visitors come with criminal intent in mind and for the sole purpose to carry out their crimes. They prey on the residents of the area and take advantage of impressionable youth.”
“I think apathy and fear are two big components,” Meckling says of contributing factors to urban crime, “and a [neighborhood] association can counter both of those. At the Neighborhood Alliance, we like to say that living in a safe, beautiful and healthy neighborhood is a responsibility, not a right. We all have the responsibility to use the tools available to better our community. We can’t complain our way into a better neighborhood. We must take action.”
In neighborhoods across Oklahoma, citizens are doing just that.
In an effort to take back their neighborhoods, many residents are forming alliances with city officials and police departments to combat crime with responsibility and community.
Prompted in response to the most recent slayings at Fairmont Terrace, members of the Tulsa City Council spearheaded the creation of the Tulsa Public Safety Intelligence Work Group, a committee dedicated to improving crime intelligence and citizen reporting in the city’s troubled neighborhoods. Among the recommendations of the group is to bring Tulsa CrimeStoppers – currently managed by an out-of-state firm – in-house and provide local witness protection options. Above all, the recommendations emphasize the importance of neighborhood tips and participation.
“Several councilors, including me, are looking at ways to completely reshape the 61st and Peoria area,” says District 8 City Councilor Phil Lakin. “The residents there don’t just need better living conditions; they need access to better social and medical services, grocery stores, transportation and physical activities (via the park that sits very near that intersection). Taking a holistic approach to improving this community will provide for far better results, compared to the Band-Aid application that has been and is typically applied.
“This Council doesn’t seem to be interested in a quick fix; rather, it’s focused on a long-term solution to markedly improving peoples’ lives.”
Brooks says there are several more recommendations forthcoming. “The recommendations alone will not lower crime,” he says, “but the commitment and follow-through will be pivotal in aiding in the reduction and prevention of crime. The police alone can only do so much in crime-fighting efforts. It will take a partnership of the police, the citizens, community leaders, homeowners, business owners and anyone else with a vested interest to have a true and long-lasting effect.
“Establishing long-lasting relationships in crime prevention, providing health and educational resources, and social enhancement opportunities will eventually lead to safer neighborhoods,” Brooks says.
In addition, he says that “Alert Neighbor programs are growing, and police are working much closer with neighborhood associations to prevent, deter and investigate crimes. TPD has worked with neighborhood associations by assisting in organizing Alert Neighbor programs, Citizen Patrol programs and through Tulsa CrimeStoppers. Police officers are also talking with the residents of their patrol area.”
“The Neighborhood Alliance has worked closely with the OCPD for many years,” says Meckling. “Among the tools we offer in partnership with the police are neighborhood-specific crime reports. We publish those reports on our website and also send out a postal mailing each month to the neighborhood contact listed with us. It’s important that neighborhoods keep their information with us up-to-date so that the police or city can contact the neighborhood with information that affects their area. We work hand-in-hand with the police community relations officers in bringing crime-watch skills to neighborhoods, and helping neighborhoods maintain an organization that can combat the undesirable factors in their neighborhood.”
The intersection of police, neighbor and city efforts recently played out with notable success in Norman, where a troubled property began to blight an entire neighborhood. 1207 Cruce Street had become a hangout for criminal suspects and drug abusers. Police had been called to the residence some 70 times and made 25 arrests. Families were afraid to allow their children to play outside, and at one point, someone had even been beaten unconscious outside the residence. Both neighbors and police had had enough. Working with the city council and code enforcement, they called upon a rarely-used ordinance to declare the property a nuisance. Under the ordinance, the water meter was removed and the house was declared unfit for human habitation for at least six months, allowing a window of time for the house to be improved and the undesirable element removed.
“The incidents related to 1207 Cruce are perfect examples of how the community, police and other city departments worked together to ensure a high quality of life would not be interrupted,” says City of Norman Police Chief Keith Humphrey. “The first positive thing is that citizens followed the first rule of community-oriented policing and contacted the police regarding concerns. Two of our officers who worked this area recognized that they were answering repeat calls to this location. The officers begin to work with the neighbors in this area, which I truly believe validated [that] we really wanted to partner. The officers then partnered with code enforcement because some of the incidents were not criminal.
“As you can see, communication on all levels was vital,” Humphrey continues. “I recently drove this area and personally observed kids playing in front yards and just more positive activity in the immediate area.”
Humphrey says that the Norman Police Department is at work on several community-oriented police initiatives, funded by the public safety sales tax passed by the city in 2008, including a Citizens’ Police Academy, teen-outreach programs and partnerships with local apartment complexes to implement the Crime Free Multi-Housing Program.
“Norman has become a large city and continues to grow,” Humphrey says. “Because of this, we are experiencing our share of crime like other cities in the nation. However, I truly believe the growth in our citizen involvement, and the resources provided to our department with the passing of the public safety sales tax in 2008, help us address many of our major crime issues in the city.
“I am so proud of our citizens because they have truly embraced community-oriented policing,” he says.
Partnering with city officials and local police is just one part of the equation in combating urban crime. Brooks, Meckling, Greiner and Humphrey all agree that neighbors also must partner with each other.
“The neighborhood association is the foundation of everything a neighborhood can accomplish,” Meckling says. “The answer for crime-plagued neighborhoods is to bond together and get organized. From that foundation, neighbors can create whatever structure suits their needs. Many people have a misconception about neighborhood associations, thinking they are all about creating rules and restrictions. In fact, the organization can be anything you want and can take many unique forms. It’s all about reaching out, connecting, and being, well, neighborly.”
“Many of our neighborhoods are very organized, which is a key in preventing crime,” says Greiner. “They have set up neighborhood associations, watches and patrols, which all deter crime (or at least move crime to another area).
“My goal is to encourage all of the neighborhoods in Ward 1 to get involved in their neighborhoods because they can and will make a difference,” he says. “Too often, we feel like we can’t do anything, and I want to change that mentality. If we change this mentality, private developers and nonprofit organizations will more likely want to come into a deteriorated area and invest their time and money to improve it. I believe this is where real change will come from, not from government.”
Meckling says that a sense of community is the key. “Our crime-watch training encourages neighbors to get to know one another not only for the intangible benefits of social connectedness, but also because it is a huge tool in crime prevention,” she says. “Knowing who belongs in your neighborhood is key to being able to spot, report and share suspicious activity.”
She gives the example of Oklahoma City’s historic Putnam Heights neighborhood, which suffered a rash of burglaries until a resident spotted the offender and shared the description with both neighbors and police. The individual was quickly apprehended and convicted.
“Neighborhoods can think of their social network as a secret weapon against crime – it really works,” Meckling says.
Brooks agrees that being familiar with neighbors and the neighborhood is essential, especially when it comes to recognizing someone or something that doesn’t belong. In addition, he says, “If you see something suspicious, say something. Report it to the police. Don’t get involved; just be a good witness by noting cars and individual descriptions.
“If you don’t have an Alert Neighbor program, get one started,” he also recommends. “By working with the police, you can improve safety and crime-prevention by becoming educated on crime-prevention tactics, such as environmental design and lighting to deter crime.”
Last but not least, he says avoid becoming a victim; take all precautions in protecting your home, family and belongings.
“Communication is key for neighborhoods,” Brooks says. “Talk to neighbors on a regular basis. Set up an email network for the neighborhood so you can quickly alert others. It takes a team effort to protect a community.”
Meckling says that the Neighborhood Alliance is a resource for numerous programs for helping citizens organize to protect and improve their neighborhoods.
“The Neighborhood Alliance offers workshops and one-on-one assistance to help neighborhoods organize, be an effective organization, learn how to be capable neighborhood leaders and raise funds for neighborhood-led projects,” she says. “There is a lot of information on our website about associations and the tools for making yours a better one. We can help with incorporating, writing bylaws and getting crime reports. We’ll even come out to your neighborhood meeting to give crime-watch training.
“Making your neighborhood a better place doesn’t have to be a monumental effort,” Meckling says. “You just need to care and be willing to make some friends.”
His south Tulsa clients were looking for someone who would bring a fresh take to their home, explains designer Chris Murphy, owner of Christopher Murphy Designs.
“They wanted to create an oasis for their family and friends with a gallery-style feel,” says Murphy.
Working with the homeowners, whose children range from grade school to college age, Murphy did not make many changes to the home’s flooring, walls and cabinetry. “My goal was to create statement pieces of art and furniture,” he says.
Murphy’s goal is evident just inside the front door as the dramatic entry sets the tone for what to expect throughout the rest of this unique home. The key piece is the lipstick console that Murphy found in New York. The 1,250-pound console consists of thick layers of walnut, black lacquer, gray lacquer, Lucite, white bronze and natural bronze. The homeowners worked with art consultant Kim Fonder at Abersons Exhibits to provide the colorful piece above the console by artist Steve Joy.
The red and yellow plates to the left were existing, as was the large canvas to the right. Mirroring the artwork colors, Murphy recovered the bench in a bold gray and acidic yellow silk.
Using red tones from the entry plus two existing red sofas, Murphy highlighted the striking shade on the living room floor and ceiling. An existing traditional lantern light fixture was replaced with a stunning custom glass art piece. Murphy worked with California glass designer Alison Berger to create the hand-blown crystal pendants that hang over a custom silk and wool area rug. The whimsical, crisp white table is a John Dickerson reproduction.
Between the two sofas, Murphy designed a custom console that was fabricated locally. Each of the custom lead crystal sculptures is lit below with a LED fixture, and the light level can be independently adjusted with a remote control.
Murphy worked with a Nebraska artist to acquire the series of paintings over the fireplace. “I wanted to contrast the petite pieces off the large wall,” says Murphy. Adjacent to the fireplace is a custom polished nickel and walnut console balanced with a black lacquer mirror.
The homeowners had recently purchased the dining room table and chairs, although Murphy added a custom touch by removing eight inches off the height of each chair and then using a taupe silk slipcover. A new linear-shaped polished nickel light fixture sparkles above the table and was chosen to play off of – but not compete with – the nearby red chandelier in the living room. Murphy also located the dramatic mineral boat centerpiece that is made from one piece of onyx.
The master bedroom previously had several rooms combined to create the space, but the layout seemed awkward. “I wanted to reorient the room and float the bed,” says Murphy. So he built a partial height walnut wall that the bed sits against. On the opposite side are two benches and a picture ledge. The pair of Cedric Hartman swing arm lamps provides lighting on either side of the wall.
Murphy added a patterned wood veneer wall covering and created a theatrical backdrop with draperies that are often opened just enough to access the pool outside the bedroom doors.
The bed is from Holly Hunt with green-gray Larson leather. And to soften the predominant angles throughout the space, Murphy custom designed a pair of circular white lacquer nightstands. Murphy then worked with Exhibit and combined fancifully shaped wood pieces from the same artist installed on the wall opposite the bed, extending the gallery feel even into the private spaces of the home.
Month after month, we present a colorful kaleidoscope of the people, places and culture that make Oklahoma such a fascinating place.
© Oklahoma Magazine
