Owasso, OK Master Planned Community - Stone Canyon

The Pros and Cons of Buying a Downtown Tulsa Condominium

The prospect of buying a downtown Tulsa condominium appeals to a large percentage of people. This is why there are many buildings being remodeled and constructed to meet this demand. A downtown Tulsa condominium provides time-saving access to jobs meaning it does not require a commute each day. Professionals especially like the idea of living in the downtown area for the amenities that are easily accessible. There are, of course the advantages of not having maintenance to worry about and they do not have to spend their Saturdays mowing the lawn.

Living in a downtown Tulsa condominium means that people have more free time to do the things they want to do. They do not have to travel a long distance to go to social attractions or shopping. Going to a movie in the evening is just a matter of minutes. The option of dinner after work and a quick shopping trip is much more viable if you are not worried about the long drive home.  Downtown Tulsa condominium living allows owners to have their own home without the worry of keeping up with the lawn maintenance, the painting or pressure washing, the repairs and all everyday things that crop up for homeowners to attend to.

In addition, many are adding fitness centers in the building when they convert or construct the condos. All residents have to do is get in the elevator and go to the center whenever they need to workout. This is another advantage for those who are living in the downtown area. When you have to drive for an hour to go to your gym and then drive another hour back home, you will often put it off rather than spend the time it takes to go back and forth.

When you work all week long and drive to and from work, on the weekend the last thing you want to do is be in the car for a long period of time fighting traffic. Living in downtown Tulsa, you can catch a bus or a taxi and be at your destination in no time. Condo living gives you a little more freedom to do the things you choose in your free time rather than the things you feel you need to do.

If having a yard is important, this is one of the disadvantages of living in a condo, however sometimes a balcony or a patio area can make up for this. The condos that have lawns are shared by all residents so you will not have a private yard. Living in such close proximity to others is sometimes hard to get used to if you have lived in a single family home all your life.

Remembering that you have neighbors above or below you is going to be essential to being a courteous neighbor. If you are used to coming home in the evening and turning your music to the limit, you might want to invest in headphones because this can be annoying for many people. You may not agree with all the rules and regulations that have been established by the condo association, so looking these over before signing your contract will be a wise move. Then you can see if there is anything that you strongly disagree with and if so, you should shop around to see if there are others that have more lenient rules. 

If you would like more information about buying a Downtown Tulsa condominium, please give me a call at 918-231-5734 or visit my Contact Us page and send me a quick message.  I’ll respond right away!

Tulsa Convention Center - Another 2010 Tulsa Award Winner

Tulsa OK Homes Area Attractions Wins Again - BOK Center

The Tulsa Convention Center and BOK Center are the proud recipients of the 2010 Prime Site award. Tulsa OK homes area facility, the Tulsa Convention Center received the award from Facilities Magazine, the ultimate source for professional planning of special events, entertainment, meetings and conventions. This is the second consecutive year the Tulsa Convention Center and BOK Center have won the award. Chosen from thousands of contenders in Canada and the U.S., those who oversee these facilities are proud to be recognized for the service and amenities they provide to clients.

The Tulsa OK homes area facility, the Tulsa Convention Center received the number of votes necessary to qualify as a Prime Site winner. The awards are voted on by the readers of the magazine which is over 51,000 Association and Corporate Meeting Planners. The criterion that is considered when voting consists of:

•   Location

•   Quality of Staff

•   Technical Capabilities

•   Food and Beverage

•   Access/Egress

•   Lighting, Sound and Staging

•   Other Amenities

The BOK Center (Bank of Oklahoma Center) is located in Tulsa OK and is the multi-purpose arena for the area. The facility has 19, 199 seating capacity and was designed for concerts, basketball, hockey, arena football and events similar in nature. The cost was $178 million from public funds and $18 million from private funds.

On August 30, 2008, the ribbon cutting ceremony for the opening was performed by Hanson and Garth Brooks. The first event, a community choir was held on August 31. The center is part of the Tulsa County Vision 2025 initiative for long term development. The Bank of Oklahoma is the namesake of the center, having paid $11 million for the naming rights.

There are several permanent residents including the Tulsa Oilers, Tulsa Talons, Tulsa Shock and plans to attract the national and regional sporting tournaments are ongoing. The BOK Center has the amenities to handle additional events. The center has 37 public restrooms, dressing rooms with lockers, a player’s lounge, game officials locker rooms, hydrotherapy and workout rooms and offices for coaches as well as trainers and equipment managers.

Fourteen concession stands are located within the facility and seven of these are partial branches of Tulsa-area restaurants. The general concessions serve traditional arena food - hotdogs, corndogs, chili fries, chicken tenders, Mexican food and desserts.

The hanging scoreboard is a highly advanced version weighing 50,000 lbs. and uses four HD screens that are 8 feet by 14 feet, four that are eight feet by eight feet and an HD screen that is a wrap around that is nine feet plus a wrap around that is three feet. The system cost $3.6 million which was funded by private donations.

Former tax packages for arenas had always been rejected by the voters until Tulsa mayor Bill LaFortune took office in 2002. He held a municipal planning conference during which several projects throughout the county were proposed. This was where Vision 2025 came into the picture. Raising sales taxes only by six-tenths of one cent over a period of 13 years was approved and construction began on the center in August 2005.

Three years later the first concert was held on September 6, 2008. The Eagles were the featured entertainers. Since that time there have been several famous performers at the center including Brad Paisley, Celine Dion, Nine Inch Nails, Metallica, AC/DC, Elton John and many more.

The Oklahoma City Thunder played the Houston Rockets on October 13, 2008 which was the first major event in sports to be played here. The BOK Center is also the host for the Tulsa Oilers ice hockey team and the Tulsa Talons. Upcoming events for the center are:

Justin Bieber - July 6, 2010
WWE Monday Night Raw - July 19, 2010
Rascal Flatts - July 23, 2010
The Jonas Brothers - August 2, 2010
Celtic Woman - August 6, 2010
American Idols LIVE! Tour 2010 - August 8, 2010
Sean Hannity Freedom Concert - August 20, 2010
Women of Faith - August 27-28, 2010
John Mayer - September 3, 2010

Tulsa, OK 4th of July 2010 Family Fun Events

If you are counting down the days to the Tulsa, OK 4th of July 2010 events that you have been looking forward to you know there are not many left. ONEOK Freedom Fest 2010 will be a terrific event this year for the residents and visitors of Tulsa. When you are ready to celebrate Independence Day this year, the Tulsa, OK 4th of July 2010 festivities will give  you a choice of three locations. Each one will have fireworks and other family friendly ways to celebrate.

Oklahoma celebrates Independence Day in a big way and this year will not be an exception. Choose one of the following three locations to join family and friends for the spectacular Tulsa, OK 4th of July 2010 celebration.

1. River West Festival Park - Located at 2100 S. Jackson, the River West Festival Park celebration will begin at 5 p.m. on the 4th of July 2010. There will be food vendors and beverages available. The kids can have their faces painted, receive free inflatable and enjoy the Rock Climbing Wall sponsored by Lafarge North America. The Tulsa, OK elected officials will say a few words to the crowd starting at 6:30 p.m.  The Red Dirt Rangers will perform live music from 6:45 p.m. to 9:15 p.m. The grand finale of the fireworks display over the Arkansas River will be from 9:30 to 10:05 p.m. Produced by the world famous Zambelli Fireworks Internationale, this will be a great Independence Day celebration. A kids’ zone will be located here as well.
2. The 4th of July 2010 beginning at noon the Tulsa Parks will be holding their annual American Salute at Veterans Park. Located at 1875 S. Boulder Avenue, there will be an old-fashioned picnic for the family and music to enjoy. The kids can receive free inflatables. A Bicycle Parade will begin at 7 p.m. so all the kids can get their bikes ready by decorating them with their own decorations or the ones provided by Tom’s Bicycles. There will be a kids’ zone at this location.
3. Elwood’s Café at 19th and Riverside Drive will open on the 4th of July at 10 a.m. and will feature live music from noon to 11 p.m. There is a cover charge of $15 for adults and children 6 to 12 can attend for $5. Featured entertainment will be Junaloosca at noon, Eric & The Adams at 1:30 p.m., Sam & the Stylees at 4:14 p.m. and Midlife Crisis Band at 7 p.m.

More Celebrations

Another great 4th of July celebration will be held at the RHEMA Bible Church grounds. This is one of the largest 4th of July celebrations in Oklahoma. The festivities are attended by more than 35,000 people each year. There will be music and food and the event which is held from 3 p.m. to 10 p.m. will feature one of the largest displays in the state. The cost is free and it is a great family atmosphere celebration.

The Cajun Festival and Arts, Crafts and Music Festival will be held July 3rd, 2010 at the Grove Civic Center in Grove, OK. There will be many vendors with arts and crafts as well as food vendors. The hand-made jewelry and Native American items will add to the collection on sale here. This celebration is a fun time for everyone and can be enjoyed all day long.

Chris Miller and Bayou Roots, Jana Jae and Hotwire and Rick Sprague and the New Cajun Band will be performing this year. They will begin at 10 a.m. and will alternate to give everyone a chance to hear this terrific music.

The Oaks at Indian Springs is a Wilton subdivision in the residential community of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma. An upscale neighborhood that features a mixture of Broken Arrow homes for sale, the custom built homes here are Colonials, contemporaries and custom built ranches with three and four bedrooms.

The homes were built by Thomas J. Arone & Son Builders during the early 2000s. They are only a few minutes from Interstate 87 and not even 10 minutes from downtown. This is the beauty of living in The Oaks at Indian Springs. A rural setting that is quiet and serene but still close to all the amenities is what you will get when you purchase one of these Broken Arrow homes for sale. 

The homes are located on generous lots, from one third acre and up, and is bordered by Northern Pines Road to the west and Gailor Road to the south, which are both access points to The Oaks at Indian Springs. They are also within the South Glens Falls Central School District. Ballard Elementary, Oliver W. Winch Middle and South Glens Falls High School are where The Oaks children attend school. In 2008, 83% of graduates of the high school earned a Regents diploma.

Broken Arrow homes for sale currently in The Oaks include a 4 bedroom, 3.5 bathroom, 3 car garage that is listed at $475,000. Another estate home is a 6 bedroom, 4 full and 2 half baths with a 4 car garage. This home is over 6,000 square feet and is listed at $1,175,000.

Residents of The Oaks at Indian Springs do not have to go far for shopping or recreation. There are several stores within 15 minutes including a Price Chopper supermarket, a variety of gas stations, banks and restaurants on Route 50, the Shoppes at Wilton and the Wilton Mall.

When it comes to recreation, Gavin Park is a park run by the town that has playground areas, basketball courts, and soccer and baseball fields. This is also the place where many of the town’s celebrations take place. It is located at the crossroads of Beverly Street and Lewis Drive. The Wilton Wildlife Preserve and Park is another amenity that can be enjoyed by residents of The Oaks at Indian Springs. This is over 800 acres of land that is protected by the town. Mountain biking, skiing, snowshoeing, jogging and hiking are all available here.

When purchasing Broken Arrow homes for sale, enjoying Moreau Lake State Park is another option. There are several activities that can be enjoyed here such as boating and fishing, cross country skiing and hiking, lounging on the beach, a picnic area and wooded campgrounds.

Only a short distance from The Oaks at Indian Springs are the Saratoga Gaming and Raceway, the Saratoga Performing Arts Center, Loughberry Lake, Lake Lonely and Saratoga Lake. In addition, there is also the Saratoga National Golf Course, Yaddo and Congress Park.

Tulsa Zoo’s Summer Camp 2010

Tulsa Zoo’s Summer Camp 2010 is right around the corner. The third largest public park in the U.S., Mohawk Park, is the home of the Tulsa Zoo. On 84 acres the zoo has over 2800 animals and receives 600,000 visitors a year. Unique and wild adventures make a trip to the Tulsa Zoo one of the most exciting times for children and adults alike.

Tour the zoo from your seat on a camel. Take a ride and you can see the sights from high atop your one-humped camel. This is the Dromedary camel, which is native to Asia and Africa where they are used for working and racing.

A zoo train and wildlife carousel are a couple more of the attractions you will see when visiting the Tulsa Zoo. See the newest for 2010 - the Monolith - a 25 foot high rock wall that 4 climbers may ascend at the same time. The climbers are harnessed to ensure safety. Another fun adventure is the inflatable trampoline, the Frogger. This also requires a safety harness so that the participants can jump as high as possible.

 Of course, the animals are the biggest attraction and this is one of the reasons Tulsa Zoo’s Summer Camp 2010 will be another in a series of terrific times for the children. Learning about the many different types of animals that live at the Tulsa Zoo is eight weeks of fun for grades one through eight. The groups are arranged according to their school grade and plans for each group include seeing the animals on a personal nature, getting to see what goes on behind the scenes, and activities and games to help children learn more about our animal friends.  

This year the Tulsa Zoo’s Summer Camp 2010 will have a variety of themes as they do each year. The 2010 themes are the Expedition Zoo, the Secrets of Survival and the African Safari. Each is designed to allow children the chance to explore the different types of climates that are the original home of many of the animals living at the Tulsa Zoo.

The Expedition Zoo, for example, will allow the participants the opportunity to see the desert, a tropical rainforest and an Inuit village. The plants and animals that live here are originally from the part of the world where the exotic and different is ordinary. A trip on an African Safari will allow a look at Africa and the inhabitants that are native to this continent. From the elephant to the insect, learning about Africa’s wildlife is guaranteed to be fun and educational.

Another fun part of Tulsa Zoo’s Summer Camp 2010 will be Secrets of Survival. This is all about learning the tricks and secrets the animals as well as plants have learned in difficult climates that allow them to survive. The Arctic fox survives the brutally cold winters. How does he do this? Learn how the tropical forest creatures survive and how the plants and animals in the desert make it from year to year. This is an interesting aspect of the camp and your kids will love it.

Tulsa International Mayfest - May 13-16, 2010

The Tulsa Mayfest is coming and everyone will be joining the fun and festivities at this year’s event. The outdoor tribute to the world of music and the arts was started in 1972 and continues today bigger and better than ever with a whole host of activities and entertainment.

The Tulsa International Mayfest will begin on May 13th this year and continue through Sunday, the 16th. Opening at 11 a.m. and closing at 11 p.m. except Sunday when they will close at 6 p.m., the Tulsa Mayfest is a free event and the number of visitors this year is expected to be over 350,000 people.

Presenting artwork from about 120 artists, which includes Juried artists and Market artists there will be a little something to peak everyone’s interests. The Juried artists are only accepted after having gone through a selection process. This is designed to choose only the best for displaying their items made from wood to clay and various other materials.

The Market artists are those who are selling items ranging from toys to t-shirts that have been hand painted to calligraphy. The artists booths open daily from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. except for Sunday when they will be open from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.  

The Tulsa Mayfest will feature 120 artists, 4 indoor galleries, 3 entertainment stages and KidZone. The younger attendees of the festival will enjoy KidFest  immensely. Consisting of many activities such as stilt walking, creating art projects, side walk chalk art and chasing bubbles this is guaranteed to make your children happy for awhile.

This event will be on the H.A. Chapman Centennial Green at 6th and Main. The activities planned for children will include artists that will perform on the KidZone stage. A few of these are Prairie Dawgs, Buffalo Fitz and Lunch Money. The children can create their own art projects and enjoy the entertainment.

A bear clinic will be hosted by Children’s Hospital on Saturday,  May 15the from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. to help children understand there is no reason to fear doctors or hospitals. The kids are recipients of a free bear which they decorate and take to the clinic for a check-up.

Part of the artwork that will be on display will be from members of The Center for Individuals with Physical Challenges. The center will be in the new YMCA downtown in the Mayo Building and will be open Thursday and Friday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

A new feature that will be introduced this year is the “Green’ Gallery. The artwork in this gallery will be created from reused and recycled materials. This will include several types such as painting, metal smiths, photography, fiber artists and sculpture. The categories for awards in this gallery will include the Best Use of Materials and Best in Show.

A major part of the Mayfest celebration is the Mayfest Young Artist Awards. These awards are presented to five students of area high schools to develop personal growth and advancement in the arts. In addition there is also the Stephanie Jackson Outstanding Young Artist Award. This award was created in honor of Stephanie Jackson who has spent over 35 years as a volunteer of the Tulsa International Mayfest. 

If you are ready to be the proud owner of a home in Bixby, Ok, you will need to know a few things about the home buying process. This is the dream of the majority of people who have lived in rentals all of their life and most likely the biggest investment you will make during your lifetime. The process of buying a home in Bixby, OK is not as difficult as you think however; planning can help everything go much more smoothly.

Here are ten steps that you should take if your plans include buying a home in Bixby, OK. Remember this is a process that requires knowledge and planning to insure that your purchase is one you are happy with.

1. The first thing anyone should do before looking at any home is to figure out how much of a house they can afford. Your budget is extremely important and the amount that you can handle comfortably will have to be decided upon before you begin to look to see what is available.
2. You may decide to house shop on your own, but you really should get a realtor to show you properties within your price range. When it comes to making an offer, negotiating to get you the best deal possible and what the property values are within the area you have chosen a real estate agent will be invaluable.
3. Get a loan approval before shopping for a house. This tells the seller you are serious and have the backing to purchase the home. Make sure you understand the interest rates, the maximum you can spend on a home and what your payments will include and how much they will be monthly.
4. When you have done all this it is time to start looking for a home that is within your budget. One of the things you will want to take into consideration is the area - school systems, grocer’s, and proximity to your job.
5. Since you have already gotten your loan approval, you will need to get all the paperwork requested by the mortgage company and put in your application for a loan. The application will go through underwriting and this is the final step in approval for your loan. This allows you to lock in the interest rate you will be paying and the seller can be informed that your financing is in place.
6. When you find the home you want to buy, the next step is to submit an offer to purchase to the seller. This is written by your realtor and all the requests for inspections and anything that needs to be repaired is also mentioned here.
7. The home inspection is crucial. You will want to make sure the home you want to buy has no major issues that are going to be expensive to repair. This protects you from finding out the air conditioning system is 20 years old and needs to be replaced after purchasing the home. Some repairs could affect the price you offer for the home or you can ask that they be done before closing on the house.
8. Purchasing insurance will be the next step. This is required by your mortgage holder. Insuring that the property has a title that is free of any encumbrances is another necessity to protect your ownership.
9. Any last minute aspects of the purchase that arise will need to be attended to. The underwriter may need additional paperwork or a repair that needs to be done or the prices adjusted to cover the repair are all normal parts of the buying process.
10. Closing is the final step. The mounds of paperwork have finally been signed, the keys are in your pocket and you are ready to move in.

Owasso Parks Master Plan 2015

Plans for improvements and new development to Owassa Parks have been established and guidelines set. The plan is inclusive as to what the short term and long term development of the parks will be. The plan will also allow the city of Owassa to have a guideline for making decisions. The major goals of providing the plan were to insure the Owassa Parks provide a healthy lifestyle for residents and visitors alike. In addition, the natural beauty of Owassa can be enjoyed.

Some of the objectives for the neighborhood Owassa Parks were to develop larger parks for the community. In addition, the development of neighborhood parks is encourages and having parks that take the young adults in consideration is another aspect. This would include parks that have amphitheaters, the performance of local bands as a regular feature of the park and outdoor grills for family get-togethers. The River Parks, located in Tulsa are on the models the plan would use as a model for the new parks.

There are also guidelines for the existing parks. The development of Frisbee golf at Centennial Park is one. Providing ferry or carriage rides in the parks for the enjoyment of the area could be done at specific times of year. The fishing ponds at Sportspark, Centennial and Elm Creek would be kept stocked. The addition of a gazebo like the Ravola gazebo to another of the parks in the area, promote residents use of the parks for picnics, parties and cookouts and update the playground facilities in all of the parks are more of the plans for enhancing the parks that already exist. In addition, there would be more basketball courts added to the parks in the area.

What are some of the new types of parks the committee is recommending? For one, the construction of a miniature golf for Owasso and a trails system as well would be one of the additions. The provision of a mountain bike park and a dog park and the construction of a water park all are planned for Owasso. Building a rock climbing resource in one of the Owasso parks is another of the proposed additions. There should also be a park constructed for smaller children - age 6 and younger. 

Another part of the plan was concerning the themes of the parks. One of the proposed additions would be developing the theme of a western heritage park at Rayola Park. Coming up with a naming system that uses a theme for the streets within the parks is another proposal. Using one naming system that is kept consistent in all of the parks is another idea that would benefit the parks system.

The use of the “Name the field or site” program for raising money and the creation of a haunted trail at Centennial Park are more great ideas the committee has proposed.

There are many others on the list including the development of a yearly parent/child fishing trip for the day. The location for this would be Elm Creek Park. The list is quite extensive so putting even half of the proposed changes into effect would require some time.

Why Choose Bixby Homes For Work and Play?

Bixby homes have housed a population growth of 44.68% since 2000, making it a focus for new development opportunities in its south Tulsa metro location.  Adjacent to south Tulsa, Bixby homes are located in an affluent area with outstanding new housing developments, thriving businesses and a wide variety of amenities being made available all the time. 

The most recent addition to the Bixby area is the 5,000 seat SpiritBank Event Center and the massive 300,000 square foot Regal Plaza retail development, bringing restaurants, retail and unsurpassed entertainment options to the Bixby homes community. With the growing traffic and subsequent number of visitors coming to the area, Bixby is planning to build another mixed-use, master planned development featuring more than 100,000 square feet of hotel and shopping establishments, called South Village, this year.

Bixby homes couldn't be more centrally located - less than four hours from the geographic center of the 48 states and less than 3 hours from the US population center!  A business that is located here has the ability to reach half of the US with same day or overnight transporatation service, and the entire nation within next-day service!  With most of the population growth taking place in the South and West of the US, Oklahoma simply makes sense for the long-term Bixby homes residents.

Residential & Commercial Permits & Trends

The prime location of Bixby homes, the vital logistics, less taxation and obvious inventives are what make Bixby the natural choice for both bixby home owners and businesses alike.  The Choose Bixby website is a great resource for both bixby community and business profiles, and is where you can gain in-depth insight as to why Bixby homes is just a natural choice for work and play for you and your family too.

•   Columbian Boa

•   Iguana

•   Alligators

•   California King Snake

•   Blue Tongue Skink

•   Bearded Dragon

These are just a few of the reptiles that can be viewed and there are also a variety of birds including those who normally make their home in the jungle. Amazon parrots and macaws, cockatoos and Chinese geese, emus and even chickens live at Safari’s, a top destination for Broken Arrow family attractions.

Tours are available to hear rescue stories about many of the animals as well as teaching adults and children about some of the conservation issues that are critical to the survival of many of these animals. Many of the animals are ones that those on the tour can interact with and actually pet and feed. The tours typically last about an hour and a half with extra time for feeding the animals if this is part of the guided walk.

The tours are open to school and youth groups as well as any other group that wants to experience the knowledge and expertise of the volunteers who dedicate their time to these animals. Broken Arrow family attractions such as Safari’s Zoo employ a veterinarian and they provide a forever home for these animals. They are not bred and they are allowed to live out their life in this safe and secure sanctuary.