Eric, Tulsa (7/1/2009 9:55:58 AM)

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C-ville is a nice community.

I hope its leaders don't fall into the same trap that other bedroom communities have - such as unfettered growth and poor planning.

This town has the opportunity to create a pedestrian-friendly city.

But I fear it'll become a giant strip mall with tacky homes.
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2curious, Tulsa, OK 74104 (7/1/2009 6:52:26 AM)

Good to see Tulsa continues to grow. The return to Mid-Town seems to be gathering steam. Tulsa's schools are improving and people are figuring out that the burbs ain't all it's cracked up to be.

Be careful what you wish for Collinsville...

Few Clothes, Austin, TX (7/1/2009 12:41:45 PM)

Here's hopping the gangs don't infiltrate these smaller cities.

52favoriteteacher, Washburn--used to be Broken Arrow (7/1/2009 8:55:38 PM)

Old stomping ground

5th grade till graduation

We remember the old Main street drags/dairy queen, and the s curv...e

My 69 Camaro was HOT!!!

AirForce Wife, Collinsville (7/2/2009 9:34:27 AM)

I live and work in Collinsville and my husband opened his business here 10 years ago. My son goes to Collinsville schools and is in the accelerated class at Herald. I'm sure just like any other "big" school system Collinsville might have some teachers that arent' that great, but what school system doesn't have one or two. The gossip thing on the other hand is just because everyone knows everyone which I think is great cuz if your kids are out doing something they're not supposed to be then it will reach mom & dad before they get home. I live in city limits and I do think the utilities are high, but that is Collinsville's livelyhood. Getting a WalMart in here? I don't think so! I believe everyone would fight against that. We like our small town atmosphere and WalMart doesn't know you by name like the businesses here in Collinsville.

Alan67, (7/1/2009 1:18:20 PM)

Collinsville has seen some dramatic growth in the past few years. Many new and exciting businesses have opened including a fabulous scrapbook store, Croppinsville, right on main street! My wife and mother-in-law love it!

Photo892, (7/1/2009 11:32:09 PM)

I live in Collinsville and when school starts in August I'll be a junior at CHS. Its true that there are several coaches as teachers but that is not a bad thing. My freshman math teacher was a football coach and he was a fantastic teacher. I usually hated math but that year I actually found myself impatiant for fourth hour.

Collinsville is a small town and most everyone knows everyone. If you don't get caught up in the typical high school drama then there isn't a problem.

I've also noticed that no one mentioned the band. In the last few years they've had a tough time but they're coming back on top and if you look before the recent rut you'll see that they did extraordinary at the state level both marching and in concert season.

Bedazzled, (7/2/2009 1:14:55 AM)

I always liked this town. Who would have thought it would grow like this. Passed through years ago to visit my grandparents.

Denver918, (7/1/2009 2:12:28 PM)

Tulsa's infill development, especially in midtown, has really picked up in recent years and I would bet that continues. Although in midtown it's not cheap to do it. In more 'rough' areas like the emerging Pearl district east of downtown, Kendall-Whittier by TU, Crutchfield northeast of downtown, and Brady Heights north of downtown you can find plenty of bargains that will be worth a lot more later as those neighborhoods get better. Sand Springs with its close proximity to downtown/midtown and forested hills is a good alternative to Jenks, BA, Owasso, Bixby, etc.

orcu100, (7/3/2009 8:28:14 PM)

I live in Collinsville and partly work for the city it is a great place to live. The real estate is quite a bit cheaper both to rent and to buy than in Owasso. The only thing we need is the amenities of the bigger cities. Many of the residents go to Owasso or Skiatook to shop for groceries because it is a lot cheaper than going to the local grocery store. I am glad the stores are moving closer, but if they are not inside the city limits and the residents go outward to shop that is more money that we do not receive and it goes to help build more for Owasso. I can not believe Skiatook only has 2000 more residents and yet they have over three times the places to eat and a super walmart. They also have a much bigger police force and better equipment for their city workers. We also need to get the quick trip finished by highway 75 and 20 that would bring a lot of revenue to our town.

BAGuy, Broken Arrow (7/1/2009 2:00:23 PM)

The thing holding Collinsville back even more is Owasso's growth in retail. Collinsville needs a Walmart to capture retail sales. Then it will see growth like Glenpool.

WilliamTheArtist, (7/1/2009 7:34:06 AM)

The trick for Tulsa is to get zoning that will allow for good infill development, aka "urban villages". Go to south Tulsa where the growth has trended and you will see that there isnt much room left for large, suburban, neighborhoods etc. Its pretty much full up. The next phase of growth is going to more and more be infill, and there are good ways and bad ways to do that. We are still zoned for the suburban model and its illegal in most parts of the city to do traditional, mixed use, urban development.

beatlesfan1, (7/1/2009 8:51:51 PM)

I was educated in Collinsville and am getting ready to sit for the bar exam in July. I had a great education in Collinsville! So I would be careful when generalizing a school system with coaches as teachers being a bad thing. My two toughest classes were taught by coaches. I learned more in those classes than any other class I took at CHS. Ok, enough already....back to studying for the bar!

beatlesfan1, (7/2/2009 7:59:44 PM)

Barracuda, I meant no disrespect. I was just saying that although there are coaches as teachers, some of them are very good. I was kind of unique in that I was an athlete, but I was also in band...lol! I'm a huge supporter of academics and the arts as well as athletics. I believe arts and athletics are vital to a student's curriculum, in addition to a rigorous set of academic standards. I didn't really belong to a cliche, but of course everybody knew everybody. Photo892, the band is a great asset to the school system. When I was there, we had two excellent band directors who accepted nothing but the best from the members of the band. The Crimson Cadets will get back to the top eventually. I think Collinsville is a great town!

mkk33, Miami (7/2/2009 9:28:29 AM)

I loved growing up in this town..I appreciate it more after being away and traveling all around the world. I love coming back home to visit on holidays. I hope the growth will help our small town businesses.

xfollower, (7/1/2009 10:58:39 AM)

"In Small towns the highlight of their life is Gossip. They talk and don't even know what they're talking about. Most of them have the stories so twisted its unreal, reminds me of Harper Valley PTA by Jeanie C Riley... Thats Collinsville and Owasso. My grandma always said Clean up your own backyard before you start trying to clean up someone elses Amen "

Scooter2, do you have facts to back this up or is this just gossip? Try listening to your grandma.

barracuda, (7/1/2009 5:30:52 PM)

Colinsville is a good place to live if you can stay out of the city limits. The city utilities seem very high compared to people I speak to from other towns. I hear the school system is notorious for hiring coaches as teachers, I hear watching movies during classtime is commonplace.

barracuda, (7/1/2009 11:08:13 PM)

beatlesfan1, The information I get about the school comes from the teens that visit in my home and my own childs opinion. these are not slacker children either, most have been on the academic team. Collinsville is fine if you are a jock, you fit in, if not you are less then. I graduated from Collinsville high also. It was quality when I was there. That has changed drastically.
I still suggest to anyone considering a move here to check out city utilities and services before coming inside city limits.

scooter2, (7/1/2009 9:39:12 AM)

In Small towns the highlight of their life is Gossip. They talk and don't even know what they're talking about. Most of them have the stories so twisted its unreal, reminds me of Harper Valley PTA by Jeanie C Riley... Thats Collinsville and Owasso. My grandma always said Clean up your own backyard before you start trying to clean up someone elses Amen

scooter2, (7/1/2009 9:42:02 AM)

Last time I read my Bible Gossip was still a sin.

Peter Piper, TULSA (7/1/2009 6:10:18 AM)

It's good to see Tulsa has started a rebound. Those bedroom communities are fine-=-if you can afford their high-dollar homes, taxes, drive-to-work costs, upscale attitudes, etc. We seniors, minorities and po' folks are satisfied with Tulsa,despite its' many problems. Tulsa will survive!!