Tulsa World: Growing pangs

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Growing pangs
Catoosa intends to experience growth with its neighbors

Victoria Gatwood (left), apartment manager of Oakmont Apartment Homes, with Debbie Squires, senior real estate manager with CBRE/OK, which assists with the planning, development, construction, leasing and marketing at Oakmont which opened in Catoosa. CORY YOUNG / Tulsa World

By RHETT MORGAN World Staff Writer
Published: 11/23/2009 2:27 AM
Last Modified: 11/23/2009 9:08 AM

CATOOSA — For lack of funding and direction, the Catoosa Economic Development Authority was languishing by the middle part of this decade, Mayor Rita Lamkin said.

Lamkin vowed to change that when she took office in 2007.

"We're trying to get the community enthused again about economic development," she said.

To that end, the authority, local stakeholders and the City Council have developed a strategy to address Catoosa's new vision.

That outline, among other things, seeks to find ways to enhance the municipality's tourism potential, attract new businesses to the city and expand commerce at the Tulsa Port of Catoosa.

A $60,000 budget, $50,000 of which has gone to a Wichita, Kan.-based marketing firm, was created to help reach those goals, Lamkin said. A new city logo and Web site also are in the works.

"We'd like to develop a lifestyle of a vibrant community," said Tony Wolters, part of the seven-member development authority.

Already the hub of plenty of bustle, Catoosa has the potential to spread its economic wings.

The ever-expanding Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tulsa — located in Catoosa — is a huge draw. And although it is operated by the Cherokee Nation, the city does, through an agreement, receive sales tax dollars from the venue's recently opened "I Love This Bar and Grill," a Toby Keith signature.

"We need to build revenue-generating activities around there," Wolters said. "We also really need to really grow our community in terms of housing."

Getting to and around Catoosa is becoming easier.

Work has begun on road widening and bridge replacement at Interstate 44 and 193rd East Avenue, construction that is expected to be completed within two years. A donation of nearly $12 million from the Cherokee Nation expedited the $45 million project.

Walgreens and Taco Bueno are among the city's new businesses, and a new Hampton hotel is going up near the high school, Wolters said. Oakmont Apartment Homes, along Admiral Boulevard, opened in June.

Besides hoping to revitalize its business district, Catoosa would like to boost its population by 1,000 people by 2015.

Shorter term goals, Lamkin said, include building an activity center, replete with a swimming pool and basketball court. Lamkin is eyeing the former site of the tourist information center, which was destroyed by a 1993 tornado.

"I know that's buildable ground," she said. "It's 29 acres and I want it back. That land was used for Catoosa, and there's no reason it can't be used again for our activity center."

Wolters is a 30-year resident of Catoosa.

"We see Owasso growing like crazy," he said. "We see Broken Arrow growing like crazy. Claremore is so convenient. We're right in the middle of that. Why shouldn't we experience that?"

Rhett Morgan 581-8395
rhett.morgan@tulsaworld.com By RHETT MORGAN World Staff Writer

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	Report Comment Popeye, T-Town (11/23/2009 6:07:30 AM) You folks had better take a good look at Tulsa, and try not to make the same mistake: Unrestricted apartment construction, in every conceivable part of the city, leading to a glutted market where absent and desparate landlords do whatever it takes to fill their complexes. The resulting subsidized crime, scattered all over the city, has home-owners, who are sick of risking the value of their long-term investments, leaving forever.
	Report Comment Few Clothes, America (11/23/2009 11:31:17 AM) They spent $50K on a out of state marketing firm? Wichita isn't exactly the garden state in Kansas. Listen to Popeye folks. There's a lot of justifiable wisdom in his words.
	Report Comment dork74, Broken Arrow (11/23/2009 4:29:48 PM) I agree Popeye, just take a look at East-Central Tulsa for a good example of a once nice neighborhood that has gone very wrong. Lots of large apartment complexes that were built in the middle of single-family neighborhoods and now 10 -15 years later that area is becoming the new "slum" of Tulsa.

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