A survey for the Tulsa Route 66 Master Plan that drew more than 1,000 respondents indicated a strong preference for historic preservation along the Route 66 corridor.
Public Radio Tulsa first reported on some of the results earlier this week:
Nearly three in four responses picked incentives for neon signs, facade improvements and building rehab assistance as a top priority for revitalizing Tulsa’s stretches of the historic highway. […]
The greatest proportion of responses to the survey came from 24- to 39-year-old adults — Millennials.
“It’s encouraging to see younger audiences embrace Route 66. Even Gen X has a sizable share, showing how timeless Route 66 is,” said Ty Simmons with the Tulsa Planning Office.
Responses also indicated future projects should bring a more cohesive feel to Tulsa’s two alignments of the Mother Road. While 11th Street is more readily identified, Admiral Place was Route 66 from 1926–1932. District 3 City Councilor Crista Patrick said her district is often overlooked for Route 66 initiatives but would benefit if the master plan is in place soon. It includes Admiral from Sheridan to 129th East Avenue.
The survey had more than 900 respondents from the Tulsa region, but it also received responses from all eight states that Route 66 traverses.
Daniel Jeffries, a senior planner for the Tulsa Planning Office, said the team still is analyzing the survey data but sent along a presentation given to the Tulsa Route 66 Commission that contained some of the results.
A few of the results that are more relevant to Route 66 advocates:
— Please rank as 1, 2, or 3 the importance of the following strategies for
attaining Goal #1 with 1 being most important and 3 being least important.
- Preserve the cultural assets and original Route 66 buildings: 55.81%
- Preserve signage that symbolizes the unique identity of the Route: 25.65%
- Raise public awareness and stature of Tulsa’s Route 66: 18.54%
— Choose up to three (3) priorities to preserve the cultural legacy of
Route 66 as it continues to grow with a renewed vitality.
- Encourage restoration of historic buildings and signage rather than demolition: 74.93%
- Foster, support or incentivize businesses and artists to locate on the corridor: 45.73%
- Identify specific historic assets that should be preserved and pursue funding: 36.89%
— Choose up to three (3) priorities for supporting established
and potential businesses along the Route.
- Invest in incentives to assist in business aesthetics like neon sign grants, facade improvement grants or other rehabilitation assistance: 72.33%
- Invest in incentives to assist in business operations like matching grants, fee waivers and low-interest loan programs: 59.27%
- Improve anchor areas at each end of the Route to make them more visible, identifiable and welcoming: 51.30%
— Choose up to three (3) priorities that will contribute most toward
Tulsa becoming known as a destination for Route 66 tourism.
- Use art to commemorate key sites and implement Route 66-themed wayfinding signage: 51.46%
- Create grants to assist business owners with street and building enhancements: 51.06%
- Create an environment that’s welcoming to everyone: 43.92%
In a budget exercise, these four options received the most votes:
- Revitalize areas where Route 66 projects and development are already happening: 56.67%
- Promote the preservation of cultural resources. May include smaller architectural features and original Route 66 signage: 53.08%
- Create a Tulsa Route 66-specific Streetscape Toolkit and support its implementation. The toolkit could include guidelines for facades, public art, street furniture (trash bins, benches, bike racks), planters, streetlights, signage and banners: 49.28%
- Coordinate with and support businesses, property owners, entrepreneurs and other existing programs and opportunities. Actions could include incentives, matching grants, creation of a central hub for information and ideas: 47.23%
There’s a sizable dropoff in the percentages after those four options.
— Select three (3) target areas that you consider a priority for
project implementation and strategies.
- Meadow Gold and University of Tulsa area: 74.66%
- Downtown Tulsa: 59.19%
- Kendall Whittier Main Street: 50.88%
- Southwest Boulevard: 37.80%
- Eastern frontier: 25.55%
- Mingo traffic circle: 17.86%
(Image of one of the Tulsa Route 66 gateways courtesy of city planner Dennis Whitaker)