Commercial Toolkit
“The trust of a city street is formed over time from many, many little public sidewalk contacts… Most of it is ostensibly trivial but the sum is not trivial at all.”
Toolkit Contents
Projects
- Start a Business Association
- Placemaking
- Organize a District Cleanup and Graffiti Removal
- Report Code Violations
- Create a National Register District
Programs
- Right-of-Way Programs
- Parking Requirement Relief
- Historic Preservation Overlay
- Neon Sign Grant Program
- Request Mixed-Use Zoning Along BRT Route
- BRT Development Fee Reimbursement
Toolkit Overview
Strong commercial districts support a more vibrant and connected city. The goal of the Commercial Toolkit is to connect business owners to programs, projects, or initiatives in Tulsa that support commercial revitalization.
The Toolkit offers information and resources on how to implement place-based projects, regulations, and programs that support active commercial districts, and fundraising ideas. Many of these programs have the capacity to be utilized broadly, and this Toolkit aims to help stakeholders take advantage of these opportunities.
Projects, programs, and initiatives fall into one or more of the following catgories:
- Regulations
- Place-based
- Historic preservation
- Grants or funding opportunities
- Transit-oriented development
- Beautification
Some of the projects are designed to improve individual businesses, but most will work best when a variety of stakeholders in a commercial district come together to collaborate on a project.
Each topic includes a description of the program, project, or initiative and its importance, specific steps to implement, and a list of resources where you can find more information, more detailed steps, templates, etc.
Goals
We hope this Toolkit will become a valuable resource for all Tulsa commerical districts. This document will be updated periodically to include additional projects or resources.
Completed a Project? Want to Suggest a New Project? Let us know!
When you or your commercial district complete a project in this guide, or if you have ideas for new projects we should include, we want to hear about it. Send us stories, pictures, questions, and suggestions so we can celebrate your accomplishments. Send an email to Sam Extance at sjextance@cityoftulsa.org, send us a message or tag us on Facebook, or visit tulsaplanning.org.
Resources for Neighborhoods
The Tulsa Planning Office also has programs for neighborhoods, including the Vibrant Neighborhoods Partnership and a Neighborhood Toolkit similar to this guide.
A farmers’ market in Kendall Whittier.
“A good city is like a good party — people stay longer than they need to because they are enjoying themselves.”