Road project could aid Tulsa Hills expansion

TULSA - It's one of the metro's fastest growing areas and Tulsa Hills shows no signs of slowing down.

A big road project could spur even more growth.

On Monday, crews will begin repairing a stretch of 81st street just south of the sprawling shopping center.

"It'll be an overlay job and we're also going to be replacing a drainage structure," said Field Engineer Manager Terry Ball.

Ball said the project was funded through a 2005 bond and has nothing to do with Tulsa Hills expansion.

"This job was approved before Tulsa Hills even came about," said Ball. "It was on our normal maintenance projects that we had."

Maybe so.

But the timing seems perfect since work continues on a major shopping center along 81st known as "The Walk."

The planned 250,000 sq. foot retail center would include a movie theater, fitness center and an organic grocer among its tenants.

Nearby establishments aren't worried it'll mean less business for them.

In fact, it's quite the opposite.

Tim Smallwood, owner of Tropical Smoothie Cafe in Tulsa Hills, said the more the area develops, the more likely his business will grow.

"I think what's helping us is all the growth around here in Tulsa Hills," said Smallwood.

Smallwood said the expansion around Tulsa Hills is great news for nearby residents.

"For these residents to get some of the things that we have to offer now in Tulsa Hills, they had to go way south to Memorial to the Woodland Hills area," said Smallwood.

Some shoppers like Jade and Missy Burdick, of Haskell, had to travel even farther to shop before Tulsa Hills.

"It's nice and it's new and it's clean and it's safe to walk around when it gets close to dusk, so I like it." said Jade Burdick.

The Burdicks said they support expanding Tulsa Hills.

"I like the variety. I mean you can go to one area and you have a lot of options," said Missy Burdick. "It's closer to home...so if they want to make it bigger, that's great for me."