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Survey: Concern for North Tulsa.

A nonscientific survey probing the attitudes and perceptions of residents about North Tulsa illustrates the economic development challenges the area faces, with an overwhelming number of respondents expressing concern about how underserved the area is.

The 19-question survey -- part of the North Tulsa NOW campaign, a project of the North Tulsa Economic Development Initiative -- showed that 95 percent of those who took part expressed concern that the area did not provide sufficient goods and services. The survey also revealed that 52 percent of respondents had a negative or somewhat negative perception of north Tulsa and 74 percent rated the area's safety as poor or somewhat poor. Still, 63 percent of those who responded said they are willing to shop in north Tulsa.

Alaina Jones, the spokesperson for the campaign, said 500 people responded to the survey. Community leaders will discuss the survey results at length at a forum planned for sometime in the next few weeks, she said, though its date and location have not yet been confirmed.

The survey results did not reveal a lot of surprises, according to Jones.

"The survey confirmed what a lot of people already believed about North Tulsa," she said. "People would shop there, but there are not a lot of options."

And that was the most positive thing campaign organizers will take from the survey she said -- that an untapped retail market exists in the area.

Jones said North Tulsa NOW supporters will examine the survey results carefully in an attempt to identify key issues that address the concerns of residents.

"We're trying to use that to point us in the right direction as far as tactics and ways we can address the negative perceptions people have of north Tulsa," she said.