With a series of major projects and developments announced or being started, Broken Arrow has plenty of momentum to continue its growth.
In his annual State of the City address Wednesday, City Manager Michael Spurgeon said it’s his goal to help keep the city in that position. The city will keep working with the Broken Arrow Public Schools, Northeastern State University, the Broken Arrow Chamber and various other stakeholders, he said, “to stay laser focused on meeting the expectations to maintain an environment in our community that does three things.
“One, make sure that we’re a safe and productive city. Number two, a city that supports smart growth. And number three continues to be a community that has the necessary amenities to be a great place to raise a family and to do business.
“I thought long hard about this and I prayed about it. And the vision I have for our community is going to be summed up in one word and that’s prosperity. We want to work every single day to maintain that prosperity we have in our community.”
Spurgeon said doing that begins with a commitment to public safety, keeping the community affordable and providing “great educational opportunities.
“Folks, we’re in the plus column for all of these indicators. So there’s no question this is a great place to raise a family,” he said.
“If we continue to be a prosperous city, it’s going to create meaningful opportunities for employment for folks that live in this community. It will allow citizens to pursue whatever they choose to do. It will help them lead productive lives and it will allow them to build a solid future for their families.
Many residents have expressed concern about the city’s rapid growth will replace its tight-knit suburban character with traffic snarls, increased crime and higher taxes. The city has grown from about 30,000 residents in the early 1980s to more than 120,000, according to the latest estimates.
Spurgeon said he’s cognizant of that challenge, as is city staff.
“We’re still always focused on maintaining that small town feeI. I hear it every single day, the importance of not losing our identity as we grow,” he said, noting Broken Arrow is now the 250th largest city in the U.S. “We’re going to continue to climb because so many people want to be here, they want to live here, they want to work or they want to open businesses here.”
Another positive indicator, he notes, is that despite the economy’s current challenges, new homes are being built, retail projects are popping up and investments are being made in workforce development and supporting entrepreneurs.
In the last 8 years, Broken Arrow’s total assessed value has increased from around $750 million to just under $1.3 billion.
The city plans to start construction next year on the infrastructure for the Innovation District, a mixed-used project designed to bring technologically focused jobs here in addition to providing retail and housing.
The Aspen Ridge and Adams Creek retail developments will bring more shopping and service opportunities to residents, and the New Orleans Square shopping district’s occupancy rate has recovered from 50% several years ago to about 98%.
Perhaps most significantly, Colorado Springs-based entertainment company Notes Live announced it will build a $71.5 million amphitheater just north of the Events Park, which could bring an annual financial impact of $211 million to Broken Arrow.
“While we have been affected by the slowdown of the national economy, the overall financial health and financial condition of Broken Arrow is strong,” Spurgeon said. “Our policy of creating an environment that promotes private investment is working.
Leave a Reply