But are the neon signs pretty?

100 block of NW 15th is about 15 blocks from the Homeland store at 19th and Classen. That's not across the street, but not far. If one had to walk it, it would be a walk through a great neighborhood of historic homes, lush with trees. If one is going to drive, it would be a shorter drive than many in the suburbs endure for milk and eggs.

And there will, eventually, be something closer than the Homeland, perhaps in the Block 42 area (say, NE 5th or 6th west of I-235). There are C-stores along 23rd.

(The neon signs? What few we have, yes.)

Of course during the day the Homeland at 19th is a bit rough but at night its a little more dicey ... some of the "folks" hangin there are not just the down on your luck types but some hardcore street toughs...the same kinda folks the beautiful neighborhoods have hired private security and off duty cops to patrol for protection against. I wouldnt want my sister walking it at night.

Well I live in garage apartment in Lincoln Terrace (at NE 16th & Lincoln), and downtown is only 5-10 mins away by bicycle, as is the Homeland.

As for the Homeland being rough... I think that's kinda laughable. The rentacops over there are just because rich folks are paranoid and scared of poor folks. That part of town is one of the safest parts of OKC.

But seriously as for the downtown living business, I don't know any of the artsy type folks who can afford to live in real close. (Deep Deuce so far has mostly medical students and rich college kids and yuppies) I do know lots of broke young folks like myself though who live between the NW 23rd and Paseo, and there are tons of great place to live east of Lincoln Terrace. (which btw is a very safe part of OKC... the fear of NE OKC is mostly just the residue of racism and classism)

I agree with J.M. that much fear of the NE is because of those issues but the problems of the area around lower Classen are not imagined ... I worked in an organization co-located with Catholic Charities and had my car broken into twice during the day at work again at the Homeland and was accosted by two men outside the Homeland during the early evening that wanted "what I had in the bag" ... suffice it to say they didnt get it but they did get a really BIG suprise. They left on foot in high gear. The Dollar Store down the street was the scene of a brawl in which a shoplifter confronted by security brandished a knife all within 2 feet of me during the day. I come out of my office and find someone going through my car for "something they could use" ... All this in a 2 week period within a month of my coming on board. I'm not afraid mind you of the area and think the violent crime rate is not "abnormally" high and is probably statistically lower than some other areas but anecdotally speaking the incident rate for low level street crime and petty burglary, theft, and vandalism is higher there than I would wish for. The community environmental "hassle" factor (having to always lock everything up, watch your property constantly, and navigate the constant and aggressive panhandlers) and accompanying "intimidation" factor is high. There is no law or should be in my opinion that someone has the right to have a completely "hassle free" life but these factors do play in the overall happiness and contentment scale and hassle comes in many forms and is not usually limited by race but sometimes class. I have been in that area day and night eating, working, and walking in the neighborhood so my experience is different than yours but it still happened. So I have a different opinion and experience ...