The East Village District represents an earlier phase of our work, focused on community building, identity, and place-making in downtown Tulsa.
Rather than a development initiative, this effort centered on organizing residents and business owners, establishing a shared identity, and supporting the growth of a connected, active district.
Located on the east side of downtown Tulsa, the East Village District has long served as a transition point between commercial, residential, and cultural areas of the city.
At the time this work began, the area had strong potential but lacked a unified identity and coordinated effort among stakeholders. Creating that alignment was key to supporting long term growth and visibility.
In 2013, GuRuStu helped organize the East Village District Association, bringing together local business owners and residents to form a consistent, community-led voice for the area.
This work included:
These efforts helped define the district and position it as a recognizable and active part of downtown Tulsa.
GuRuStu continues to maintain a presence in the district, with offices located within East Village.
The district remains an example of how coordinated identity, organization, and consistent engagement can contribute to long term growth and activity within an urban area.
While our work today is more focused on housing and neighborhood development, the East Village District reflects an important part of our foundation.
It demonstrates the role that identity, collaboration, and community involvement play in shaping places over time.
Downtown Tulsa’s East Village District is affectionately referred to as “the sunny side of downtown” for its geographical location and sunny disposition. In 2013, GuRuStu helped organize the East Village District Association, comprised of local business owners and residential members within the district’s community. Since the association’s inception, GuRuStu has generated a unique logo and identity for the district, establishing it as a key location within downtown Tulsa.
The burgeoning East Village District is a welcoming community of businesses and residents on the east side of downtown Tulsa who collectively work to improve and beautify the area. Meetings for the East Village District Association are held on the 3rd Tuesday of each month. GuRuStu’s founder, Stuart McDaniel is the president of the association.
GuRuStu designed the logo for the East Village District and implemented the phrase, “the sunny side of downtown Tulsa” as its tagline to capture the bright and happy atmosphere of the community.
Stuart McDaniel, principal at GuRuStu helped organize the first official meeting to form the East Village District Association in 2013. That meeting was held at the newly renovated American Theatre Company with over 80 community members attending. Today, the E.V.D.A. meets on the 3rd Tuesday of each month to discuss developments, improvements and upcoming events within the district.