The traffic configuration at 15th Street and Lewis Avenue has changed little over the years. However, the surrounding business landscape has changed drastically. In 1989, the former Massad’s and Apollo Delman Theater (northwest corner) were demolished, and the site later became a Walgreen’s. The old Safeway on the southwest corner closed and later was replaced with an Office Depot. The southeast corner has lost its Circle K (previously UtoteM), as that store/gas station is gone. The northeast corner now has a Reasor’s Grocery store, and the former Impressions Restaurant is gone. To the south, a 2012 fire at Barnard Elementary school destroyed the building. A large sycamore tree that once stood near the Apollo Delman also is gone. The intersection itself has had some changes over the years. Left turns now are banned at all hours for eastbound traffic, and the mechanized westbound no-left-turn sign has been replaced with a no-left-turn sign that bans left turns from 7 to 9 a.m. and 4 to 6 p.m. The northbound no-left-turn sign has been removed, as has the southbound left-turn median (now outlined with a double yellow line). Photograph taken August 21, 2014.
DEVELOPING TULSA: THE AUSTIN HELLWIG COLLECTION
