The Journal Record - Article

Work begins on Cottage District home
by Kelley Chambers
The Journal Record April 7, 2009

OKLAHOMA CITY – Work began Monday on what Bill Lovallo called his crazy idea.


Bill Lovallo and architect Brian Fitzsimmons at the groundbreaking ceremony of Lovallo’s home in the Cottage District. (Photo by Maike Sabolich)

Lovallo proudly stood on a pile of dirt at the top of a hill with a view of the downtown skyline, on what will be 825 NW Seventh St., and thanked about 30 friends and supporters for coming to the site of his future home.But the road was long for Lovallo to go from having no idea that homes were being built in the area dubbed the Cottage District, to a protest by two neighbors on the setback plans for his house, to final approval last month by the Board of Adjustment.

The whole thing began three years ago when Lovallo was having a discussion with a friend over a cup of coffee at the Red Cup on Classen Boulevard.

Gary Hargrave, owner of coffee roaster Prima Café, told Lovallo about new and renovated homes on NW Seventh Street, and the two drove down to have a look.
In the midst of shacks and vacant lots were two homes renovated by architect Randy Floyd and her husband, Michael Smith, and an ultra-modern home built by Brian Fitzsimmons and his wife, TiTi Nguyen.

“It planted an idea in my mind that it would actually be possible to build a house in a neighborhood like this, this close to downtown,” Lovallo said. “From that day that idea really never left my mind.”

Lovallo has lived in a 1925 home in Jefferson Park for decades, but had the idea for a modern urban home in the back of his mind. When he began telling friends about the idea, not everyone thought it was such a good plan. At times Lovallo even questioned the decision to build in an area rife with urban decay.

“There are times I thought, ‘Am I crazy enough to do this?’” he said with a laugh. “And yes, I guess I am.”

A quick look around the neighborhood at the Fitzsimmons and Nguyen home, called Okasian, made Fitzsimmons the obvious choice to design Lovallo’s home.
Fitzsimmons set to work on a design that immediately pleased Lovallo. It drew influence from California and Connecticut case study homes with a nod to modern home designs from the 1950s and 1960s.

All was well until the final design included a cantilevered second level. Jutting out, it drew ire from neighbors Floyd and Smith. The matter came before the Urban Planning Commission late last year.

Floyd contended that while the house was in line with the fronts of others homes on the street, the cantilevered portion would extend eight feet beyond the acceptable setback.
After several rounds of debate the commission approved the plan but Floyd appealed and had it brought before the Board of Adjustment. In March the board denied Floyd’s appeal.

Lovallo said he appreciated the support he received from others in the neighborhood, like Art and Beth Rutledge, even at the beginning of the permitting process.

“I thought ‘this is really, really nice that I’m not even building yet and I’ve got neighbors who are willing to come out and sit there and support what we’re doing here in this neighborhood,’” Lovallo said.

Beth Rutledge, who moved into a renovated 1925 Cottage District home, said she respected Floyd’s passion for historic preservation and her commitment to the neighborhood, even if they did not see eye-to-eye on plans for the Lovallo house.
“As an investor in this neighborhood I couldn’t be happier to see Bill’s vision, this house, and the Cottage District’s momentum taking flight,” she said.

On Monday Floyd and Smith were traveling abroad and unavailable for comment.
Fitzsimmons echoed the admiration for Floyd and Smith, who renovated two hundred-year-old buildings and added two garage apartments to their property.

“Randy and Michael were the true pioneers here,” Fitzsimmons said.
Work began Monday on Lovallo’s 1,730-square-foot home and is set for completion in May 2010.

“It’s a relief to finally be at this point,” Fitzsimmons said. “I’m so glad Bill stuck through the process because not many clients would be willing to go this extra mile to build a house.”