SoSA District

[Spartan]

I'm glad they're rebuilding the alley's, but why does City of OKC ALWAYS skip over helping out Classen Glen Downtown's first and an established condo community? It boggles me they won't help improve sidewalks, street lighting, or now the alleyways? This is a concentration of 48 condo units that are ALREADY occupied versus just priming the pump to develop these vacant or neglected house lots, that are most likely to be occupied by single owner tenants.

Sorry maybe they should rebuild your sidewalk next rather than entice more development.

[betts]

Have you talked to Meg Salyer about it? I'd start with my city councilwoman.

[metro]

Have you talked to Meg Salyer about it? I'd start with my city councilwoman.

Been trying her and Mick for over 8 years. The council doesn't appear interested in west downtown

[metro]

Sorry maybe they should rebuild your sidewalk next rather than entice more development.

You're all about walkability, are you suggesting the City of OKC SHOULDN'T make a larger, existing development in a key area of development more walkable as to help prime additional development in a hot area versus rebuilding alleyways? Heck if DOKC/Spokies would install a rack in the area, they'd have over 100+ riders instantly. Talk about a bump in walkability/urbanity in an up and coming area of west downtown.

FYI, not previously reported but Classen Glen passed a $300K special assessment last summer (over a 3 year period) to overhaul the exterior with new siding and paint scheme. On the far east portion you can already see some of the new paint job (It's a two tone grey scheme - light/dark) versus the old and very ugly flaking white paint and baby blue. The grey should blend in very nicely with all the modern concrete and stainless steel homes already in SoSA.

[wsucougz]

FYI, not previously reported but Classen Glen passed a $300K special assessment last summer (over a 3 year period) to overhaul the exterior with new siding and paint scheme. On the far east portion you can already see some of the new paint job (It's a two tone grey scheme - light/dark) versus the old and very ugly flaking white paint and baby blue. The grey should blend in very nicely with all the modern concrete and stainless steel homes already in SoSA.

Sounds pretty good. Mind posting a pic for the out-of-towners at some point?

[Spartan]

You're all about walkability, are you suggesting the City of OKC SHOULDN'T make a larger, existing development in a key area of development more walkable as to help prime additional development in a hot area versus rebuilding alleyways? Heck if DOKC/Spokies would install a rack in the area, they'd have over 100+ riders instantly. Talk about a bump in walkability/urbanity in an up and coming area of west downtown.

FYI, not previously reported but Classen Glen passed a $300K special assessment last summer (over a 3 year period) to overhaul the exterior with new siding and paint scheme. On the far east portion you can already see some of the new paint job (It's a two tone grey scheme - light/dark) versus the old and very ugly flaking white paint and baby blue. The grey should blend in very nicely with all the modern concrete and stainless steel homes already in SoSA.

I'm with you, I just had to point out your self interest is all. I think Classen needs some major focus. It would do more for changing perceptions than anything.

[ljbab728]

I'm with you, I just had to point out your self interest is all.

Why?

[metro]

I'm with you, I just had to point out your self interest is all. I think Classen needs some major focus. It would do more for changing perceptions than anything.

I agree, Classen Blvd. should be OKC's premiere boulevard, not Mayor McCheese's "grandiose" vision of "Oklahoma City Boulevard in Oklahoma City Oklahoma" that is nothing but an unglorified version of the old elevated I-40 and does nothing but disrupt the excellent street grid we now have back in place. Classen Boulevard was DESIGNED to be a REAL BOULEVARD, we should give it the attention it deserves. Once the City of OKC does something about Classen streetscaping, and helps invest/promote SoSA area, Downtown will be seamless within it's official boundaries.

[metro]

Sounds pretty good. Mind posting a pic for the out-of-towners at some point?

You got it, I will get one up in next few days.

[Spartan]

I agree, Classen Blvd. should be OKC's premiere boulevard, not Mayor McCheese's "grandiose" vision of "Oklahoma City Boulevard in Oklahoma City Oklahoma" that is nothing but an unglorified version of the old elevated I-40 and does nothing but disrupt the excellent street grid we now have back in place. Classen Boulevard was DESIGNED to be a REAL BOULEVARD, we should give it the attention it deserves. Once the City of OKC does something about Classen streetscaping, and helps invest/promote SoSA area, Downtown will be seamless within it's official boundaries.

I agree but the one caveat to that is I just think one advantage SoSA has that has led to the creative emergence is the fact that the city isn't promoting it. But, perhaps someday SoSA can be as great as C2S has become with just the last ten years of City Hall action and talk...

[LakeEffect]

i agree, classen blvd. Should be okc's premiere boulevard, not mayor mccheese's "grandiose" vision of "oklahoma city boulevard in oklahoma city oklahoma" that is nothing but an unglorified version of the old elevated i-40 and does nothing but disrupt the excellent street grid we now have back in place. Classen boulevard was designed to be a real boulevard, we should give it the attention it deserves. Once the city of okc does something about classen streetscaping, and helps invest/promote sosa area, downtown will be seamless within it's official boundaries.

nm

[dwellsokc]

The "creative" aspect of SoSA is starting to be shared with the "let's make some money" aspect. SoSA started organically, with architects looking for a place to exercise design freedom close to the CBD. They wanted to live there, to be part of the blossoming downtown. It wasn’t a planned resurgence… it was more of an accident.

Freedom of design resulted with edgy, cool buildings that had never before been seen together in OKC. Some people hated it, some thought it was odd, and some loved it. Eventually it became clear that a trend was occurring, and like vultures circling a carcass, in came the realtors and speculators… “Let’s build cool stuff and make money!”

But guess what? Realtors and speculators can’t do cool. Cool takes passion and an esthetic sense. It takes a passion for wanting to be there. Their passion is making a buck. They’d rather spend a little, and gain a lot. I think that’s a careless motive.

Witness the likes of 802 NW 8th.

[kjones]

Witness the likes of 802 NW 8th.

Well said. Would add property 815 NW 8th.

[Urbanized]

I can't speak to the quality (or lack thereof) of the renovation of 802 NW 8th, but giving them the benefit of the doubt that it will be a well-done renovation taking the building back to its historic state, are you saying that is now unacceptable in SoSa?

It would be sad to think that quality old buildings could not peacefully co-exist alongside interesting modern architecture. I think the eclectic building stock contributes to the neighborhood's charm. Are you suggesting the building should be be dramatically altered or re-skinned to resemble its modern neighbors, or perhaps it should be torn down and replaced? That would echo mistakes from the 1950s and 1960s that we are only now correcting in places like Automobile Alley and Film Row.

Seems a bit close-minded and one-dimensional if that is what you mean.

[warreng88]

Someone help me understand what is so wrong about someone going in, fixing up a corner property that is an eyesore and renting it back out to make a little money. It increases the value of the homes around it and makes a building that was in terrible condition better. Is it because everyone is doing it and you wanted people who were going to fix it up to live there and increase popularity? Help me out here.

[Pete]

The "creative" aspect of SoSA is starting to be shared with the "let's make some money" aspect. SoSA started organically, with architects looking for a place to exercise design freedom close to the CBD. They wanted to live there, to be part of the blossoming downtown. It wasn’t a planned resurgence… it was more of an accident.

Freedom of design resulted with edgy, cool buildings that had never before been seen together in OKC. Some people hated it, some thought it was odd, and some loved it. Eventually it became clear that a trend was occurring, and like vultures circling a carcass, in came the realtors and speculators… “Let’s build cool stuff and make money!”

But guess what? Realtors and speculators can’t do cool. Cool takes passion and an esthetic sense. It takes a passion for wanting to be there. Their passion is making a buck. They’d rather spend a little, and gain a lot. I think that’s a careless motive.

Witness the likes of 802 NW 8th.

Didn't you just flip a lot in SoSA for substantial profit?

Don't mean that as a snarky comment, just trying to understand where you are coming from.

[Urbanized]

Oh, snap.

[AP]

Didn't you just flip a lot in SoSA for substantial profit?

Don't mean that as a snarky comment, just trying to understand where you are coming from.

+++++1

[Urbanized]

Regarding 802 NW 8th, is there some indication that it is being done in a below standard manner, or is the objection purely that a 100+ year old building is not being radically altered to match the prevailing style of this particular moment in time?

[Pete]

To clarify my earlier point, 809 NW 7th was bought in 2012 for $67,000 and sold for $140,000 less than two years later, after asking $170K.

[Rover]

It is simple.

I make profits because I am smart, have vision, work hard and should be handsomely rewarded. You make profits because you are an evil profiteer who believes in money over people.

Sometimes on this board there is a COMPLETE lack of understand and appreciation of the role of capitalism in the development of our societal interests, and it seems especially when it comes to real estate development.

[LakeEffect]

[warreng88]

Regarding 802 NW 8th, is there some indication that it is being done in a below standard manner, or is the objection purely that a 100+ year old building is not being radically altered to match the prevailing style of this particular moment in time?

That is what I would like to know. Thanks for so elegantly asking the question.

[AP]

Slightly different topic, but we were talking in another SOSA thread. What exactly are the boundaries of SOSA?

[warreng88]

Slightly different topic, but we were talking in another SOSA thread. What exactly are the boundaries of SOSA?

Yeah, this is definitely the place to post this. I would say 6th to 10th and Classen to Shartel are where the most activity is happening but it probably spans further east at least to Dewey, if not Walker. Otherwise it is SAWOSA (South and West of Saint Anthony's).