Lofts on Broadway Extension

[metro]

Don't know if anyone has noticed all the advertising and fancy billboards going up throughout the metro or noticed these lofts being constructed off Broadway Extention around 122nd.

Wiredlofts (www.wiredlofts.com) are going up in far North OKC. I think the outside of them is hideous and an eyesore. I am definitely an urban dweller and love lofts but they are in the middle of a field in the far North suburbs. The inside of these lofts is real nice!

[Pete]

I agree they are not very attractive on the outside: Just a big square metal building.

[metro]

They look like an oversized trailer covered in metal flashing.

[Pete]

The concept wouldn't look so bad on the outskirts of downtown.

But I can't imagine putting that on Broadway Ext. & Hefner.

[BDP]

Yeah, that's a weird place to do this. I guess this is for the "I want my place to look cool and urban, but I still want to drive my car 1/4 mile to the 7/11 when I need something" crowd. The rural urbanite

[writerranger]

I agree with everyone here on the exterior look, however, the future plans with the streets, landscaping and "community" is fairly impressive.

The interior look is very nice, no question about that. As for the location, I tend to agree it's a little odd. On the other hand, I can see the argument that these make sense for Oklahoma City and its "car culture." There's nothing "wrong" with wanting to be near a 7-11, a Blockbuster and other retail shops.

Someone said here at OKCTalk not long ago something along the lines of, "Oklahoma City is never going to be a New York - if that's what you want, you might make plans to move." That's actually very practical and realistic advice, and not sarcastic at all (as some might see it). It's just the way it is. Our "urban" atmosphere may very well be not only downtown, but in outlying areas....the potential is huge for developments along the lines of Plano's Legacy. http://www.shopsatlegacy.com/north_side.php
http://www.legacyvillageresidences.com/

-writerranger-

[John]

The property these are located on has been on the market for pretty much as long as I can remember. I'm sure there was some elaborate plan in place that was scrapped after the bust. I remember there being a moat around a billboard with I don't remember what on it.

I guess this new developer liked what he saw in this land, especially with the new projects going on up and down this stretch of Broadway Extention (Sabolich, McBride Ortho Hosp., Surgicenter, Boldt, etc)

I do like the community plan they have in place and I guess we just have to see how it goes. The interior is really cool though. I think there is a market for this 'industrial' type interior in Downtown, perhaps with a grander exterior in the infill area of I-40.

[The Old Downtown Guy]

Yeah, that's a weird place to do this. I guess this is for the "I want my place to look cool and urban, but I still want to drive my car 1/4 mile to the 7/11 when I need something" crowd. The rural urbanite

New term to go along with YUPies, Empty Nesters and DINKs. Rubanites. Perfect name for someone who would pay almost a buck a foot for a corrugated metal box out at Hefner and I-235.

The exterior is pretty bad and I can't find much to like in the interiors either. Wafer-board sheathing, exposed cheapo wood trusses and flue pipe don't remind me much of San Francisco. Don't look for these photos to show up in Met Home or Dwell. All the copy about concrete, stainless steel and cable doesn't overcome the rampant butt-ugliness.

They will probably be full up by the end of summer.

[John]

The front of the units in the picture on their website look okay, but the view you get from Broadway look like manufactured housing you'd see in south OKC.

[Midtowner]

These are pretty nice on the inside. Ideally suited to be bachelor pads. I wouldn't try living there unless I were single. They're far too open to allow personal space IMHO.

I've seen a couple different configurations there.

Also, whoever said that the parking configuration was unique was incorrect. The 5th (6th?) street lofts also let you park in front of your door.

[Patrick]

These lofts might be well suited for UCO students.

[Midtowner]

UCO students? Maybe rich UCO students. These lofts are occupied by a lot of young professional-type people.

[writerranger]

UCO students? Maybe rich UCO students. These lofts are occupied by a lot of young professional-type people.

Mid, I think you're probably right. I didn't see any prices - did I miss them? Of course, we can assume they're not cheap.

[Pete]

Regarding the orginal plans for Broadway & Hefner, I was the commercial real estate broker for something called Four Corners, a mix-used development for all four corners of that intersection that was to include office and retail.

We held a big kick-off bash at Quail Creek and Peter Graves emceed.

This was in the mid-80's and we could never get it off the ground. What little development there was ended up going to the Quail Springs area.

[BDP]

There's nothing "wrong" with wanting to be near a 7-11, a Blockbuster and other retail shops.

Of course not. We just have that type of living ad nasueum.

Someone said here at OKCTalk not long ago something along the lines of, "Oklahoma City is never going to be a New York - if that's what you want, you might make plans to move." That's actually very practical and realistic advice, and not sarcastic at all.

But it is VERY short sighted. No one is trying to turn OKC into Manhattan. But many want to see some aspects of the urban experience offered to potential OKC residents and to the young educated work force that tends to like to live in cities, especially early in their careers. No one is trying to reinvent the city. Many are just trying to broaden its appeal as a place to live and work and start a life.

OKC has and will continue to have driving to 7/11 friendly developments. What it doesn't have is walking to 7-11 friendly developments. I don't know why so many miss this point, but it does hurt the city's general development, as well as the recruitment of employers and employees simply because we can not even muster a small percentage of urban living. Doing so would NEVER be at the expense of our ample suburban living that's currently available. It would be IN ADDITION TO that housing mix. It would be an improvement not a replacement.

For those who smugly suggest that anyone wanting urban living should just leave Oklahoma City, why can't they just accept that even if Oklahoma City had some urban living, they wouldn't have to live there. That sentiment is also very unproductive in terms of growing Oklahoma City and strengthening our competitive position in attracting a diversified work force in order to foster and support a diversified economy.

Truth is, many young college graduates pick a city first, based on lifestyle, and then find a job. How does it help Oklahoma City to not have an urban living option for those that want it. In fact, with Oklahoma City's vital suburbs and relatively non-existent commute times, a small mix of 3-5% of real urban living would be perfect. This way one could have the urban lifestyle that's attractive to young workers and, in the back of their minds, they'd know that the suburban option would still be there for them if they wanted and it wouldn't come with a 2 hour commute. You could sell the city on BOTH fronts. How many cities can do that? Hopefully, one day soon we will.

[writerranger]

For those who smugly suggest that anyone wanting urban living should just leave Oklahoma City, why can't they just accept that even if Oklahoma City had some urban living, they wouldn't have to live there. That sentiment is also very unproductive in terms of growing Oklahoma City and strengthening our competitive position in attracting a diversified work force in order to foster and support a diversified economy.

BDP,

I think you missed the last part of my post you were commenting about. I said that we might very well find some of our "urban" developments away from the downtown core. I even pointed to Legacy and offered links as an example. I don't disagree with you on this. But, those expecting that all future development that has an edge to it take place downtown will be sorely disappointed. In our car culture the future will look more like "urban outposts" ala Legacy in addition to downtown development. That's what I meant by it's Oklahoma City - not New York City. It isn't a smug or sarcastic thing to suggest that someone wanting the huge urban core of a large city as a place to live should look elsewhere. It is practical advice. If that is truly important to them, the only logical thing to do is to find a suitable large city and make it home as they probably will not find it here for a very long time - if at all.

[dj_ango]

No one is trying to reinvent the city.

Are you sure...

http://www.reinventokc.om

[Uptown]

Are you sure...

http://www.reinventokc.om

Yup, we're sure. Click the link. Nothing comes up. LOL!

[sweetdaisy]

Mid, I think you're probably right. I didn't see any prices - did I miss them? Of course, we can assume they're not cheap.

Writerranger, there is a tab that says "Amenities/Rates". $1125/month, but you get a FREE gym membership!!!

Seriously, the places are close to 1200 sqft, offer 2 car garages, and there are many amenities most apartments don't offer...probably not that bad of a deal if you have a roommate.

I think they're really ugly, though.

[John]

Are you sure...

http://www.reinventokc.om

www.reinventokc.com

you forgot the 'c' in com

[OULOri]

Okay so I had to join this board because of all the talk here. I am the property manager for Wired Lofts, and granted I know they do not look the greatest at the moment but they are " under construction" and yes we are almost full with phase one. By spring of next year we will have several more of these buildings. Plus a top of the line gym and pool and club house. And no the "elite" do not live here. We have several who are just starting out on their own with a roommate. I also do have young married couples and a few kiddos. We are different than most complexes. One we do accept pets no size limit. As long as they are quiet. Also the phone is answered by a live person 24 hours a day and you get to skip the answering machine that you get at other apartments. The owner had a vision and he isn’t sitting on the beach somewhere He is actually out there building along with the construction crew. And he actually cares for the residents that reside there, something you probably wouldn’t find somewhere else. And to answer the question of the vast field. All has been bought Delta Dental is putting their new corporate offices right in front of the building and we have the field on the north side. Also there are plans for a shopping center directly north of our complex. We also have deals with silver horn golf course for our tenants and have community mixer's to meet your neighbors and discuss anything you want to with the staff. I have lived in several apartments during my single years and I can truly say if Wired Lofts was around when I was looking I would have lived there. And tot hose of you say we are ugly take another look at the website.

Thank you

Lori Downs

[Pete]

Welcome to the board Lori and thanks for the update.

Here's a picture from the website, and it does look much better than the under construction pix:

[Patrick]

Hate to be negative, but the pics make it look like a glorified trailor park.

[metro]

Welcome to the website Lori. I don't think anyone was bashing the owner or management for there management styles however. Most were just upset with the design and such. You're approach seems awful combative as a property manager. There are a lot of potential renters on this site, you might want to be more informative and less combative/defensive although I'm sure it's hard at times.

FYI for those who thought www.reinventokc.com was for this project, it's actually for the Maywood Park brownstones downtown.

[jbrown84]

I agree very ugly. Particle board walls???

I like the community design idea of it though.

Speaking of "urban outposts", I think this new development on 2nd street between Coltrane and Bryant in Edmond, The Falls, seems to be one of those. It's retail and townhomes in a community/village type setting.