http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/MestaPark/mestapark_logo.jpg

For those of you interested in knowing more about Mesta Park or seeing more of it, I've completed a lengthy 2 article post on it ... a little history and a lot of pics.

Link: Doug Dawgz Blog: Mesta Park (http://dougdawg.blogspot.com/2007/10/mesta-park.html)

The "Tour" part of the articles contain more than 150 images ... too many to post here ... but here are a few (unfortunately, I have located just a few "vintage" images but a few are in the article).

The Tour Area and Route:

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/MestaPark/mestaroutes.jpg

A Few NW 16th Street pics, small version:

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/MestaPark/mestapark_nw16th_03s.jpg

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/MestaPark/mestapark_nw16th_04s.jpg

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/MestaPark/mestapark_nw16th_13s.jpg

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/MestaPark/mestapark_nw16th_15s.jpg

This is Perle Mesta's home for 1 to 2 years before she left to go to college
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/MestaPark/mestapark_nw16th_16cs.jpg

A Few NW 17th Street pics, small version:

Mayor Edward Overholser's home
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/MestaPark/mestapark_nw17th_20s.jpg

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/MestaPark/mestapark_nw17th_15s.jpg

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/MestaPark/mestapark_nw17th_14s.jpg

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/MestaPark/mestapark_nw17th_13s.jpg

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/MestaPark/mestapark_nw17th_06s.jpg

A Few NW 18th Street pics, small version:

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/MestaPark/mestapark_nw18th_03s.jpg

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/MestaPark/mestapark_nw18th_09s.jpg

This is where the trolley ran on NW 18th toward Classen
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/MestaPark/mestapark_nw18th_02bs.jpg

My Favorite ... just right for today!
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/MestaPark/mestapark_nw18th_02as.jpg

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/MestaPark/mestapark_nw18th_02s.jpg

Always a neighborhood favorite
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/MestaPark/mestapark_shartel_01s.jpg

A couple of views from Mesta Park's Park

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/MestaPark/mestapark_08s.jpg

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/MestaPark/mestapark_04s.jpg

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/MestaPark/mestapark_05s.jpg

Some small images on NW 19th

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/MestaPark/mestapark_nw19th_13s.jpg

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/MestaPark/mestapark_nw19th_11s.jpg

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/MestaPark/mestapark_nw19th_08s.jpg

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/MestaPark/mestapark_nw19th_04as.jpg

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/MestaPark/mestapark_nw19th_03s.jpg

Some on NW 20th

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/MestaPark/mestapark_nw20th_15s.jpg

Uh, Oh! This one needs some serious affection!
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/MestaPark/mestapark_nw20th_11s.jpg

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/MestaPark/mestapark_nw20th_09s.jpg

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/MestaPark/mestapark_nw20th_06s.jpg

It doesn't have to be "big" to be nice!
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/MestaPark/mestapark_nw20th_02s.jpg

On NW 21st

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/MestaPark/mestapark_nw21st_01s.jpg

An unusual art deco home
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/MestaPark/mestapark_nw21st_03s.jpg

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/MestaPark/mestapark_nw21st_04s.jpg

A fairly weird 2003 home (somehow getting approval despite historical district requirements)
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/MestaPark/mestapark_nw21st_07ns.jpg

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/MestaPark/mestapark_nw21st_11s.jpg

On NW 22nd (Robinson to Walker, though not part of University Addition, is part of Mesta Park)

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/MestaPark/mestapark_nw22nd_01s.jpg

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/MestaPark/mestapark_nw22nd_02s.jpg

Approaching Western
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/MestaPark/mestapark_nw22nd_14s.jpg

This neat 1904 Sanborn Map shows Oklahoma City in these days ...

Larger: http://www.dougloudenback.com/misc/sanborn1904_index_large.jpg
Really Larger: http://www.dougloudenback.com/misc/sanborn1904_index_verylarge.jpg

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/MestaPark/sanborn1904_indexs.jpg

Edited to correct "larger" and "really larger" map links

Awesome, Doug!

There are still good housing values in that area, too.

It's one of my favorite places in all of OKC.

Thanks, Maiibu!

My wife and I have a friend who is a young professional woman ... 25 or so ... she picked up a very charming small (1,140 sq ft) 1922 house on NW 22nd for about $80K about a month ago which included a new roof ... I think she got a very nice deal. The hardwood floors are all in good shape and it has nice built-in bookcases surrounding a fake fireplace like most of the houses built in that period do. It's very nice for a single person or a couple ... yeah, there are some items which need attention ... kitchen appliances come to mind ... but at the price she paid they become more affordable and you can do them the way you like. I truly do enjoy living in this neighborhood.

A fairly weird 2003 home (somehow getting approval despite historical district requirements)

Actually Doug, I consider this house to be a good example of a new, modest, contemporary home in an established neighborhood. And, an example of how the OKC Historic Preservation District Ordinance benefits neighborhoods by providing an effective process by which new, well designed, high quality, modern homes can be constructed along side existing houses in historic neighborhoods.

The design of this house went through numerous revisions over a period of almost a year before it finally received a CA from the HP Commission. It has corten steel siding which has now developed the rusty patina resembling the rich red brick color of many Mesta Park homes, exactly as the architect planned. The size, shape and arrangement of the windows is in keeping with that of the other homes in the area. The set backs maintain the rythum along the street. The simple pich-roofed and unornamented front facade is reminissient of the Federal style, which is found in Mesta and surrounding neighborhoods. Look at the similarities in design to the house in the photo just below it. Also, the interior is very well done. Lots of custom millwork, bookcases etc. were designed and built by the original architect/owner. Overall, a good design for a new house in an historic neigborhood . . . it's not necessary to build a replica of an historic house to fit in. It was on the home tour a couple of years back. Unfortunately, the delapidated sidewalks wern't replaced during construction and appropriate street trees have not been planted. But, overall, I like it a lot.

Also, resulting from the OKC HP process, several new bungulow style homes have been built in Jefferson Park, Paseo and a couple in Heritage East, and they work also, but don't add the same excitment to to the block that this house does.

I shudder to think what might have been built on some of these vacant lots had there not been a well established design review process. There are several examples of totally out of character houses plopped down in Jefferson Park, Edgemere Park and Mesta Park prior to their becoming Historic Districts. The HP process isn't perfect, but it has certainly proven to be a fabulous economic development engine in OKC. Very little of the tens of millions of dollars that have been poured into these historic homes would have taken place without the protection of the OKC HP Ordinance.

The Mesta Park Tour is a wonderful way to spend a fall afternoon in OKC

Thanks for the explanation, ODTG ... but ... I still am of a mind to say that the house looks weird!!! to Doug Dawgz eyes ... as in strange, funny lookin' and such kinds of things. Looks like it would be a good fort, though! :dizzy: Now, I'm not complaining, cause I might even be weird myself, say some! The house doesn't bother me in the least, though ... I see diversity as a good thing.

I'm putting together flash video with the small (490 px wide) pics ... background music is Ravel's Bolero ... wish I could think of something turn-of-the-century-ish ... can you suggest something more appropriate?

I would love to buy an old house in Mesta Park or Heritage Hills and reform it. It's on my to do list. :) Great neighborhoods.

. . . . I'm putting together flash video with the small (490 px wide) pics ... background music is Ravel's Bolero ... wish I could think of something turn-of-the-century-ish ... can you suggest something more appropriate?

That first section of Bolero is really quiet, so you might need to crank the volume to get much of a sound level in the beginning, but I like your choice. If something else comes to mind, I'll let you know.

That's great, Doug. Thanks.

I like that modern house, too. It's a stark contrast to the other homes but with the same general proportions, styling and setback. I would say it's a tad weird but would also live there. The owner doesn't keep the grounds up very well, though. So in synopsis, exactly what old.D.T.G said.

That first section of Bolero is really quiet, so you might need to crank the volume to get much of a sound level in the beginning, but I like your choice. If something else comes to mind, I'll let you know.
I've added the video ... I used Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata, Mozart's Piano Concerto #21 and an orchestral version of Russ Ballard's Since You've Been Gone (to pep things up toward the end) as background music. Run time is about 15 minutes.

A lady from Chicago left a nice comment:


Wow! The architecture is unique and beautiful. They look like homes that could fit right in my native Chicago or even other places I have been to like Staten Island, NY and Cleveland, Ohio. Custom built, old but well maintained.

Anyone know more about the Art Deco home? It looks like it has been leased out.
We always walk past this place with our dog and I always always think this would make a great coffee shop for Mesta Park.

OKCCrime

---
Oklahoma City Crime - Crime Maps, Reports and Statistics (http://okccrime.com)

Anyone know more about the Art Deco home? It looks like it has been leased out.
We always walk past this place with our dog and I always always think this would make a great coffee shop for Mesta Park.

OKCCrime

---
Oklahoma City Crime - Crime Maps, Reports and Statistics (http://okccrime.com)
The County Assessor shows this property to be a duplex built in 1938 with 2,696 square feet ... Leonard Sullivan Oklahoma County Assessor Real Property Detail Sheet (http://www.oklahomacounty.org/assessor/Searches/AN-R.asp?ACCOUNTNO=R045002457) ...

^^ It is owned by an architect , I believe, he and his family own nearly a dozen porperties all in Mesta Park, and all are investment properties.

Anyone know more about the Art Deco home? It looks like it has been leased out.
We always walk past this place with our dog and I always always think this would make a great coffee shop for Mesta Park.

OKCCrime

---
Oklahoma City Crime - Crime Maps, Reports and Statistics (http://okccrime.com)


^^ It is owned by an architect , I believe, he and his family own nearly a dozen porperties all in Mesta Park, and all are investment properties.

Thnx for the pointer to the assessors page.

They bought it for 59k in 2004! Wow. The thing looks like a castle. I was figuring it was worth much much more. I know... location is everything.


OkCcrime.

Anyone know more about the Art Deco home? It looks like it has been leased out.
We always walk past this place with our dog and I always always think this would make a great coffee shop for Mesta Park.

OKCCrime

---
Oklahoma City Crime - Crime Maps, Reports and Statistics (http://okccrime.com)

Yes, that house is a duplex as mentioned previously. My aunt actually lived there a couple of years ago and it was adorable. She had the side with that rounded window. Her side was a two bedroom with a fairly large living area. My aunt loves decorating and she had the inside of it looking like something out of a decorating magazine. I loved that place.

we lived off 17th for a few months after moving back from texas and i LOVED the area!!! can't wait to get back!!

Doug,

You might want to research this piece of history on the corner of 18th and Shartel. It is the MOST visited location in all of Mesta Park, by dogs :)

http://thirtysixthspan.com/jack/IMG_0735_sm.JPG

Okccrime

----

Oklahoma City Crime - Crime Maps, Reports and Statistics (http://okccrime.com)

Doug,

You might want to research this piece of history on the corner of 18th and Shartel. It is the MOST visited location in all of Mesta Park, by dogs :)

http://thirtysixthspan.com/jack/IMG_0735_sm.JPG

Okccrime

----

Oklahoma City Crime - Crime Maps, Reports and Statistics (http://okccrime.com)
When I can, I'll see if there is an inscription or some other historic marker at the base! Thanks for the heads up! :bright_id