LOFT401, can we get some pics yet?

I checked into getting one of these awhile back. They told me they would be completed by August 2010. I'm glad I didn't buy, at least on that bit of information, because it doesn't look like they'll be completed until August 2011.

Please check out our facebook page for updated photos... With the blog down a while ago we haven't been checking in. But we're back, and construction is fully underway. Hope to see some of you guys at our tailgate tomorrow at 541 S. University, in Campus Corner.

Great to see this project going forward!

I saw they recently tore down some houses on Monnett, near Duffy, it looks like the same group (but not the 401 Loft group) owns about 6 adjacent houses on what would be a sizable lot. Maybe 401 Lofts is about to get a trend started? Just speculation on my part.

I was told about the pending demolition of homes in this area in the fall of 2009. This person told me they would be building apartments. I am curious to know more about when and what type of apartments they might be building.
The entire area south of Duffy, east of Monnet and north of Boyd seems very ripe for demolition and reconstruction. If they are selling folks on the idea that this area/location is within walking distance of various amenities I sure hope the old sidewalks in this entire area get reconstructed.

Eventually I could see OU trying to buy up any land they can south of Boyd, east of Jenkins all the way to Brooks

Eventually I could see OU trying to buy up any land they can south of Boyd, east of Jenkins all the way to Brooks

That would be smart because if a commuter rail line is built from OKC there will likely be a station at either Boyd or Brooks. Denser residential development is perfect for that area, with OU main campus expansion taking place on the parking lots along Jenkins from Boyd to Lindsey.

I just drove down Monnet and the area in question just south of Duffy on the east side of Monnet is in the early stages of building a foundation footing, but I couldn’t tell much more than that.


As I drove by the 401 lofts looked like they have the first floor of concrete mostly built but they still have a lot of work left to do.
Ironically a train passed by as I was there.
I like spending time outdoors, this would be way too noisy for my taste.

That would be smart because if a commuter rail line is built from OKC there will likely be a station at either Boyd or Brooks. Denser residential development is perfect for that area, with OU main campus expansion taking place on the parking lots along Jenkins from Boyd to Lindsey.

OU should consider buying up the property in this area as it naturally becomes available. They could rent out the property using a property management CO. until they have enough land to build parking lots and buildings. OU could eventually donate this or other nearby land for a commuter rail station

How are there no updates on this project in over 9 months?!? This is maybe the most exciting project in Norman b/c there is nothing like it in town...

Hopefully there will be more projects like this in the campus area.

I have heard there is a proposal for similar condos to be built where the athletic dorms are currently at Lindsey & Jenkins once the Sooner Center is finished across the street. A tower would be built on that site with a hotel and condos. I haven't seen anything official though.

Hopefully there will be more projects like this in the campus area.

I have heard there is a proposal for similar condos to be built where the athletic dorms are currently at Lindsey & Jenkins once the Sooner Center is finished across the street. A tower would be built on that site with a hotel and condos. I haven't seen anything official though.

Would the University own them? A tower in that location would do awesome! With that location, they could charge anything they want during football weekends. That would be awesome.

Construction is going on rather rapidly on the 401 Lofts, they look finished from the outside, I don't know about the inside though. The other day they were finishing making the driveway and parking areas.

Would the University own them? A tower in that location would do awesome! With that location, they could charge anything they want during football weekends. That would be awesome.

I think it would be great for OU retired alums who want to live in Norman near the (particularly the stadium)but don't want hassle of house, etc. There are plenty of alums who could afford premium prices.

I think it would be great for OU retired alums who want to live in Norman near the (particularly the stadium)but don't want hassle of house, etc. There are plenty of alums who could afford premium prices.

Agree. Lots of other college towns already have these types of developments.

And college towns in general are great for retirees because they are usually so walkable with tons of cultural, social and athletic events.

I know Boren really sees the importance of keeping alums close, so I'm sure this will eventually happen.

There will probably be a few wealthy OU people who buy into the lofts so they will have a place to stay during OU events.
I have always thought that a small but high end hotel would do well if it was located very near campus and within
walking distance of campus corner.

I heard the location of the old Parkview Apartments (across from the duck pond) was going to be an alum/retiree community.

Well I haven't checked in here for a while but thought I'd let everyone know we have closings scheduled starting for at the end of next week! Residents will enjoy the fantastic amenities and finishes of LOFT401 very soon. We invite anyone to call us to schedule a tour of the project... We will of course be around on game days as well if you'd like to drop by. The interior of the project is even better than the exterior! Feel free to call us at (405) 249-4442 or visit our website at www.LOFT401.com

A woman I teach with at Westmoore has a sister that is closing on one of the units on the top floor. She/they are very excited about closing and getting in.

The Lofts look nice, but there is no way I would live there. They are practically sitting on the BNSF mainline. I know they say they have put sound dampening in to help abate the train noise, but I cannot believe it would help that much. There are dozens of trains through there every day, all hours of the day. Being right there by a major crossing, the trains will be blowing their horns and then the roar of the engines will be so loud. I office in the Norman Financial Center, (formally the Vista Building, or as I like to call it...The Leaning Tower of Vista) and I hear every train that comes through town as they cross Gray and then Main. And we are about 2 blocks away. I cannot imagine what it will be like sitting right there on the tracks.

I've just never found train noise to be a big deal. I lived about 1/3rd of a block from where the Lofts are and I never woke up once because of the train going through. But I'm also a deep sleeper.

I'm a block and a half from the main N/S Union Pacific line that runs through Austin and I rarely hear the trains, even the horns and I am not the deep sleeper that I used to be. I lived in the east end of one of the duplexes by Danforth & Fretz and really only heard them when I had the back door open.

There are many ways to build sound control into exterior walls and fenestration, it is much easier to do it from the start than it is to add on later. For the most part an office building as old as The Vista was designed in a way where they never worried about outside noise control.

Geez, anyone got pics of this place yet? You Norman people represent.....

Geez, anyone got pics of this place yet? You Norman people represent.....

www.loft401.com

I hope the fix the city sidewalks near the 401 Lofts.
They have been in very poor shape for many years

Geez, anyone got pics of this place yet? You Norman people represent.....

Get in the car and drive down? :-P

Living a block away from the train, while close, is very different from literally being 25 feet away from the train, which is where Loft 401 is. If you've ever been to the Mont when the train comes by and sounds its whistle, you know how annoying it is--you can barely hear yourself talk when it goes by.

If they finally get that intersection to be a quiet zone, it will be substantially better. But they've (Loft 401) been saying that's going to be a quiet zone for over two years (they told me back in 2009 that it would be a quiet zone by August 2010), so I'm not holding my breath.

Living a block away from the train, while close, is very different from literally being 25 feet away from the train, which is where Loft 401 is. If you've ever been to the Mont when the train comes by and sounds its whistle, you know how annoying it is--you can barely hear yourself talk when it goes by.

If they finally get that intersection to be a quiet zone, it will be substantially better. But they've (Loft 401) been saying that's going to be a quiet zone for over two years (they told me back in 2009 that it would be a quiet zone by August 2010), so I'm not holding my breath.

Don't they just need to add different gates like they have done at the Duffy crossing? Is the project funded? Robinson will be taken care of with the underpass, and eventually Lindsey will have an underpass too so it will be down to Acres, Gray, Main, Eufaula, Boyd and Brooks as the remaining non-quiet crossings in central Norman. Hopefully it will all be a quiet zone someday.

Do people live here now? I've seen cars parked in the garage, but can't tell if they are for residents.

Do people live here now? I've seen cars parked in the garage, but can't tell if they are for residents.

I didn't even know they were complete. *sigh*

We have several residents living in LOFT 401 now, with closings scheduled every week for the next few weeks. We have a handful of units left! Check us out: www.loft401.com or call (405) 922-5144

OPEN HOUSE!! Please come by the LOFT401 site located at 401 E. Boyd in Norman this Saturday before the game. From 11:30 - 2 we will be hosting a poolside party, catered by The Greens Country Club. Music and tours of the site and units as well. OPEN TO THE PUBLIC! Come see what LOFT401 has to offer! www.LOFT401.com

I haven't seen this place in person yet so I may come check it out.

I hope it's a success. Norman needs more developments like this in the campus area.

Are these completely done? How many units are leased?

Construction is on-going but looks to be finished within 60-90 days. We have closed on several units and continue to schedule closings as units are finishing up. They are for sale, KilgoreTrout. If you are interested please look us up! www.LOFT401.com

I went inside these lofts last week to visit a friend who is renting there.

A few obervations:

1) The floor plans are pretty nice. High ceilings, open concept, and the bedroom is somewhat secluded down a short hallway, instead of being located directly off the living room.

2) The train is still very loud. The loft I was in was located on the side facing away from the tracks and it's still quite loud. The quiet zone is a must.

3) They're not even close to finishing the building. The interior hallways aren't finished, wiring is sticking out, sheet rock and sheet rock dust is everywhere. Many of the units aren't close to being finished. Even the unit I was in, which was being rented (I guess they changed their policy on no renters) wasn't completed. I guess they've run out of money because this building was supposed to be finished in August of 2010 (what I was told by their sales team in January of 2010).

So, these are available for lease? Does anyone know the rates?

A developer wants to build a new apartment complex that would be aimed at students just west of this location.
This would require the removal of several houses that look to be mostly poorly maintained.

A developer wants to build a new apartment complex that would be aimed at students just west of this location.
This would require the removal of several houses that look to be mostly poorly maintained.

Would this be a traditional apartment complex or something more loft style? It would be cool if Norman started to push for more loft style construction.

I've thought for years that some of those old houses along Boyd need to be demolished for student housing. The proximity to campus would be ideal for a mixed use development with retail along the street.

Would this be a traditional apartment complex or something more loft style? It would be cool if Norman started to push for more loft style construction.

From what I understand it would be a traditional apartment complex for OU students.
It still needs to be approved by the City.

I've thought for years that some of those old houses along Boyd need to be demolished for student housing. The proximity to campus would be ideal for a mixed use development with retail along the street.

There are probably about 2 dozen homes from Boyd to the north for 2 or 3 blocks near the tracks that are in such poor condition that they should be demolished. There is a lot of rental property that is not in good condition on the northeast side of OU, south of Boyd and west of the tracks.

I would like to see high end condos located someplace not near the RR tracks.

I hope the city of Norman has enough vision to preserve enough right of way to allow the construction of a new street from Lindsey to Brooks to Boyd to Main St and on to the north that would follow the RR tracks. There also needs to be enough room for an additional RR track for commuter rail.

I believe this would be an excellent location for such a development, and it would just be icing on the cake if it was loft-style that managed to incorporate some retail. However, it seems unlikely according to http://normantranscript.com/headlines/x728157179/Council-postpones-zoning-request. The city council, citing the need for more "discussion," has postponed the request to October 23. WTF? For christ sake, can't we just get some people that don't always endlessly discuss but never seem to accomplish something? The idiot mayor also said that a presentation regarding the proposal from one of the developers would be inappropriate at this time. Of course, let's delay this until October and refuse to even hear some discussion about the damn thing. Seems to make perfect sense to me.

So, these are available for lease? Does anyone know the rates?

I was wondering that myself

The genius city council thinks this proposal is making Norman "too dense," which they associate with crime and higher resource use. Absolutely idiocy.

I've been saying for a while now that Norman, once considered a prized model of a town by some, is now unequivocally moving backwards. They failure of the UNP development that's indistinguishable from a strip mall in Moore, proposals to demolish old buildings downtown to build a surface lot, the continued building of low quality, cookie-cutter houses, and fears of apartments that are "too dense"-- it's all very disappointing.

The Norman City Council embarrasses itself weekly.

So, these are available for lease? Does anyone know the rates?

According to the person I know who lives and rents there, they are not available for lease. I don't know they entire story, but the person apparently hassled the developer or owner of the unit to let her rent it while she was in school and they ultimately relented. That's all I know.

The genius city council thinks this proposal is making Norman "too dense," which they associate with crime and higher resource use. Absolutely idiocy.

I've been saying for a while now that Norman, once considered a prized model of a town by some, is now unequivocally moving backwards. They failure of the UNP development that's indistinguishable from a strip mall in Moore, proposals to demolish old buildings downtown to build a surface lot, the continued building of low quality, cookie-cutter houses, and fears of apartments that are "too dense"-- it's all very disappointing.

The Norman City Council embarrasses itself weekly.

Norman residents need to get to a city council meeting it sounds like!!! Where is the OU architecture community? They need to help people realize density is good!!!

According to another thread discussing the proposed apartment complex at 36th and Tecumseh, this meeting is a good thing to try to contain another mess.

There always seems to be a great aversion by some to remove old poorly maintained homes near OU to make way for any new development by OU or by developers.

the genius city council thinks this proposal is making norman "too dense," which they associate with crime and higher resource use. Absolutely idiocy.

I've been saying for a while now that norman, once considered a prized model of a town by some, is now unequivocally moving backwards. They failure of the unp development that's indistinguishable from a strip mall in moore, proposals to demolish old buildings downtown to build a surface lot, the continued building of low quality, cookie-cutter houses, and fears of apartments that are "too dense"-- it's all very disappointing.

The norman city council embarrasses itself weekly.

this.

Who wants to back up to a train track?

Who wants to back up to a train track?

Especially a busy train track like the one in Norman.

Who wants to back up to a train track?

With the right walls, a ton of people. The location is awesome. Close to campus, campus corner, and the Mont. i lived in one of those places and the train was not a problem.

The train tracks though Norman should have double tracked and been buried decades ago.