Cuatro, maybe you can lend your expertise and providing us a better name for the district? At least some of us are out there making downtown a better place. We'd love to have your expertise and better ideas...

Having a few neighborhood abbreviations is ok. However, when ever neighborhood is given one by some real estate agent or association, it can get a little unimaginative.

I guess it's a good thing we didn't get this one from a real estate agent or association then.

Cuatro, maybe you can lend your expertise and providing us a better name for the district?...We'd love to have your expertise and better ideas...

Well since you want to call me out...

I actually kinda like "Cottage District" because it is quite the misnomer. It makes the neighborhood sound very quaint, but in reality it is considerably the opposite, like Greenwich Village in NYC.

Other than that, I'll have to think about it.


...At least some of us are out there making downtown a better place...

Just because I criticize, doesn't mean I am not interested in our downtown...quite the contrary actually.

Cuatro, maybe you can lend your expertise and providing us a better name for the district? At least some of us are out there making downtown a better place. We'd love to have your expertise and better ideas...

I'm growing very tired of your constant comments like this. You have NO IDEA what others are doing to better downtown and you would be wise to not make assumptions just to prop yourself up.

I'm growing very tired of your constant comments like this. You have NO IDEA what others are doing to better downtown and you would be wise to not make assumptions just to prop yourself up.

Et tu, Brute.

I'm growing tired of your constant nagging and badgering too, you've done it farrrrrrrrrrrrr longer than I have. I don't know what your beef is with me. Again, at least I've been out there for years doing stuff in the community, which I'm willing to bet is more than most of this message board can say, with the exception of a few posters. It was this very reason Todd the old owner of this website offered to me to buy the website before he offered it to Pete because of my passion for this city. Being a broke college student, I couldn't really afford it.

I don't have "beef" with you. You do good things for this site and this city, you just need to be careful not to sound like your bragging all the time. I'm not the only one who feels this way.

I second that. Just because someone disagrees with your opinion doesnt mean we want to hear you talk about how you do so much for downtown. Its great what you do and all, we just dont want to be reminded all the time. And Im not sure coming up with a alternative name to a neighborhood is all that constructive.

I don't have "beef" with you. You do good things for this site and this city, you just need to be careful not to sound like your bragging all the time. I'm not the only one who feels this way. I do have to agree with you on this statement. It does appear Metro likes to go to the extreme on trying to feel very important on this thread and anyone who disagrees with him then he gets a little miffed:(

Metro =/= humble.

No, I just get upset when others criticize and don't offer a better solution. I'm all for difference of opinion, but I haven't heard anyone offer other solutions when they criticize. It's upsetting to the people keeping the forward motion of this city going and the criticizers don't offer to help. I offered Cuatro to help out and still no one is offering a better solution.

I already offered mine, but you have chosen to ignore it.

I didn't ignore it, but previously stated that the city is looking to change the name of the district, so I can respect your opinion, but it won't be renamed to the same thing it's already called.

Duh.

Because calling such a small area another district irritates me so much I made this size comparison map of OKC and NYC adjust to the same scale to show that midtown is already the right size for a district.... why chop it up into something even smaller... seems like a joke.
http://i284.photobucket.com/albums/ll14/Platemaker_photos/sizecomparison.jpg

I tend to agree.

. . . I actually kinda like "Cottage District" because it is quite the misnomer. It makes the neighborhood sound very quaint, but in reality it is considerably the opposite, like Greenwich Village in NYC. . .

I still like "Cottage District" myself CuatrodeMayo . . . imo, SOSA has no romance to it. However, I did receive an email enquiry about one of our Midtown appartments the other day that included a SOSA reference, so it may already be creeping into broader use.

South of Tenth Street might form a more appropriate acronym.

Pray For World Peace . . . pass it on.

Michael Smith

For what it is worth I like "Cottage District" too.

Dear God.... I really am gonna shoot myself over this cottage district SoSa nonsense....

Dear God.... I really am gonna shoot myself over this cottage district SoSa nonsense.... lol......Really we are talking about a silly name not the end of the world.

Update on Steve's blog:

Redefining/Defining a Neighborhood (http://blog.newsok.com/okccentral/2009/01/22/redefiningdefining-a-neighborhood/)

If that was typical of the artwork presented, I can understand why there might be some apprehension on the part of some people reviewing the project. For this type of presentation sometimes the "artist" type renderings can make something look more "abstract" than it actually is. The abstract works well when you are trying to get a sense of scale/form but may not have the materials selected but more photo-realistic rendering might have helped.

Update on Steve's blog:

Redefining/Defining a Neighborhood (http://blog.newsok.com/okccentral/2009/01/22/redefiningdefining-a-neighborhood/)

I just checked out the article. Whew, if the speed at which people have been posting over there is any indication, I am sorry to have missed the BOA session. Any updates this week?

Between SOSA and Cottage District, my pick is Cottage District as well.

Update on Steve's blog:

Redefining/Defining a Neighborhood (http://blog.newsok.com/okccentral/2009/01/22/redefiningdefining-a-neighborhood/)

Thanks for posting the link Metro. Lots of pointed comments over there. I posted a piece if anyone is interested.

Michael

Pray For World Peace . . . pass it on

In New York SOHO, is "SOuth of HOuston" street, only the street is pronounced HOW-Stun. South of Tenth Street as a district would be shortened to SOTS (which if the plan is to have a lot of bars... maybe). I always like it when city planners locate the drinking district near an emergency room, shows forward thinking.

Cor-Ten roofs would work there also.

In New York SOHO, is "SOuth of HOuston" street, only the street is pronounced HOW-Stun. South of Tenth Street as a district would be shortened to SOTS (which if the plan is to have a lot of bars... maybe). I always like it when city planners locate the drinking district near an emergency room, shows forward thinking.

Cor-Ten roofs would work there also.

Hey Stan . . . . always with the jokes . . . . thanks for the elocution lesson, and the blatant commercialism. Good to see you posting here.

Michael Smith

Pray For World Peace . . . pass it on

Hey Stan . . . . always with the jokes . . . . thanks for the elocution lesson, and the blatant commercialism. Good to see you posting here.

Michael Smith

Pray For World Peace . . . pass it on

Hey, Michael, good to hear from you.

So what is it SOTS or SOSA?
If it's SOSA, I've got another joke. I have a million of them ,did I tell ya?
Anyway, if we call it SOSA, there's a chance this guy might visit:

Silliman on Sports - a new sports and humor column (http://www.sillimanonsports.com/SammysCorked.html)

South of Tenth Street as a district would be shortened to SOTS (which if the plan is to have a lot of bars... maybe).


Thank god that area is already called Metro Park otherwise I'm sure people here would want to call it that.

If they had their way every block or two would be a different "district."

NW 7 and Shartel is still a changing battle zone
Oklahoman
BY STEVE LACKMEYER
Published: January 27, 2009Buzz up!

In my earliest years at The Oklahoman, I covered crime. I was consistently baffled by the stupidity of the bad guys — and perhaps no more so than by the way that drug dealers, pimps and prostitutes openly did business along NW 7 and Shartel, a block north of the police headquarters.

That was 18 years ago, and the stretch is still a war zone. The drug dealers, pimps and prostitutes are gone. The combatants now are neighborhood activists and prominent architects fighting over the area’s name, development and future.

On one side you have architect Randy Floyd, who along with Michael Smith were urban pioneers who risked much to renovate and move into a stretch of territorial homes along NW 7. The pair are veterans of the city’s preservation movement, and their efforts on NW 7 were applauded as an example of how to bring life back to the inner-city.

More renovations followed along NW 7, as did other architects. But some came with different ideas. Architects Bryan Fitzsimmons and Dennis Wells built new homes on the block — modern-style structures that are more in keeping with the Classen Glenn condominiums built at NW 7 and Classen in the early 1980s.


Preservation activist not the ‘little old lady’
As I visited with Floyd about the progress under way a couple years ago, she was uncomfortable but holding back criticism of the modern architecture hitting her street. She also insisted that she’s not the "little old lady” who only likes old buildings, and she hinted she was eyeing a more modern design for a new home to be built on a nearby empty lot.

Yet that’s how she’s being portrayed by Wells and his supporters as they fight back against Floyd’s effort to overturn a ruling by the Urban Design Committee that supported plans for a new home designed by Fitzsimmons for William Lovallo, a professor at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center.

The issue might seem obscure to some — whether the planned Lovallo home setback is too close to the street. With one member of the Board of Adjustment abstaining and two others absent, the two remaining members last week deadlocked on whether to uphold Floyd’s effort to overturn the design committee’s approval of the narrow setback.

Building differing visions in the area
All of the sides seem intent on making the area a great downtown/MidTown neighborhood. But their visions are clearly different, even if not sharply defined.
Floyd argues she is not trying to dictate the neighborhood’s future, though she notes it is one of the city’s oldest, having been platted more than 100 years ago. She wants some basic guidelines, including setbacks, and disagrees with the contention that she is seeking strict design controls similar to those in place in neighborhoods such as Heritage Hills.

Wells agrees there should be setbacks as well, though he’s unable to say where the setback should be. Wells has established a Web site — Free SoSA (http://www.freesosa.com) — that advocates turning the neighborhood into a laboratory for modern and experimental design. And he’s even arguing the area’s name, "the Cottage District,” should be changed to "SoSA,” (South of Saint Anthony).

As I listen to both sides argue their case, I’m reminded of just how lost the neighborhood was two decades ago.


SoSA, Cottage District — it’s home
A community has arisen in place of the drug dealers, pimps and prostitutes, and although these new residents might not be enjoying any block parties any time soon, it appears the future of NW 7 is an exciting one. Regardless of any setback.

Just my humble opinion, but I wonder if 50 years from now, what will society think of urban design such as mr. fitzsimmons? Will they think that urban concrete design was ahead of the curve, or will they ask ...WTF were they thinking?

"urban concrete design" Where did that come from? I don't see anyone pushing "urban concrete design". Mr. Fitzsimmons' design is modern, urban in that it tries to maximize the land it is on. The concrete is the proposed material of this one structure. I don't see that concrete was a big part of his own home, another modern, urban design. Also don't see a lot of concrete in the garage that he helped design for his former neighbor, Phil Bewley. I'm sure future residents will be just as opinionated as we are, but I doubt he'll be judge for the materials of 1 structure.

I just checked out the article. Whew, if the speed at which people have been posting over there is any indication, I am sorry to have missed the BOA session. Any updates this week?

Resolution of BOA 3/5/09 hearing: 5-0 vote denied Randy Floyd's appeal of UDC's unanimous decision. Project allowed to go forth after 4 months of delay.

FYI...the Lovallo residence broke ground yesterday.

http://blog.newsok.com/okccentral/files/2009/01/sosa-house.JPG

They didn't waste any time after that final decision on the appeal. :)

Should they have? A moment of reflection and contemplation? I heard they've been delayed 4 months already.

No they certainly shouldn't have. That wasn't a criticism. The smilies aren't working lately.

Why is it funny? Also SOSA is not even close to the same as Crown Heights on so many levels. SOSA is filled more with modern thinkers, engineers and architects and the downtown crowd. Crown Heights is a more trendy crowd (Western Ave. crowd) and more traditional architecture.

Wow, that's a whole lotta unfair generalizations jammed into one post. Who knew that "SOSA" (the name could use some work...) contained the lion's share of modern thinkers, engineers, architects and "downtown crowd" than Crown/Edgemere...

Sustainable urban design thrives in Cottage District
Fitzsimmons Architects set to break ground on new, modern home

(OKLAHOMA CITY) April 2 – A significant milestone affirming one man's dream, an architect’s vision and a neighborhood's continued rebirth is set for 10 a.m. April 6, as Fitzsimmons Architects prepares to break ground on the Cottage District's newest residential project, located at 825 NW 7.

A vacant lot in the burgeoning downtown neighborhood holds the future residence of Bill Lovallo. The Cottage District's newest infill project, dubbed "Oklahoma Case Study House," is nothing less than the fruition of Lovallo's life-long dream of building a home inspired by the classic mid-century architectural style of the California and Connecticut Case Study Homes, which stand as hallmarks of efficient, affordable, modern design.
Architect Brian Fitzsimmons, hired to design and build Lovallo's dream house, said the residence is a return to the roots of classic modernism. "The stars sort of aligned for this project in a way that felt good from the start," said Fitzsimmons. "From the beginning, the design evolved in such a way that only this home, on this site, at this time, could be built for this man."

Construction of the Oklahoma Case Study House will begin immediately following groundbreaking and is slated for completion in spring/summer 2010.

Fitzsimmons said Monday's groundbreaking celebration is about more than one man's dream. "Bill was determined to make his home in the Cottage District," said Fitzsimmons. "His commitment reaffirmed the momentum of the neighborhood and my belief that this area holds great potential to be a community in the truest sense of the word. This is a big part of the reason for my own relocation to the area.”

More than 40 neighbors and downtown community advocates are expected to attend the event.

Fitzsimmons Architects, located in Oklahoma City's Paseo area, designs residential and commercial architecture to be expressive of three unique characteristics: client, location and function. The firm manages all facets of the design process – from concept to completion – and believes that sustainability and green building design are fundamental considerations to that process. www.fitzsimmons-arch.com.


http://www.okctalk.com/gallery/data/500/medium/Lovallo_Rendering1.jpg

The Journal Record - Article (http://www.journalrecord.com/article.cfm?recid=97476)

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.

http://www.journalrecord.com/_images/articles/t_labskc-lovallo%2004-07-09.jpg
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.”

I'm not big on SOSA, but it's better than Cottage District, IMO.

Does Fitzsimmons only design and build residences for his customers or can he just do the design/consultation of a residence. Alos, Im assuming he probably is, but is Fitzsimmons fairly expensive to hire.

As a licensed architect, he can handle all aspects of commercial and residential projects, from concept, feasability, designing, research, coordination with contractors and construction Administration. His fees are typical of the market in Oklahoma, for the size and experience of his firm. The actual build of a project is something else, and the firm carefully selects which projects they will be the contractors on.

I'm guessing what onthestrip is asking is if you have to hire Fitzsimmons to design a house from scratch or if he will sell plans for existing designs. Most new homes are not a unique floor plan and it adds a lot of cost to have one designed.

I can guarentee Fitz will not just sell you a house plan.

It wouldnt be something from existing designs. It would most likely be something from scratch. Just was wondering if he has to be the contractor on any residence he designs. I like his work, but I have the ability to be my own contractor.

As a licensed architect, he can handle all aspects of commercial and residential projects, from concept, feasability, designing, research, coordination with contractors and construction Administration. His fees are typical of the market in Oklahoma, for the size and experience of his firm. The actual build of a project is something else, and the firm carefully selects which projects they will be the contractors on.

Bella-you sound like his PR person! :) and onthestrip-why don't you just call the guy?

Bella-you sound like his PR person! :) and onthestrip-why don't you just call the guy?

Well, in the interest of full disclosure... I am his wife!

What is the latest on this area? I could see myself building there and being a part of it. However, I worry about the potential investment risk if only three or four houses get built and it fizzles out. I realize its not a neighborhood development but I'd like to ensure my neighbors arent serial killers or crack heads. Anyone know how many houses are currently in process? What about the crime rate of that area?

I love the architecture. While some of it is a little much for me, I could see myself living in a home built with those materials but less dramatic angles/corners and more wood and landscaping. More importantly, the view a rooftop terrace (NYC style) would provide of downtown would be incredible.

Thanks for the info., whoever provides it.

What about the crime rate of that area?



I did a Crime Tracker search.....found mostly burglaries in the surrounding area. There weren't any on NW 7th though

Ha ha. At least three of those were from my place. Uhhhh... I take that back. Heather Keith, and I are on fourth and fifth. I guess were in the lowly vortex of "no man's land" on the edge of SOSA. Not sure if were in it or not. If we are, I'm quite sure my welcome basket was stolen. I can attest that we have a full-fledged gypsy camp in the over grown lot on 5th. Tents, fires, mandolins and more.

fires and overgrown lots ... not a pretty mental picture.

well, it's funny. When I first moved here little old ladies would come up to me at St. Joseph's and let me know they were praying for me- quote " to avoid being shot by the gang bangers in Deep Deuce". That was 8 years ago. I kinda want the prayers now- particularly avoiding being knocked unconscious by a beer bottle or two. Rick Dowell's mega office park and the gated compounds of "Legacy" and Sycamore Square do little in terms of positive pedestrian movement to counteract all the questionable characters. It does create continuous sources of ammusement though.

What is the latest on this area? I could see myself building there and being a part of it. However, I worry about the potential investment risk if only three or four houses get built and it fizzles out. I realize its not a neighborhood development but I'd like to ensure my neighbors arent serial killers or crack heads. Anyone know how many houses are currently in process? What about the crime rate of that area?

I love the architecture. While some of it is a little much for me, I could see myself living in a home built with those materials but less dramatic angles/corners and more wood and landscaping. More importantly, the view a rooftop terrace (NYC style) would provide of downtown would be incredible.

Thanks for the info., whoever provides it.

Not much as far as the official SoSA movement. We had to put it on hold as I was working on other projects, etc. Now that I am done with Downtown Living Tour and other projects. I hope to get some official momentum going on SoSA. The Lovallo residence (already posted) was the last one to break ground, there is also a remodel/construction on the corner of NW 8th and Francis (it's going to be half old/half modern). There are also several others on the drawing boards and in the pipeline. This area is definitely not going to die, unless a major unforeseen problem hits the metro. It's too close to downtown not to evolve naturally in a more progressive way. It's about the only swath of land downtown with reasonable houses and vacant land. I've lived in "SoSA" for 3 years now going on 4 and no problems.

Not much as far as the official SoSA movement. We had to put it on hold as I was working on other projects, etc. Now that I am done with Downtown Living Tour and other projects. I hope to get some official momentum going on SoSA. The Lovallo residence (already posted) was the last one to break ground, there is also a remodel/construction on the corner of NW 8th and Francis (it's going to be half old/half modern). There are also several others on the drawing boards and in the pipeline. This area is definitely not going to die, unless a major unforeseen problem hits the metro. It's too close to downtown not to evolve naturally in a more progressive way. It's about the only swath of land downtown with reasonable houses and vacant land. I've lived in "SoSA" for 3 years now going on 4 and no problems.

Thanks for the update. I worry about my wife more than anything. I like to think I can "hold my own" but would worry about her getting in and out of the car, house, etc. Especially at night. Maybe I could create my own compound! haha

I think your wife would be safe. The types of charcters one would encounter are mostly homeless, drug addicts, etc. Not really violent criminals.

People shouldn't be afraid -- fear is recognizable to the bad guys, and they will prey on fearful people. Just use your big-city instincts and remain aware of your surroundings.

There is no gang activity in that area that I'm aware of. There are a few pimps and hos and pushers, but nothing really threatening.

Small property crime could be a concern, such as car break-ins, etc.

My wife and 3 yr old nephew have been safe the last 3 years. As with anything, yes there is a risk, but I wouldn't be too concerned about it. There are several families with kids in the area and I don't see them worrying. I only see the area getting better every month.

Another update - went home for lunch today and crews were out building forms for the west wall of the Lovallo residence.

You guys haven't heard? That area is like the Crossroads Mall of neighborhoods.

BEWARE!!!!





/sarcasm

Ha ha. At least three of those were from my place. Uhhhh... I take that back. Heather Keith, and I are on fourth and fifth. I guess were in the lowly vortex of "no man's land" on the edge of SOSA. Not sure if were in it or not. If we are, I'm quite sure my welcome basket was stolen. I can attest that we have a full-fledged gypsy camp in the over grown lot on 5th. Tents, fires, mandolins and more.

You're considered neighbors! Welcomed ones at that. You and the Pauls however ARE in the Downtown district. And yes, the empty abandoned and unkempt lots are magnets for people who have no other place to go, to congregate. They do tend to want to be left alone and over the 3 yrs, I noticed they have gotten the message that my husband & I aren't going anywhere so they leave us alone more and more.

Here's my 2 cents. Over the last 3 years, as more people move in, it's naturally become more hospitable. The former habitat home has a new resident. The Brownstone on Francis across the way has a fabulous young family (2 adorable school girls to boot!). I frequently see that family out front enjoying themselves. The house N of Lovallo's future home has been renovated, the property East of that belonging to Brad Edmonds is in process. The Wells have been here a season or two, now, and another Young *wink* couple are planning to build on 8th just East of Francis. Rob Elliott moved his architecture firm onto 6th just E of Francis. & it looks like the rooftop residence on the City Glass building is about done. Imagine his view!
We've been fortunate that so soon after we moved in, we gained neighbors, and having friendly eyes about certainly helps to keep any trouble makers away. Still in 3 years we've not had any serious problems. No break in, no thievery, no real vandalism. Yes, empty beer cans in the yard, and errant dog poop, sometimes!
The area is not for everyone- I get & respect that. There's always the city soundscape in the background, the faint hum of highway, the roll of the train, punctuated by occasional sirens. There's also always activity outside, people walking by, conversations (sometimes loud ones) drifting up. If an unknown face in the neighborhood sends you dialing 911, you're going to be on the phone a lot down here! But, if you're wanting the downtown vibe, and want to be part of a growing community ( I actually know and enjoy many of my neighbors!) you can design a house that is safe and allows you to enjoy the neighborhood while still providing security and privacy. Hope this helps, either way!