As I mentioned above, they've closed on 7 units already this year and may have deposits on a bunch more.

The challenge for this project will be the remaining lots to be developed, as they are largely facing the freeway with no real views.

It's just a guess, but I think there has been a huge shift in the minds of locals over the last 5 years regarding living downtown. And the smaller units at The Hill are entry level prices if you don't want an apartment feel. The Hill units feel more like a house than any downtown housing, the complex is well-landscaped and maintained and people feel comfortable buying when they see others doing so.

These are all extremely positive indicators, although I don't know on what planet these would be considered entry level prices (the Lofts at Maywood are way cheaper, for example, and those sold quickly).

I agree with Pete that I think there are still some steep challenges for developing another 100+ of these when they will share freeway views and probably won't feel very connected to the rest of Deep Deuce. But moving forward is a GOOD thing nonetheless.

This is the area desperately in need of trees in order to become an "urban trail":
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-V40Uw6gFJec/T0L2EOK76_I/AAAAAAAAAGI/ZDFlboxnZQU/s720/dd%2520to%2520river%2520map.jpg
This path would leverage the undeveloped part of Bricktown/DD by turning them into a tree-lined pedestrian/bike path. It would also serve to connect AA foottraffic with the river/Bricktown. Maybe the Hill developers could invest in this plan and market their project as "within biking distance of the Oklahoma River"

This is a fantastic idea. I put it up on my blog and gave you attribution.

These are all extremely positive indicators, although I don't know on what planet these would be considered entry level prices (the Lofts at Maywood are way cheaper, for example, and those sold quickly).

Entry level prices for a house downtown. The Hill has townhouses, with attached two car garages. I think the prices on the smaller townhomes are acceptable, considering their proximity to downtown and the fact that you can walk directly into your house from your garage, and you have two spaces.

The Lofts have underground parking, right?

The Lofts do have underground parking. But, it's not the same as driving directly into your own home for a lot of people. That's one of the things people frequently ask me about my townhouse. They want to know where I park, and seem surprised when I tell them I have a garage attached to my house.

In looking at The Hill website, it looks as if all but one of the two story, two bedroom townhouses are sold or under contract. And it looks like the smaller ones are about $200/sq. foot, which is comparable for everything else for sale downtown. I think they've sold so well because they're smaller and so more affordable. And, as I said, the owners have maintained the landscaping well. I would be surprised if they don't start the next phase of townhomes soon, as I think those are all about the same size as the ones that have sold well recently.

The Hill has also been running a really aggressive advertising campaign for the past six months or so. I'm sure that has had some effect.

I noticed on zillow that Block 42 has also had a couple of sales (including a handful of resales) in the past few months.

I hope that whatever marketing ploys the Hill used will be employed by Central Avenue Villas. That place has not had a sale in over a year.

a buddy of mine juts got a place in Block 42

This is a fantastic idea. I put it up on my blog and gave you attribution.
Hey thanks for the mention. I do keep up with your blog and appreciate your contribution as well.

I'm a little overdue but I finally have some pictures of my new townhome I purchased at The Hill. I let the sales agent shoot a photo tour to give people an idea of what a furnished unit looks like in the newer, larger townhomes. You can check out the tour at:

http://www.erealtyweb.net/tours/tour.aspx?p=ccspw&i=900278

As others have mentioned, there has been A LOT of progress at the Hill in the past 2 months. I personally closed on my 2nd unit (kept my original townhome as a rental property and rented it out the same day I put it on the market) and they have had a slew of other sales. A few weeks ago I think Matt mentioned that they had 4 go under contract in 1 week.

Right now, there is only 1 townhome left that hasn't gone under contract in the main building (the original building that faces Russell M. Perry) and in my building, which hosts the larger townhomes, there is 1 finished model, 2 sold units (myself and another), 1 under contract and 4 units that are waiting on a buyer to customize.

I am at the VERY end of the complex and that did not deter me in the least from purchasing the new unit. I'm about as close as you can get to Broadway Extension, however, the construction quality & insulation is great so I hear almost zero Road noise...Most people comment on that when they're over actually (stating how quiet it is). In addition, Even in the back corner I still have pretty decent views of downtown from my patio (see the photo tour above).

I think the price of the complex compared with the other downtown housing options is right in line....Superior finishes, Energy Efficiency, etc. compared to a lot of the comparable options out there. As far as investors, I am the only investor I know of that has purchased there and that was mainly just because I wanted to upsize to a larger unit and keep my existing property as a rental. I think people are really seeing the true potential of downtown, which is driving the buyers to The Hill.

I've met several of my neighbors and we all share the same consensus that we love it....Love the layouts, the walkability of the neighborhood, etc....It's been fun getting to know people there too.

If you have any questions, fire away :)

Very Nice Home, congratulations! Wish you nothing but the very best and thanks for sharing

Thank you, DC Sooner!

Very nice! Love the elevator and all the decor.

Seems like you picked the perfect time to buy there.

Suddenly, the entire area is on fire. Funny how quickly things can pick up.

Okie Yorker - curious what your thoughts are on the Brownstones @ Maywood. Looks like you could have gone with either complex for the price(based on the link you posted).

Perhaps they'll be able to start on the new phases now. Those places look really nice.

Very nice! Love the elevator and all the decor.

Seems like you picked the perfect time to buy there.

Suddenly, the entire area is on fire. Funny how quickly things can pick up.

Thanks, Pete! Now if I could have the perfect world, we'd have a moderate summer that didn't mimic last year in temperatures!

Okie Yorker - curious what your thoughts are on the Brownstones @ Maywood. Looks like you could have gone with either complex for the price(based on the link you posted).

I thought the Brownstones at Maywood were nice (finish wise, etc.), however, I wasn't too thrilled with the flow and layout there. Regardless, they are nice units over there.

Perhaps they'll be able to start on the new phases now. Those places look really nice.

From what I understand, they should be starting two of the phases very soon....One building that will house some of the 1,600 to 1,800 sq. feet units and another that should have some slightly larger units between 2,000 & 2,500 feet (which I think is the perfect size...not too big, but still enough space so you don't feel cramped).

I'm hoping the pool/clubhouse gets started towards the end of the summer so it is ready for next year!

I personally closed on my 2nd unit (kept my original townhome as a rental property and rented it out the same day I put it on the market)

If you have any questions, fire away :)

May we ask what you're charging for rent and the specs of your old unit?

Okie, I love your place but just have one question. In looking at the pic of the great room, is that the normal furniture placement? How would you see the TV over the fireplace from any of the couches?

I thought the Brownstones at Maywood were nice (finish wise, etc.), however, I wasn't too thrilled with the flow and layout there. Regardless, they are nice units over there.

That's funny, since you live in NY as well. To me, the Brownstones are the most like east coast brownstones in terms of their layout. And the patio cannot be beat. The flow does take some getting used to, but once you've adjusted, it's great. We're happier with this house than most of our others in the past, all of which were two story houses.

Thanks, ljbab! I mounted the tv on an arm that you can extend out about 3 feet and swivel 180 degrees. It makes it handy if u want to watch tv on the sofa.

That's funny, since you live in NY as well. To me, the Brownstones are the most like east coast brownstones in terms of their layout. And the patio cannot be beat. The flow does take some getting used to, but once you've adjusted, it's great. We're happier with this house than most of our others in the past, all of which were two story houses.

I do agree that they are nice, Betts :-). I'm right there with u on the not having a house thing...I was in a 4,000 square foot home on 1/2 acre in OKC for many years and have been downtown for a year. I do not miss the house & all the maintenance / utility bills at all! Glad u are liking your place as well!

Application before the Planning Commission to add 36 more units on 1.76 acres.

This would be in addition to the 32 built thus far and a total of 68 of the proposed 157.



http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/hillphase2.jpg

http://www.okctalk.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=1409&d=1336777166

It's about time...

I count 39 units in the white outlined areas. Is that second pic up to date or do you think they may have changed their proposal a little bit?

I think they've changed how they are going to lay out the additional units.

They also have 13 lots marked above that haven't been developed.


At this point, I'd rather them not get approval to completely build out the frontage on Perry, because that corner is the only possible location for any sort of retail use.

I don't like the fact the current developers are cherry-picking the best lots to develop because I believe there is a very good possibility they will never get to the parcels in the back, especially at the rate they are going. Eventually, another developer may have to be called in to finish the project and nothing will be left but highway frontage.

Also, Phase II was to have included the pool and clubhouse but they aren't planning to do that at this point, at least not in the location they had previously indicated. I didn't see anything in their app. including it with this phase.

I know right, I think it would be way better for them to develop the properties at the back--the ones facing 235. More people are gonna see those on a daily basis.

But of course, those back units will be much harder to sell which is why they want to develop all the ones in the front first.

My concern is that they will never get to those back units. It's taken them seven years to even propose another 36 and they still have another 89 (!) they said they would build.


County Assessor records show 25 of the original 36 sold; could be more under contract.

Well, if they don't ever sell those back units then I think they should develop that side into some kind of park for the community. It looks as if they have yet to build the 'town hall' and the local 'pool'. A park would be a nice addition.

Maybe they figure it will be easier to sell the back townhouses when the development is fuller. I agree, though, that those will be harder to sell. Maybe they should move the pools and clubhouse there as well. To be fair, they've had a huge increase in interest in the last year, so while it has taken them years to get here, the market has only picked up in the past year. I attribute a lot of that to the fact that they completely finished out all the units - no flapping tar paper or unfinished balconies anymore. They've landscaped it nicely. In addition, the public perception of who lives downtown is changing. And while they're not inexpensive on a square foot basis, the square footage is low enough that they're more affordable than where I live

This project has always bothered me because it seems like they tried to build it without actually blending it to the surrounding area. The pool is also throwing me off because it is essential located on a city street. It is like they took a plan for a gated townhome complex and dropped it on ungated city streets. It just seems out of place to me.

I think they've changed how they are going to lay out the additional units.

They also have 13 lots marked above that haven't been developed.


At this point, I'd rather them not get approval to completely build out the frontage on Perry, because that corner is the only possible location for any sort of retail use.

I don't like the fact the current developers are cherry-picking the best lots to develop because I believe there is a very good possibility they will never get to the parcels in the back, especially at the rate they are going. Eventually, another developer may have to be called in to finish the project and nothing will be left but highway frontage.

Also, Phase II was to have included the pool and clubhouse but they aren't planning to do that at this point, at least not in the location they had previously indicated. I didn't see anything in their app. including it with this phase.

Pete, retail was never part of the Hill project. That is why McDermid's proposal should have been chosen, but it was not.

If they can sell the ones fronting the onramp, the other sites in the back shouldn't be too much of a problem I guess.

Hay Spartan - do you have any links to the proposal by McDermid?

I wonder if they put some gates up if this place would sell faster.

Wasn't Marva Ellard involved with the selected developer for this site?

Yes, Marva was initially but she backed out of it when things were looking bad. And they were looking very bad for a while.

Kerry, I didn't save any renderings unfortunately, but it was spectacular. They were all over the Oklahoman, I wonder if Steve still has some since he wrote the coverage of that debacle. The proposal was called Ellison Park on the Hill.

Pete, retail was never part of the Hill project. That is why McDermid's proposal should have been chosen, but it was not.

If they can sell the ones fronting the onramp, the other sites in the back shouldn't be too much of a problem I guess.


I know that retail was never part of their proposal but my concern is that they will never finish this development and the only decent lots for any other type of use will have been cherry-picked for a few townhouses.

Hay Spartan - do you have any links to the proposal by McDermid?

I wonder if they put some gates up if this place would sell faster.

They did gate the back driveways. It's actually selling pretty quickly now. There are new sold signs up everytime I walk by and I don't think there are many unsold.

Here's McDermid's proposal for what became The Hill:


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/ellisonpark.jpg

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/thehilloriginal.jpg

I know that retail was never part of their proposal but my concern is that they will never finish this development and the only decent lots for any other type of use will have been cherry-picked for a few townhouses.

I'm with you now. I'm not as worried about that now that they're selling, miraculously. But I will say there is virtually no logical explanation other than larger macroeconomic trends for why this project was rescued from the dead. But it was dead, and I too was frustrated that all the decent frontage had been nabbed.

There is no doubt we're going to be stuck with whatever we get. Let's hope we get a decent development.

Also, Phase II was to have included the pool and clubhouse but they aren't planning to do that at this point, at least not in the location they had previously indicated. I didn't see anything in their app. including it with this phase.

Isn't their a requirement to provide at least a certain level of common amenities per unit or is that just a certain amount per acre.

Here's McDermid's proposal for what became The Hill:


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/ellisonpark.jpg

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/thehilloriginal.jpg



Hey Pete - you probably meant this but the posting doesn't make it entirely clear - those renderings are actually two competing projects, with the one on the bottom being the one that was selected. The top rendering, though not dissimilar at first glance, has some visible mixed use proposed.

Yes, that was what I meant to indicate.

I'm not as worried about the project not being mixed-use. It's on the edge of Deep Deuce anyway. As long as new non-residential development makes an impact on the Covenant Life block, SW corner of 1st and Perry, and in the void on 2nd/perry/1st/central, then Deep Deuce will be in great shape.

In fact, I think the project will hopefully be a good segue for people who still think like suburbanites, and are comfortable with that general sense of place. The Hill looks and feels more like a suburban neighborhood, and I feel if they could capitalize on the ability to have a sensible amount of exclusivity from the rest of deep deuce (pool/spa/rec-center/lounge) or something like that, it could potentially entice people to move from the burbs to downtown.

Building 3 is out for bidding they plan on starting construction in a few months .

They've sold all completed units...

http://newsok.com/developer-of-the-hill-in-oklahoma-citys-deep-deuce-seeks-to-build-more-for-sale-housing/article/3693312?custom_click=pod_lead_business

Can't get overly excited about a 20% build/completion rate (32 of 157), but I guess anything is better than complete stagnation.

Can't get overly excited about a 20% build/completion rate (32 of 157), but I guess anything is better than complete stagnation.

You have to keep this number in context of 'The Great Recession' occuring at about the same time they got started. Maybe now it'll move more rapid.

I think they weren't expecting for sales to pick up as much as they did this year. Had they already had phase 2 finished, they probably could have sold some of those to. Now possible buyers have to wait until construction is done, but maybe the buyers can get on contract and customize their floor plan and details of their unit. Depending on how many they can get under contract for phase 2, they just might roll over to phase 3 once phase 2 is completed.

You have to keep this number in context of 'The Great Recession' occuring at about the same time they got started. Maybe now it'll move more rapid.

This. It's pretty astounding that this project was resuscitated.

Hello my people
At 350 to 395 K, is the Hill cheap or expensive? For OKC, I think it is expensive. I checked zillow, and these prices are similar to new townhomes in major cities like (philadelphia dallas), the only difference being the houses in the other major cities are not right in the middle of downtown

Hello my people
At 350 to 395 K, is the Hill cheap or expensive? For OKC, I think it is expensive. I checked zillow, and these prices are similar to new townhomes in major cities like (philadelphia dallas), the only difference being the houses in the other major cities are not right in the middle of downtown

In most cities the price of townhouses goes up considerably when you are right in the middle of downtown. I think they're expensive for Oklahoma City in general, but not necessarily for an urban area. I do think it's a shame they're stick built for what they're charging, but they are very nicely landscaped.

Hello my people
At 350 to 395 K, is the Hill cheap or expensive? For OKC, I think it is expensive. I checked zillow, and these prices are similar to new townhomes in major cities like (philadelphia dallas), the only difference being the houses in the other major cities are not right in the middle of downtown

I don't mean to be rude, but there's no way you are going to have a tough time something cheaper than the Hill in Dallas, and especially Philly, with similar features (including an attached garage). I guess you could always scoop up a foreclosure though. And yes, distance to employment centers, even a few miles, can cause housing costs to vary greatly.

As betts said, it is expensive for OKC. But on a square foot basis, its only slightly above some streets in Heritage Hills, another highly desirable neighborhood near downtown. Plus, its sold out, so obviously people didn't find it too unreasonable.

I wonder who bought all of them up? Do you think that Continental people may have bought a bunch of them?

Ugh that was a dreadful editing job in my last post.


I wonder who bought all of them up? Do you think that Continental people may have bought a bunch of them?

Not really sure why they sold all of a sudden, but the Continental relocation could have played a big part in it. A co-worker of mine sold her home in Crown Heights to a relocating Continental attorney, and quite a few young-ish Cont. employees were looking at LEVEL when I was taking a tour of it. So, just from my perspective, there was a lot of interest in the urban area of OKC from their employees.

I wish the Hill's magic would rub off on other developments down there.

An article in the Oklahoman a short while back that may be playing into their favor on the relocating Cont employees, if their property doesn't sale within a specific period of time on the market, the company will buy it (a classy move on the companies part)...takes the uncertainty out of it for those folks and they can concentrate on other things.

I wish the Hill's magic would rub off on other developments down there.

Aren't Block 42, Central Avenue Villas, and Maywood Lofts all at least 75% full, with the Brownstones being the only ones still somewhat struggling?

I'd be happy if someone just mowed this "hill". It looks awful.

All the undeveloped lots should be sodded and maintained.

They cleared that land years ago and what hasn't been built upon is a muddy, weed-filled mess.

Whether it's OCURA or Canfield's group, somebody needs to do something about this, as it's very prominent from the interstate.