I haven't been on in a while but thought I'd update a few things at The Hill. Things continue to move forward well there...I'm still loving my unit and I'm excited for the Native Roots to open soon! They've had a few good sales in the past 30 to 45 days...2 of the large $800k+ units have sold and closed now and the last of the existing Russell M Perry Units sold last week (approx $500k for the 3 br model until that was around 2100 sq. feet). They also had the first resale of a unit a few weeks ago (one of the 1750 sq. foot 2 bedrooms townhomes) and it sold for around $395k, or about $15k above the selling price of the units at that square footage that were sold originally. I continue to be bullish on downtown and it seems like there is still a lot of interest. There are going to be some nice new floorplans in the next phase that starts soon with some units that are also around 3,000 sq. feet. I saved a link to a great article about a couple in our complex that moved downtown from Edmond that are raising a baby and plan to stay downtown. Check out Full Version of my Families Moving Downtown Story | OKC Central (http://blog.newsok.com/okccentral/2012/09/01/full-version-of-my-families-moving-downtown-story/)

Is there any retail included in any of these phases?

Not in any of the site plans I received when I toured the model. Here is supposed to be a clubhouse and pool on the south side of the development overlooking Bricktown, but no retail or commercial.

the 6 units that are just east of the units fronting russell perry (and share an alley way) .. are well under construction and look about half framed..

Already have contract on one of those units

The more that The Hill starts to fill in the more I like the look of this design. When the first few units were built they looked out of place to me. But now the whole area of DD has so many different styles it is all flowing together in a good way.

I agree, The Hill is starting to grow on me.

I'm still angry about the selection process for this project but that's water under the bridge and it seems that they now have their act together and are getting lots of interest and buyers.

I hope they can sell the units in the back when that time comes.

If I could do anything to the Hill, it would be to change how the towers are finished out. That light brown siding with the dark brown accents looks kind of cheesy to me. And I don't like how the backs of the houses look. If you bother to walk around to the back, it makes the whole development look like one of those false front towns in a theme park. But, everything else looks nice and they're very nicely landscaped. I don't really like the interiors personally, but again, that's individual taste. I''m glad they're doing well because that makes developers less nervous about building more for sale housing. Every Brownstone that is finished has an occupant, with the exception of the model. I suspect a lot of the recent occupants are renting, but it's still nice to have lots of neighbors and renters can easily turn into owners.

I like The Hill with the exception of the siding (vinyl) on the back. Unlike Betts, I actually like the interior of a couple medium sized floorplans, but as she said that is individual taste. I think they are a very good transitional design for people looking to move from a suburban home to downtown living. Price/value is what concerns me most about them, but I generally like the development.

I took this panoramic Friday that shows where the new units are being framed, relative to downtown, DD and the rest of The Hill. If you continued left past the end of the photo (moving E on 2nd), you would see the row of completed homes that look north toward I-235, and a fence leading into the still-to-be-developed portion of The Hill.

2753

I see 10 new building permits for the hill. All of these new construction.

These appear to be the south units on NE 1st street. Addresses:

400, 404, 406, 408, 410, 412, 414, 416 NE 1st STREET

418, 420 NE 1st Terrace.

http://gyazo.com/5c7d75e2cd9ba448dbc316a644be4c63.png?1352243800

The area in red. (roughly)

Ya know, as much residential that is going in between Deep Deuce and Bricktown, they really, really, really need to fix Russell M Perry where it goes over the railroad tracks. I'm not down there a lot, but when I'm down there to take pictures and I travel that way, I probably go over those crossings at 2MPH. Honestly, they should just construct it with all concrete up to the right of way crossing for the tracks, fill that with asphalt and then when it comes time to upgrade that crossing for new commuter rails and crossing, they can just dig the asphalt out, put the concrete and rail crossings in and viola!

Good to see The Hill continue to move forward.

Ya know, as much residential that is going in between Deep Deuce and Bricktown, they really, really, really need to fix Russell M Perry where it goes over the railroad tracks. I'm not down there a lot, but when I'm down there to take pictures and I travel that way, I probably go over those crossings at 2MPH. Honestly, they should just construct it with all concrete up to the right of way crossing for the tracks, fill that with asphalt and then when it comes time to upgrade that crossing for new commuter rails and crossing, they can just dig the asphalt out, put the concrete and rail crossings in and viola!

I think the Eastside Trail idea that came out of this board earlier is the best way to fix Russell Perry.

Ya know, as much residential that is going in between Deep Deuce and Bricktown, they really, really, really need to fix Russell M Perry where it goes over the railroad tracks. I'm not down there a lot, but when I'm down there to take pictures and I travel that way, I probably go over those crossings at 2MPH. Honestly, they should just construct it with all concrete up to the right of way crossing for the tracks, fill that with asphalt and then when it comes time to upgrade that crossing for new commuter rails and crossing, they can just dig the asphalt out, put the concrete and rail crossings in and viola!

Agree - that crossing is absolutely the worst I've ever come across. I don't think they're that bad even in India. There are a few others in OKC that are atrocious too - the one on 10th St I believe up by the new Java Dave's is pretty bad too. Pretty embarrassing.

Agree - that crossing is absolutely the worst I've ever come across. I don't think they're that bad even in India. There are a few others in OKC that are atrocious too - the one on 10th St I believe up by the new Java Dave's is pretty bad too. Pretty embarrassing.

Yeah, the one on 10th St. is unreal to cross. Who's responsible for redoing these, the railroads?

I'm pretty sure the railroads. I've seen them being replaced and there is usually a railroad utility vehicle on site. Quite surprised they haven't been replaced already, as they're common in places much smaller than OKC.

If I could do anything to the Hill, it would be to change how the towers are finished out. That light brown siding with the dark brown accents looks kind of cheesy to me. And I don't like how the backs of the houses look. If you bother to walk around to the back, it makes the whole development look like one of those false front towns in a theme park. But, everything else looks nice and they're very nicely landscaped. I don't really like the interiors personally, but again, that's individual taste. I''m glad they're doing well because that makes developers less nervous about building more for sale housing. Every Brownstone that is finished has an occupant, with the exception of the model. I suspect a lot of the recent occupants are renting, but it's still nice to have lots of neighbors and renters can easily turn into owners.

Agree with this 100%

I took this panoramic Friday that shows where the new units are being framed, relative to downtown, DD and the rest of The Hill. If you continued left past the end of the photo (moving E on 2nd), you would see the row of completed homes that look north toward I-235, and a fence leading into the still-to-be-developed portion of The Hill.

2753

Cool! Thanks. Looking at this again, Betts is correct about how ugly the towers look.

Booming Downtown OKC More Than Doubling Developers' Demand - News9.com - Oklahoma City, OK - News, Weather, Video and Sports | (http://www.news9.com/story/20077695/booming-downtown-okc-more-than-doubling-developers-demand)

Some good press for the downtown condo market, as the news channels are beginning to take notice (which probably permeates the uneducated masses more than any other media)

So if that article is right, they are setting 10 foundations within the next month (the ones I showed the recent building permits for) and then they will also start construction on 19 more in 2013? Did I read that right?

Believe it

Right, but that 19 will be in addition to the 10 they just received permits for? Total of 29 more units? Just need clarification I read that right.

That's how I understood it. I feel like that may have been previously mentioned in this thread or the Brownstones thread or some other for-sale housing thread :/

Hmm. Okay. I know we have those 10 with permits, so I guess we'll keep our eyes out for some additional permits in the coming weeks.

Booming Downtown OKC More Than Doubling Developers' Demand - News9.com - Oklahoma City, OK - News, Weather, Video and Sports | (http://www.news9.com/story/20077695/booming-downtown-okc-more-than-doubling-developers-demand)

Some good press for the downtown condo market, as the news channels are beginning to take notice (which probably permeates the uneducated masses more than any other media)

What's the comment about uneducated masses about?

I can't tell if that's an honest question, or if you're trolling.

Most people who aren't downtown every day aren't really paying attention to the "booming downtown housing market." I think a piece on that on KFOR or KWTV does just as much good for us (if not more) than another a piece in the NY Times. Ask many people who live far out what the most booming housing market is, and they'll probably say Quail Springs or Moore.

The 3 words downtown, housing, and booming aren't usually pieced together in the collective conscious of the 32 year old soccer moms with a high school degree that they'll interview in the Wal-mart parking lot, who often casts the deciding vote at the end of the day. This helps people understand that vibrant downtowns with housing do make a city successful, as long as Linda Cavanaugh or Kelly Ogle say it, then it must be true.

That's all I meant by the comment which was really a lazy generalization because it's late, I'm still at my office, and I don't really have the energy to spell out what I mean by "uneducated masses" which is something vaguely juxtaposed to downtown. Now I have to type all this out because I used a vague generalization that you and other petty posters (metro, popsy, etc) would World War 3 over. God forbid I be called "elitist" by people who actually are -gasp- elitist.

I can't tell if you actually enjoy insulting as many people as you can or are just that arrogant. Calling out others that don't understand your self proclaimed cool inside your head thoughts and who, heaven forbid, happen to occasionally disagree with you is just snarky. You have good ideas, but they get lost in your attitude. Respect others and they will respect you.

Btw, nobody forced you to type anything out. So please don't feel like you have to educate us ignorant "petty" posters.

Ah, you are trolling after all.

It is a bit rude though calling people you disagree with uneducated masses, even well educated people will not be an expert on every subject. It is not as if land use patters or population density have been in most curriculums and at this point the majority of people in the city grew up in the suburbs or suburban-ish areas of a city, so they are not going to be considering downtown out of nostalgia or to be close to family/friends.

I know what he means by uneducated mass. He's saying if you asked the average Oklahoma City resident how the downtown housing market is, most would respond with "Section 8 apartments?" or "Who'd live downtown, you could get murdered on the street."

I know of several who are ignorant to the reality that OKC now has a thriving and increasing by the day residential component. I have personally asked these people if they'd consider downtown living, and they did respond with statements similar to above. So, yes they are a mass of people who are uneducated on the specifics of our downtown, not necessarily uneducated (i.e. high school/college dropouts), just uneducated on this specific subject. These same people I asked do not read the DOK or Gazzette or follow any of the downtown/inner city related blogs/websites. They get all of their news from TV or radio broadcasters, which have ignored a lot of the downtown development other than the CHK Arena, KD's Restaurant, and Devon Tower.

The following of downtown development is really a "cult following" right now, but that is quickly changing.

My point is just that I think News9 coverage of downtown's booming housing market is more useful than NY Times coverage (ergo this article is cause to celebrate), and I think we can all agree on that in general. My apologies if I get annoyed at objections to the specifics behind the reasoning... but it's true and I'm just tired and expressing myself plainly, which never goes over well for anyone in any company. Let alone especially on OKC Talk....

Besides, I don't mean to imply that there's anything wrong with the 32 year old soccer mom in a Wal-mart parking lot. That's like half my family back home :/ Here in Ohio we call them the "undecided voter" but back in Oklahoma we all know there is no such thing (so that takes away the easily-comprehensible and non-offensive label)...

My point is just that I think News9 coverage of downtown's booming housing market is more useful than NY Times coverage (ergo this article is cause to celebrate), and I think we can all agree on that in general. My apologies if I get annoyed at objections to the specifics behind the reasoning... but it's true and I'm just tired and expressing myself plainly, which never goes over well for anyone in any company. Let alone especially on OKC Talk....

Besides, I don't mean to imply that there's anything wrong with the 32 year old soccer mom in a Wal-mart parking lot. That's like half my family back home :/ Here in Ohio we call them the "undecided voter" but back in Oklahoma we all know there is no such thing (so that takes away the easily-comprehensible and non-offensive label)...

May I suggest "the unaware" as a less perjorative term?

I took 'uneducated' to simply mean people who were not educated about downtown OKC. The only time the average person in OKC reads the New York Times is if it is a link from the Drudge Report, and there aren't very many of those on OKC downtown housing. I know more about what goes in downtown OKC than my family members who live in OKC, and I am 1000 miles away. Plus, I have seen the local TV station news stories and sadly, it appears I know more than them also (thank you OKCTalk).

Alas, it isn't just OKC either. We have the same phenomena here in Jax where 99% of suburban population couldn't tell you one thing about downtown Jax other than it has homeless people because very few people subscribe to the newspaper and the local TV stations are more interested in shooting and rapes than downtown condo development (unless of course the shooting or rape is at a downtown condo development and then they are all over that like white on rice on a paper plate in a snowstorm). I shudder to think how much further along Jax would be if it had an OKCTalk equivalent.

For example: This is front page story in our morning paper today. This however, will not be on our local news tonight and is only available to subscribers on-line. Thus very few people in Jax will know about it.

http://jacksonville.com/premium-promo/2012-11-13/story/transformational-riverside-avenue-project-will-kick-tuesday

You can find more about it here

http://www.metrojacksonville.com/article/2012-jan-220-riverside-coming-to-brooklyn

No doubt OKCTalk has brought us all into the fold. Or we'd all be "uneducated" or "unaware" regarding downtown..

No doubt OKCTalk has brought us all into the fold. Or we'd all be "uneducated" or "unaware" regarding downtown..

Agree with that! And with most of what you're saying too. It's frankly a bit shocking how unaware (we'll say that as opposed to ignorant) some OKC residents are about their own city. Never understood Oklahomans' propensity to take a dump on themselves and on this great city they live in. Boggles my mind. As a brief example I had a friend tell me how there were "no good restaurants" in OKC. Then I asked him if he'd ever been to simple places like Big Truck, S&Bs, the Wedge (pretty common places I'm sure everyone here has at least heard of) - of course he hasn't, but as an OKC native he thinks it's "cool" to diss OKC.

That is because out in the burbs where most people live there are not any 'good' restaurants - just chains. Nothing unique or worth carrying about.

I dunno, I care about Boulevard Steakhouse

That is because out in the burbs where most people live there are not any 'good' restaurants - just chains. Nothing unique or worth carrying about.

Some of the best restaurants in town are in the burbs and not chains. Guess the uneducated title goes to a lot of people if you are speaking of being unaware or just biased.

Some of the best restaurants in town are in the burbs and not chains. Guess the uneducated title goes to a lot of people if you are speaking of being unaware or just biased.

Rover, can you make posts without directly dissing someone in this thread??

There's lots of good stuff out in the 'burbs. Perhaps many of you urban-focused folk are just "uneducated" about it? :tongue:

Ahh crap. Rover beat me to it.

Well I never went there. I detest Moore, but Two Olives Cafe (in the old high school bldg in Old Town) is a very cool little place, for example.

However I don't think it's at all unfair to say that downtown fosters a much better restaurant scene. There are dozens of such great restaurants downtown. No other 2-square-mile area of OKC can claim this.

Rover, can you make posts without directly dissing someone in this thread??

I will if you will. :-)

Rover, can you make posts without directly dissing someone in this thread??

That's rich, Spartan.

Well I never went there. I detest Moore, but Two Olives Cafe (in the old high school bldg in Old Town) is a very cool little place, for example.

However I don't think it's at all unfair to say that downtown fosters a much better restaurant scene. There are dozens of such great restaurants downtown. No other 2-square-mile area of OKC can claim this.

I don't know why it is necessary to trash something just to promote something else. While I think "dozens" downtown is a gross overstatement, there are several good restaurants downtown. But, in a 2 square mile in the "burbs" you can include many very good restaurants as well, depending where you arbitrarily draw the lines. We are blessed with a healthy local restaurant scene and good options in multiple parts of the metro. In fact, some of the better casual choices are now migrating downtown. And, some of the downtown options are expanding to the burbs. Everyone is benefitted.

You might go visit Coach House, Metro, Cafe 501, Upper Crust, Ranch, Michaels/Grand, Vito's, Coolgreens, West, Republic, Mathew Kenny, Sean Cummings Pub, Nomad, 1492, etc. in the Nichols Hills/NH West area. All local, all good with a few very good. No chains. And there are a host of others in the area that cater to niches, like Cous Cous Cafe, S&B, and a number of Asian restaurants along May., etc. When you are in town you should experience the area.

I will if you will. :-)

Ah Rover, you could learn from me :P ...I only vaguely insult people who I'm not talking to, whereas, you can't help but be smarmy to everyone you're talking to. I mean, on here people are going to hate you after 8,000+ posts and almost 10 years no matter what :/

Didn't you actually call OKCisOK4ME poor and not downtown-worthy in another thread or something that caused a huge spat? :rolleyes:

I don't think you are as vague as you think.

I don't remember a dust up with OKCisOK4ME. But I am aging and don't remember several things....a day. LOL.

I love your passion and the perspective you bring. But I think we all need to be more about promoting good ideas than slamming those who disagree. Good ideas can come from a lot of places, including from those who don't make a career of studying the subject. I think we sometimes get more caught up in selling our own ideas than in considering other points of view.

No doubt.

I don't know why it is necessary to trash something just to promote something else. While I think "dozens" downtown is a gross overstatement, there are several good restaurants downtown. But, in a 2 square mile in the "burbs" you can include many very good restaurants as well, depending where you arbitrarily draw the lines. We are blessed with a healthy local restaurant scene and good options in multiple parts of the metro. In fact, some of the better casual choices are now migrating downtown. And, some of the downtown options are expanding to the burbs. Everyone is benefitted.

You might go visit Coach House, Metro, Cafe 501, Upper Crust, Ranch, Michaels/Grand, Vito's, Coolgreens, West, Republic, Mathew Kenny, Sean Cummings Pub, Nomad, 1492, etc. in the Nichols Hills/NH West area. All local, all good with a few very good. No chains. And there are a host of others in the area that cater to niches, like Cous Cous Cafe, S&B, and a number of Asian restaurants along May., etc. When you are in town you should experience the area.

I'd hardly call any of those suburban. Inner-urban fringe, sure.

I don't know why it is necessary to trash something just to promote something else. While I think "dozens" downtown is a gross overstatement, there are several good restaurants downtown. But, in a 2 square mile in the "burbs" you can include many very good restaurants as well, depending where you arbitrarily draw the lines. We are blessed with a healthy local restaurant scene and good options in multiple parts of the metro. In fact, some of the better casual choices are now migrating downtown. And, some of the downtown options are expanding to the burbs. Everyone is benefitted.

You might go visit Coach House, Metro, Cafe 501, Upper Crust, Ranch, Michaels/Grand, Vito's, Coolgreens, West, Republic, Mathew Kenny, Sean Cummings Pub, Nomad, 1492, etc. in the Nichols Hills/NH West area. All local, all good with a few very good. No chains. And there are a host of others in the area that cater to niches, like Cous Cous Cafe, S&B, and a number of Asian restaurants along May., etc. When you are in town you should experience the area.

1492, Irma's, McNellie's, Stella, Kaiser's, Saturn Grill, GOGO Sushi, the Packard, Waffle Champion, Ludivine, Hideaway, S&B Burgers, Iguana Grill, RED Prime, Beatnix Cafe, Cafe do Brazil, Hobby's Hoagies, Steak & Catfish, La Cuerva... and that's just places that I like in Midtown (did leave out a few places I don't like, though I also included places I've eaten at before whose Midtown location is still under construction). I won't even get into the Arts District, downtown proper, Bricktown, Deep Deuce, etc--all packed with even more restaurants.

I don't think there is ANY area that comes close to rivaling downtown for restaurants. Or to put it another way, the restaurant scene has really become downtown's specialty.

Ah Rover, you could learn from me :P ...I only vaguely insult people who I'm not talking to, whereas, you can't help but be smarmy to everyone you're talking to. I mean, on here people are going to hate you after 8,000+ posts and almost 10 years no matter what :/

Didn't you actually call OKCisOK4ME poor and not downtown-worthy in another thread or something that caused a huge spat? :rolleyes:

Its okay. He doesn't know me and besides...I've moved beyond the petty banter lol

Well, they certainly aren't downtown. I guess if the boundaries are arbitrary, than anything can be claimed as part of the territory to make a point and skew and argument to one's favor. The area noted has much more in common with a suburb than an urban downtown.

Since this is 5 or 6 miles out, do you claim that as the radius to claim for downtown and the fringes?

The point is, that at this time downtown is blessed with some good restaurants but so are other areas of town.

Huh???

Uh... Downtown stretches from 13th to I-40. In a few years it will go to the Oklahoma River. I can't believe we're arguing over this. Everyone who lives in OKC can point to the general area of downtown on a map (even if they think it's all Section 8 and bums), and knows that it's much more than just the office tower core around Park & Robinson.

This is really becoming semantics. All I wanted to do is point out the good news that the news channels are covering downtown's boom in for-sale housing. It's becoming incredibly obvious, Rover, that all you want to do is split hairs and argue over anything..

I am however amused by your latest side bar that downtown's restaurant scene is not unique.

Rover, can you make posts without directly dissing someone in this thread??


2879

Some of the best restaurants in town are in the burbs and not chains. Guess the uneducated title goes to a lot of people if you are speaking of being unaware or just biased.

Maybe.

(see how I didn't get offended).

Holy Ghost, I came here thinking I'd find some good, new information about The Hill and instead found 2 pages of people arguing about suburban restaurants and name calling.

2879

That is an awesome graphic btw

Does anyone know who does the landscaping at The Hill?

Huh???

Uh... Downtown stretches from 13th to I-40. In a few years it will go to the Oklahoma River. I can't believe we're arguing over this. Everyone who lives in OKC can point to the general area of downtown on a map (even if they think it's all Section 8 and bums), and knows that it's much more than just the office tower core around Park & Robinson.

This is really becoming semantics. All I wanted to do is point out the good news that the news channels are covering downtown's boom in for-sale housing. It's becoming incredibly obvious, Rover, that all you want to do is split hairs and argue over anything..

I am however amused by your latest side bar that downtown's restaurant scene is not unique.

"Downtown" used to be even bigger -- going much further west.

In the 60s, before downtown began to retract for truly the first time, they were talking about expanding downtown west all the way to Penn. String of pearls... and other civic initiatives.

I can't remember, did the original String of Pearls include any commercial or residential? Seemed like it was trails, equestrian center, etc. There was talk of improvements of Stockyard City, but not related to downtown. The comments were to allow housing areas of all densities to develop along the river, including single family houses. But the areas indicated were essentially the currently planned ones and not extending out west were they?