Plaza District residents are active in area's business decisions | NewsOK.com (http://m.newsok.com/plaza-district-residents-are-active-in-areas-business-decisions/article/4850216)

Great news for the Plaza District!

Change ahead as largest shopping center in Oklahoma City's Plaza District is acquired by familiar name | NewsOK.com (http://m.newsok.com/article/4850214)

Any particular reason you reposted the same article that I had just posted?

Any particular reason you reposted the same article that I had just posted?I believe he posted a mobile version.

I believe he posted a mobile version.

I don't have an account on NewsOK, so I could not see the article ljbab728 posted, but could see the one John posted.

I don't have an account on NewsOK, so I could not see the article ljbab728 posted, but could see the one John posted.same

It's available now, it just takes a little longer. The article is exactly the same.

No one wants to wait until the weekend to read an article that they can read now.

Any particular reason you reposted the same article that I had just posted?

You realize people can't read the articles you post if they don't have an account, right?

It's weird that you get offended by that.

Like

You realize people can't read the articles you post if they don't have an account, right?

It's weird that you get offended by that.

You don't have to wait until the weekend to read an article like that. It becomes available sometime later in the day. I'm not offended but posting something twice just to be able to read it a few hours quicker just seems a little silly and I just don't understand why someone would think that is necessary. Maybe many of our readers should start a subscription to the Oklahoman. I'm sure that Steve would appreciate that more than posting a mobile version of his stories here. :)

You don't have to wait until the weekend to read an article like that. It becomes available sometime later in the day. I'm not offended but posting something twice just to be able to read it a few hours quicker just seems a little silly and I just don't understand why someone would think that is necessary. Maybe many of our readers should start a subscription to the Oklahoman. I'm sure that Steve would appreciate that more than posting a mobile version of his stories here. :)

He tweets the mobile versions, so I'm not sure it matters.

He tweets the mobile versions, so I'm not sure it matters.

I would think that benefiting the company that pays his salary would matter to him to some extent. I could post also post the mobile version but think it's more respectful to post the other version. Again, it's only a matter of a few hours until the version I post is completely available so I don't understand why people think it's necessary to post it twice in the middle of the night so one or two people can read it quicker. It's not a huge issue though.

I would think that benefiting the company that pays his salary would matter to him to some extent. I could post also post the mobile version but think it's more respectful to post the other version. Again, it's only a matter of a few hours until the version I post is completely available so I don't understand why people think it's necessary to post it twice in the middle of the night so one or two people can read it quicker. It's not a huge issue though.

You're right, but you are the one making an issue out of it. No disrespect intended.

I would think that benefiting the company that pays his salary would matter to him to some extent. I could post also post the mobile version but think it's more respectful to post the other version. Again, it's only a matter of a few hours until the version I post is completely available so I don't understand why people think it's necessary to post it twice in the middle of the night so one or two people can read it quicker. It's not a huge issue though.

If respect is one of your primary concerns then you should check your post. It comes off as disrespectful.

If respect is one of your primary concerns then you should check your post. It comes off as disrespectful.

I had no intent to be disrespectful and don't believe I was in the least. I merely asked a question about why someone would post something twice. If you want to see disrespect go to the politics section. :wink:. This is getting totally off of the subject of the Plaza District though.

Here's what I see in those two links. ljbab728's on left, John Knight's on right.

http://i.imgur.com/4PjUI4F.png http://i.imgur.com/h8lUie0.png

ljbab728, your "completely available" links are no bueno

Like

6/4/2014

https://scontent-a-dfw.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xfa1/t31.0-8/10387080_10203049516431360_7119152293284727487_o.j pg

https://scontent-b-dfw.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xap1/t31.0-8/10295970_10203049517351383_1234590594474733294_o.j pg

https://scontent-a-dfw.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xpf1/t31.0-8/10344332_10203049519551438_2284861108909144071_o.j pg

Cool building looks like it's being renovated
https://scontent-a-dfw.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xfp1/t31.0-8/10452960_10203049520151453_792661319929031481_o.jp g

Yes, PluPan, that building is going to house an ice cream shop and a craft beer pub.

Yes, PluPan, that building is going to house an ice cream shop and a craft beer pub.That will be nice! I've been coming to this area a lot lately.

Yes, PluPan, that building is going to house an ice cream shop and a craft beer pub.

Not just any ice cream shop - It's Roxy's!!!! They are our absolute favorite. We hunt the truck down often and use them all the time for private events. Can't wait for them to open. I here the building owner/landlord is dragging their feet quite a bit though.

Not just any ice cream shop - It's Roxy's!!!! They are our absolute favorite. We hunt the truck down often and use them all the time for private events. Can't wait for them to open. I here the building owner/landlord is dragging their feet quite a bit though.

Oh wow! We love Roxy's ice cream. Can't wait until this opens!

This is that building under renovation, along with more info about the two new tenants:

Blair Upholstery - OKCTalk (http://www.okctalk.com/showwiki.php?title=Blair+Upholstery&highlight=blair)

Plaza District Parking Study Final Report is available online: ISSUU - Plaza District: A Parking Blueprint by OU Institute for Quality Communities (http://issuu.com/ouiqc/docs/plazaparkingblueprint?e=9966217/8219732)

I hate to be a downer because the Plaza is probably my favorite friday happy hour spots, ever, but i cant help thinking more police presence in the area would be nice. Was out there friday afternoon or early evening with friends and was surprised at the amount of vehicles that drive through there with their car stereos blasting at max volume, typically SUVs with 24" wheels or little imports with no mufflers, that type of thing. Its not like they were going from point A to point B, it appeared as though they were cruising the Plaza as we noticed the same 2 or 3 vehicles go by several times while we were out on the patio.

Also something we found disturbing, a large truck with 4 young hispanic men was driving around and someone inside the truck kept yelling anti-gay slurs out their truck windows at people, i mean seriously what the heck is wrong with them? Not that this behavior would ever be acceptable, but its 2014, you would think these guys would find something better to do with their time.

Im not going to let that type of thing ruin my night out, but i sure hope this isnt going to be some kind of trend in this area.

I hate to be a downer because the Plaza is probably my favorite friday happy hour spots, ever, but i cant help thinking more police presence in the area would be nice. Was out there friday afternoon or early evening with friends and was surprised at the amount of vehicles that drive through there with their car stereos blasting at max volume, typically SUVs with 24" wheels or little imports with no mufflers, that type of thing. Its not like they were going from point A to point B, it appeared as though they were cruising the Plaza as we noticed the same 2 or 3 vehicles go by several times while we were out on the patio.

Also something we found disturbing, a large truck with 4 young hispanic men was driving around and someone inside the truck kept yelling anti-gay slurs out their truck windows at people, i mean seriously what the heck is wrong with them? Not that this behavior would ever be acceptable, but its 2014, you would think these guys would find something better to do with their time.

Im not going to let that type of thing ruin my night out, but i sure hope this isnt going to be some kind of trend in this area.

The Plaza district isn't exactly surrounded by the greatest of neighborhoods. I was driving around there last week with a friend and we both mentioned how the place has a long way to go. I have never felt unsafe at the Plaza itself but a few streets over in either direction is a different story. Hopefully the gentrification that is currently taking place east of Classen will make its way to the Classen Ten Penn area.

The Plaza district isn't exactly surrounded by the greatest of neighborhoods. I was driving around there last week with a friend and we both mentioned how the place has a long way to go. I have never felt unsafe at the Plaza itself but a few streets over in either direction is a different story. Hopefully the gentrification that is currently taking place east of Classen will make its way to the Classen Ten Penn area.

There is much improvement under way in the area.

https://mobile.twitter.com/plazadistrict/status/492004332020457472

8732

https://mobile.twitter.com/plazadistrict/status/492004332020457472

8732

Cute new sign for Pie Junkie!..

That looks great. I love all the neon going in everywhere.

I heard a rumor this building on blackwelder is supposed to become a restaurant.

6016

Here is an updated look at this house.

8756

Wow. It's amazing what adding a porch did for the look of that house.

Agree 100%. Amazing transformation.

We all know home prices have gone up significantly in Mesta Park and Heritage Hills and that neighborhoods to the north (Jefferson Park) and west (Gatewood and even Classen-Ten-Penn) have also picked up a lot of steam.

To demonstrate exactly how hot things are in Gatewood, NINE homes sold in August alone; 12 had sold earlier in 2014.

So, 21 homes have changed hands in this neighborhood alone so far this year, most selling very quickly after hitting the market.

I started looking to purchase a house 6-7 months ago specifically in the areas mentioned above. The sales price steadily increased over that time period and most reasonably priced houses had multiple offers with a week. This is a great sign for the area and for the sellers, but as a buyer it became increasingly frustrating.

On the bright side, this opened up the opportunity to live in a MidtownR development which I am just as or more excited about.

I started looking to purchase a house 6-7 months ago specifically in the areas mentioned above. The sales price steadily increased over that time period and most reasonably priced houses had multiple offers with a week. This is a great sign for the area and for the sellers, but as a buyer it became increasingly frustrating.

On the bright side, this opened up the opportunity to live in a MidtownR development which I am just as or more excited about.

To land my Mesta home we had to put in an offer the day it was listed. My wife and my realtor were the first to view the house and scrambled to get the offer written while other people were looking at it. I wasn't even in town. Following everything via text message was tense and the suspense was palpable. It all felt like a heist movie or something.

That was the urgency that was encouraged by my realtor. I guess when you know you know, but when making a big purchase like that I like to have a little more time to think about it. That combined with the fact that to get any of the houses in my budget I was going to have to offer asking price or above to secure, I decided to wait a year and hopefully (for my sake) the market will settle a little by then.


To land my Mesta home we had to put in an offer the day it was listed. My wife and my realtor were the first to view the house and scrambled to get the offer written while other people were looking at it. I wasn't even in town. Following everything via text message was tense and the suspense was palpable. It all felt like a heist movie or something.

^

The real estate market has always been like that here in SoCal (have to make an offer on the spot) and it's completely unnerving.

I looked forever but because it's so expensive out here, any possibility required lots of compromises. I never once saw a house that I was excited about; merely places I could possibly make work, while extending myself financially beyond any level of comfort.

After taking a day to think about lots of places and then losing out, I finally found something that wasn't horrific, although it was farther out than I wanted. I decided to make an offer on the spot and when it was accepted, I almost had a nervous breakdown over buyer's remorse.

It all worked out because I spent a couple of years completely remodeling, and it took almost as long to get my mind around being 20 minutes from the beach; in my previous 15 years here I had never lived farther than two blocks from the sand but of course, I couldn't afford to buy any of those places.

Having to make such a huge financial and personal decision in such a rush is harrowing, to say the least. But I expect things to only heat up further in these neighborhoods, and it's a fact of life lots of other cities have been contending with for a while.

Sooner,

What is your budget and what size house are you looking for?

Sooner,

What is your budget and what size house are you looking for?

In a perfect world:

$150-$200 (depending on state of the house)
~1,500-2,200 sf
2-3 bedroom
2 bath*
Garage*

*Necessities

There are houses out there that fall into this bucket, but they were primarily in Crestwood. My preference would be to be East of Classen and South of 23rd. I've realized over the past 6 months that the likelihood of me finding a house that fits those parameters is slim, which is why I've put the search on hold for the meanwhile.

Slim indeed. More than one bathroom and garages aren't real common in homes of that era (as you have probably already noticed). Good luck. I hope you find the perfect house.

I've pretty much decided I'll have to move back to OKC to ever afford to buy a house. Median Home Price In Seattle Surpasses 2007 Peak - Seattle Real Estate (http://blog.seattlepi.com/seattlerealestate/2014/08/13/median-home-price-in-seattle-surpasses-2007-peak/)

:eek:

You have 6 criteria there and you could probably get all 6 in crestwood or central gatewood, 5 criteria in east or west gatewood and 4 criteria in mesta park.

In Mesta and heritage hills there is a gray market where houses change hands from owner to owner without hitting the mls.

I've pretty much decided I'll have to move back to OKC to ever afford to buy a house. Median Home Price In Seattle Surpasses 2007 Peak - Seattle Real Estate (http://blog.seattlepi.com/seattlerealestate/2014/08/13/median-home-price-in-seattle-surpasses-2007-peak/) :eek:

It's one of the horrible realities about moving away from OKC; virtually every other city is more expensive and the good places are WAY more expensive.

If you stay for any period of time you'll start to let go of those old expectations. I looked for 10 years here and would always get completely depressed: Only found tiny, awful homes in neighborhoods I didn't want to live, and I still couldn't afford them.

But, after a severe attitude and expectation adjustment, I found a suitable compromise. And once you buy into one of these expensive markets, all the crazy pricing starts to work for you rather than against you. :)

Slim indeed. More than one bathroom and garages aren't real common in homes of that era (as you have probably already noticed). Good luck. I hope you find the perfect house.

I've pretty much decided I'll have to move back to OKC to ever afford to buy a house. Median Home Price In Seattle Surpasses 2007 Peak - Seattle Real Estate (http://blog.seattlepi.com/seattlerealestate/2014/08/13/median-home-price-in-seattle-surpasses-2007-peak/)

:eek:

The *day* we drove into the Seattle area after moving from IL, hoping we could eventually buy there, the headline on the paper we saw was "Median Home Price in Seattle Reaches $500,000". We were screwed. Never, ever trust the city comparison cost calculators, their data is 3-6 months behind the real world.

Sooner,

1728 NW 21st. $65,500, central gatwood. Just spend 75k fixing it up with a 203k loan and you are golden.

To land my Mesta home we had to put in an offer the day it was listed. My wife and my realtor were the first to view the house and scrambled to get the offer written while other people were looking at it. I wasn't even in town. Following everything via text message was tense and the suspense was palpable. It all felt like a heist movie or something.

+1

It's also not a bad idea to rent in the area (while looking to buy) if that's an option. My home in Heritage was on the market 4 hours. We were renting next door, watched my neighbor walk the "FSBO" sign to the devil strip. My wife walked over, asked the price, said "we'll take it". We moved (20ish feet) the next month.

House down the street sold in 7 hours two weeks before. Crazy market in HH/Mesta for 2-3 BRs.

+1

It's also not a bad idea to rent in the area (while looking to buy) if that's an option. My home in Heritage was on the market 4 hours. We were renting next door, watched my neighbor walk the "FSBO" sign to the devil strip. My wife walked over, asked the price, said "we'll take it". We moved (20ish feet) the next month.

House down the street sold in 7 hours two weeks before. Crazy market in HH/Mesta for 2-3 BRs.

I spoke to a friend who got a place in Gatewood after looking for months. The place he bought never even hit the market. It's crazy what is happening in these inner-city nabes, and very promising for OKC. There is just insane demand inside the inner core, particularly in the historic hoods and areas near walkable districts.

Good thing millenials aren't moving back to the city and all of those studies are just made up.

For the casual looker, on a move in ready, whats the recent price/sq foot range in Mesta vs. Gatewood/Plaza, like a big difference in $/sq. ft or not so much...?

a house that sells in 4 or 7 hours seems like it might be under-priced, no?

I tried to search, is there a separate Heritage hills and Mesta Park thread or are they lumped together now

For the casual looker, on a move in ready, whats the recent price/sq foot range in Mesta vs. Gatewood/Plaza, like a big difference in $/sq. ft or not so much...?

a house that sells in 4 or 7 hours seems like it might be under-priced, no?

I tried to search, is there a separate Heritage hills and Mesta Park thread or are they lumped together now


It ranges quite a bit. Nice move-in-ready homes in Mesta have been in the $130-145/sq ft range. Step into HH and you add ~$15/sq. ft premium just by crossing the street, with move-in ready homes there starting closer to $150/sq. ft. Larger houses (like 5 bedrooms) tend to get a slightly lower price per sq. ft (although not always) but the overall price is higher.

The high end of Gatewood is currently around $125/sq ft. This is in the three high-quality areas: northeast Gatewood, Carey Place, and around St. Francis Church. Some decent homes in other areas going as low as $100-115. In Mesta if you see a house at or below $100/sq ft. know that it is going to need a LOT of work.

As Urbanized mentioned once upon a time, the area around St. Francis Church is very nice but is very Catholic-y. A lot of houses there are sold from one church member to another without ever hitting the MLS.

It ranges quite a bit. Nice move-in-ready homes in Mesta have been in the $130-145/sq ft range. Step into HH and you add ~$15/sq. ft premium just by crossing the street, with move-in ready homes there starting closer to $150/sq. ft. Larger houses (like 5 bedrooms) tend to get a slightly lower price per sq. ft (although not always) but the overall price is higher.

The high end of Gatewood is currently around $125/sq ft. This is in the three high-quality areas: northeast Gatewood, Carey Place, and around St. Francis Church. Some decent homes in other areas going as low as $100-115. In Mesta if you see a house at or below $100/sq ft. know that it is going to need a LOT of work.

As Urbanized mentioned once upon a time, the area around St. Francis Church is very nice but is very Catholic-y. A lot of houses there are sold from one church member to another without ever hitting the MLS.

You are low for HH. There is also a difference between a "move in ready" house in Mesta/HH and one that has been gutted and remodeled. Some of the houses that have been rebuilt to code have recently sold for closer to $200/ft but the two I am thinking of were FSBO and didn't hit the MLS. Both of these homes were bought by wealthy people downsizing from a 4000 Ft^2 house in Edmond to a 2000+ Ft^2 in HH. In general Heritage Hills has arrived and when someone remodels they are just adding more and more luxury. Mesta Park is still up and coming in certain areas.

Good thing millenials aren't moving back to the city and all of those studies are just made up.same thing is happening in Edmond with nice houses from what I've seen. My neighbors house wasn't even out for a day and it was gone. A house I was looking at by UCO was gone in less than a day.

same thing is happening in Edmond with nice houses from what I've seen. My neighbors house wasn't even out for a day and it was gone. A house I was looking at by UCO was gone in less than a day.
Why are you looking at house near UCO, Plupan? I thought you were moving downtown? :)

same thing is happening in Edmond with nice houses from what I've seen. My neighbors house wasn't even out for a day and it was gone. A house I was looking at by UCO was gone in less than a day.

OH Edmond. OH. Yeah. That's what people want. Ohhhh.

Thank you all for the advice.... I am renting for the next year in Midtown so I will be able to keep a close eye on the area.

Why are you looking at house near UCO, Plupan? I thought you were moving downtown? :)I have been weighing my options. I am probably moving downtown though. These houses were when I first started looking.

Although what people said about the space issues really got me thinking, and I think I'm going to try and find a house for rent in the urban loop close to the core but not an apartment.

OH Edmond. OH. Yeah. That's what people want. Ohhhh.I don't know what people want, I'm just saying.... :p

OH Edmond. OH. Yeah. That's what people want. Ohhhh.

Some people do want Edmond. Others move there even though they want downtown but the housing market is too tight downtown right now. Some of the stories in this thread really back that up. Districts like the Wheeler district, which will bring more single family homes to the core, will be much welcome.

Chris, are you assuming the wheeler district will have homes available in the 110-125 per foot range?

I bet the first lot of homes run for 100 - 150 per range, but after about the first third of development of the area is in, they'll shoot up to 175+ per range. It really just depends on what they charge for the lots. The quality of construction is part of the cost, but the land costs downtown contribute to the fairly high prices for real estate. I imagine there's a hefty amount of difference between land costs in the two areas. But now that the Humphreys have a monopoly on that land, they really set most of the rules.