Well, there will be cars going into two different parking garages, pedestrians walking in and out of a grocery store and a restaurant at LEVEL, and pedestrians strolling along the south side going to and fro a coffee shop, bar, and restaurant at ALOFT, PLUS business and offices at 2nd Street lofts!

What is the estimated open date for LEVEL? What about aLOFT considering it's just now going vertical? Just curious the overlap in construction and when they'll both be done...

What is the estimated open date for LEVEL? What about aLOFT considering it's just now going vertical? Just curious the overlap in construction and when they'll both be done...

April 2012 for LEVEL and early 2013 for aLOFT, I believe.

After weeks of setting piers underground, the above ground columns started sprouting in the last few days! View from pocket park looking East.1028

From today:

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/aloft1118.jpg

I deleted a ton of posts that were way off topic.

Back to discussing the Aloft, please.

Wow, it sure has changed a lot since I seen it! (LOL sorry, couldn't resist, intended in jest :D! )

Wow, it sure has changed a lot since I seen it! (LOL sorry, couldn't resist, intended in jest :D! )

LOL good one. =)

many construction pillars at this site and ground floor walls going up...

Yesterday (click for larger version):

http://img692.imageshack.us/img692/8097/img0015vg.th.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/692/img0015vg.jpg/)

From today:

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/aloft1118.jpg

Ya see Pete... It's pics like these that made me think you lived here in okc (and possibly worked in Chase Tower)

From today:

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/aloft1118.jpg

What's with the undeveloped wooded area south of the Aloft?

That needs to be paved for more parking, Okc shouldn't settle for anything less! haha

Seriously though, nice pic! DD is going to be a truly unique and incredible place in Okc this time next year.

What's with the undeveloped wooded area south of the Aloft?

That needs to be paved for more parking, Okc shouldn't settle for anything less! haha

Seriously though, nice pic! DD is going to be a truly unique and incredible place in Okc this time next year.

That wooded area is actually a pretty step hill. It is the original north bank of the North Canadian River floodplain.

I am sure that one of the great Okc parking lot developers can figure out a way to pave it. haha. If the is a will there is a way,.... pave it, park it, cash it!

BTW I drive by the Aloft and Level almost every morning. It really needs to be seen in order to believe the changes that these two developments are having in the DD area. I can only imagine what this area will be like in 5-7 years from now once the streetcar is traveling through deep deuce loaded with local resident passengers.

I am sure that one of the great Okc parking lot developers can figure out a way to pave it. haha. If the is a will there is a way,.... pave it, park it, cash it!

BTW I drive by the Aloft and Level almost every morning. It really needs to be seen in order to believe the changes that these two developments are having in the DD area. I can only imagine what this area will be like in 5-7 years from now once the streetcar is traveling through deep deuce loaded with local resident passengers.

Traditional neighborhood development works every time it is tried. Maybe someday you will walk by them everyday instead of driving by. If you think areas like that are cool from the street, wait until you experience it from the sidewalk.

That wooded area is actually a pretty step hill. It is the original north bank of the North Canadian River floodplain.

Also, don't forget that even not in use, its Union Pacific's right-of-way. There are rails in there. They're just covered with overgrowth.

Also, don't forget that even not in use, its Union Pacific's right-of-way. There are rails in there. They're just covered with overgrowth.

Isn't that track the one Union Pacific aquired about month or so ago?

any new pics?

Isn't that track the one Union Pacific aquired about month or so ago?

Yes.

any new pics?

Not as nice as the aerial view, but here's one taken this weekend:
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-XzaJyLMETL8/Tv0bh3pSeBI/AAAAAAAAAR0/GwHOQujaaPI/s720/IMG_2676.jpg

Any chance with the development of Level and Aloft, and the other apartment being built north of the Brownstones, the Flatiron building will come back to fruition?

Any chance with the development of Level and Aloft, and the other apartment being built north of the Brownstones, the Flatiron building will come back to fruition?

I doubt the Humphreys' flatiron will be anytime soon, but I bet this development by AHMM (the architects behind LEVEL) will be officially announced within the next year if Bradshaw goes ahead with his new apartments.

http://www.ahmm.co.uk/projectDetails/79/Maywood-Flatiron

I doubt the Humphreys' flatiron will be anytime soon, but I bet this development by AHMM (the architects behind LEVEL) will be officially announced within the next year if Bradshaw goes ahead with his new apartments.

http://www.ahmm.co.uk/projectDetails/79/Maywood-Flatiron

Good find. Hadn't seen that one.

At only two stories I doubt that gets built. With the available land in DD getting used up the density and height will only increase. I think 5 to 7 stories will be about right.

I can't imagine them going that high for retail/office in Deep Deuce quite yet.

I can't imagine them going that high for retail/office in Deep Deuce quite yet.

1 level of retail, 1 level of office, 1 or 2 levels of parking and 2 to 3 levels of apartments. If they don't start going up soon to maximize leasable space they are going to run out of lots and they will have to start tearing something down before they build. This is a high traffic intersection, they are going to want to maximize the space.

I can't imagine them going that high for retail/office in Deep Deuce quite yet.

When else would they? I could see it.

When else would they? I could see it.

I guess I was just thinking that residential would go high first, and then add on the fact that there is still a fair amount of empty lots in Deep Deuce.

One thing's for sure though, Deep Deuce is hopping!

From today:

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/aloft010512.jpg

I guess I was just thinking that residential would go high first, and then add on the fact that there is still a fair amount of empty lots in Deep Deuce.

One thing's for sure though, Deep Deuce is hopping!

There are still a ton of empty surface lots in downtown Austin, despite the high-rise residential boom. I think our boom will start to take more of an Austin or Charlotte turn eventually, and things should start to get vertical. We knew it would be a while when starting from scratch, but look around. The ball is rolling, and development is really picking up. I think the trend looks good for at least 5-10 stories residential.

And to tell the truth, I would almost rather not see any residential higher than 15 stories.

And to tell the truth, I would almost rather not see any residential higher than 15 stories.

Why do you say that? I am curious because I know you are very knowledgeable on these types of things.

By the way, I am being told there is another tower being planned downtown Austin which may be nearly as big as the Austonian @ about 50 stories. It is encouraging that once the dt residential towers start appearing they seem to encourage others once critical mass is achieved. Hope it happens here.

Maybe we can have one on the new Oklahoma City Boulevard....call it the Oklahoma Citian. Address: The Oklahoma Citian, 1 Oklahoma City Boulevard, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma with great views of the Oklahoma River.

Lol

I'm with Spartan on the building heights. With all the empty lots to be filled, lower-rise residential (5-10 stories) on more lots will help to fill out downtown better than a couple of taller buildings.

It is amazing how much the area in deep deuce has changed with a bunch of new 4-5 story buildings that are built so closely to the roads. Every time I walk around downtown and the Midtown area I am amazed with how many empty lots there are.

Maybe we can have one on the new Oklahoma City Boulevard....call it the Oklahoma Citian. Address: The Oklahoma Citian, 1 Oklahoma City Boulevard, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma with great views of the Oklahoma River.

Catch 22 - are you the Mayor?

It is amazing how much the area in deep deuce has changed with a bunch of new 4-5 story buildings that are built so closely to the roads.

Pretty cool isn't it.

Just drove by and glass is going for the future grocery store

Just drove by and glass is going for the future grocery store

Pretty sure that's at Level and not Aloft...

Pretty sure that's at Level and not Aloft...

you are correct i posted in the wrong thread

From today:

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/aloft21712.jpg

they are moving really slow on this project, given the good weather we've had this winter...

they are moving really slow on this project, given the good weather we've had this winter...

You're right. When you compare that pic to the one posted on January 5th there doesn't seem to be that much visible progress given the time that's passed. But then we are used to the Devon Tower shooting up so quickly.

Foundation work takes time to visibly see progress, as did Devon's. Once they start building walls, it will go up quick, just like Devon.

As somewhat of a idiot with regards to construction practices, can anyone clarify the cost differences in a slow vs. fast construction schedule? I always thought fast was better due to the fact that a lot of construction equipment was rented. I know my crappy apartments spent about three months painting and re-roofing, so I guess a slow schedule is probably cheaper?

bbhill, the real extra costs in a fast job is the overtime (evenings, weekends) of the labor.

Most the equipment is pretty cheap in comparison.

A "fast" construction schedule on a large project is sometimes determined by the financing for the project and how it is financed, a shorter term on a construction loan generally means a lower interest rate so there can be incentive to get things done as fast as possible. For a commercial project it is to try and get to completion to start generating revenue and refinance loans into long term loans.

This project looks more impressive from the ground. The aerial pic doesn't do justice to the size of the foundation forms and piers. I think they are making good progress.

They're starting to put the ceiling/first floor in on the west end. I think by the time it's done, it is going to look massive - and block my view of the fireworks at the Brick. I agree that they are making good progress. It looks as if they've got most of the piers/concrete for the first floor done.

This project looks more impressive from the ground. The aerial pic doesn't do justice to the size of the foundation forms and piers. I think they are making good progress.

Took some yesterday will post later today or tomorrow.

Photo from Level's Facebook page:

http://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/423138_279075068832019_114527048620156_720486_1977 062524_n.jpg

Nice.

I work for Starwood and this Aloft is particularly impressive because very few of them are urban at all. This one is taller and much more urban in design than the vast majority of Alofts. Interestingly the new one in Downtown Tulsa is also going to be very urban.

From today:

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/aloft41712.jpg

The renderings don't look that urban at all..

The renderings don't look that urban at all..

It goes right up next to the street and is surrounding by a neighborhood. It's just modern urbanity.

The renderings don't look that urban at all..

I think it's currently difficult to tell. When it goes up another 5 stories and is finished out, I suspect it will look completely different.

The renderings don't look that urban at all..

how so?

how so?
Depending on which rendering I'm looking at, it just doesn't look like it fits under the "urban title". But, we have to start somewhere (as in making more modern buildings).