I live near 104th and S. May and today we got a letter from Continental Properties saying they were about to build. Here's what the letter said:


Dear Neighbor:

Our company, Continental Properties Company, Inc. ("Continental") plans to develop, own, and operate a Class-A, market rate multi-family development project on approximately 40 acres of land located near the northeast corner of South May Avenue and SW 104th Street in Oklahoma City, as indicated on the enclosed vicinity map.

The letter continues to go on inviting everyone to come to a meeting to allow them to introduce themselves and their proposal. Wanting to get everyone's feedback and answer questions. Below is the map they supplied (I added some identifiers to make it easier to read). I'm assuming "multi-family development" is another way of saying apartments?

http://nathan-brown.com/map.jpg

Interesting. I live off of 104th and wondered how long until this area became something. I like how they left the strip off of 104th, probably for retail one of these days.

Now, unless I"m mistaken, there's also an apartment project going in on the south side of 104th just east of May - directly across from the area you're referencing. I'm not crazy about apartments, but in looking at the elevations for the project I saw, they're going to have a least a significant percentage of brick veneer and decent exterior treatments, so I'm not going to complain too much. As if it would matter if I did :)

The next question is whether I've gotten confused and the project you're referring to is actually the same one I've seen, and I just got the north/south designation messed up.

I'm still hoping for some nice restaurant to go in in that outparcel on the SW corner of 104th and May - not looking for anything fancy, just something pleasant and consistent. There's also quite a bit of undeveloped space south of the Firestone and north of that drive into the addition there (Earlywine Blvd in Lakridge, if I'm not mistaken).

Now, unless I"m mistaken, there's also an apartment project going in on the south side of 104th just east of May - directly across from the area you're referencing. I'm not crazy about apartments, but in looking at the elevations for the project I saw, they're going to have a least a significant percentage of brick veneer and decent exterior treatments, so I'm not going to complain too much. As if it would matter if I did :)

The next question is whether I've gotten confused and the project you're referring to is actually the same one I've seen, and I just got the north/south designation messed up.


I can confirm you are correct about the project you are mentioning..... Not at liberty to give much more information about that project though.

Two apartment complexes going up there is going to be huge for Crest's business and there is still a large parcel of land due south of Crest to be developed.

I can confirm you are correct about the project you are mentioning..... Not at liberty to give much more information about that project though.

Two apartment complexes going up there is going to be huge for Crest's business and there is still a large parcel of land due south of Crest to be developed.

Hmmm...I take it there's information not already in the plans presented to the city...just have wait and see on that, I guess.

Like I said...I'm just hoping for a nice, family oriented sit-down place somewhere at that intersection. Seems a prime location for one.

But then again, maybe these apartments will entice restaurants on the airport retail project. That's only a mile down the road anyways.

Hmmm...I take it there's information not already in the plans presented to the city...just have wait and see on that, I guess.

Not that I know of. I was only involved in the conceptual phase of the project. I don't know what may have changed since then.

I did a google search of Continental Properties and discovered that they are a huge national developer. They have a pretty long list of multi family developements across the country all branded as "The Springs". This is from there website...

"Each of our Springs apartment communities offer townhome-style apartment living with ground-level private entries. Springs communities feature studio to 3-bedroom apartment homes, a clubhouse, resort-style pool, 24-hour fitness center, business center, dog park, and attached and detached garages. Coupled with additional unique amenities such as a free car care center and pet spa area, the Springs create the best in suburban apartment living."

Springs Apartments (http://springsapartments.com/)

This sounds like a great project for that piece of property...

Looks like nice apartments.

I did a google search of Continental Properties and discovered that they are a huge national developer. They have a pretty long list of multi family developements across the country all branded as "The Springs". This is from there website...

"Each of our Springs apartment communities offer townhome-style apartment living with ground-level private entries. Springs communities feature studio to 3-bedroom apartment homes, a clubhouse, resort-style pool, 24-hour fitness center, business center, dog park, and attached and detached garages. Coupled with additional unique amenities such as a free car care center and pet spa area, the Springs create the best in suburban apartment living."

Springs Apartments (http://springsapartments.com/)

This sounds like a great project for that piece of property...

That's *great* news! Don't mind apartments if they're going toward the nicer variety.

Maybe the nice apartments will attract a nice RESTAURANT on 104th and May (insert sound of dead horse being beaten :) )

It would be nice if they would build a Target or Super Walmart near 104th and South May. The stores in east Moore is really too far for us. I did hear that the land on 104th Street by Qudoba Grill, might be a Chick Fila.

I hate it that my first post may sound negative. However as someone who lives in the adjacent neighborhood I'm disappointed to hear this. I checked the zoning before I purchased and would not have bought if I had known it could include apartments. This is just setting up south may to be the next 1-240 in about a decade.

It would be nice if they would build a Target or Super Walmart near 104th and South May. The stores in east Moore is really too far for us. I did hear that the land on 104th Street by Qudoba Grill, might be a Chick Fila.

There's already a Target just a few minutes south in Moore, and I frankly don't have any use for more Super WalMarts. The one at Santa Fe and I=240, Newcastle, or Moore seem ample options for me.

I'm thankful the WalMart originally planned for 104th and May fell through.

I hate it that my first post may sound negative. However as someone who lives in the adjacent neighborhood I'm disappointed to hear this. I checked the zoning before I purchased and would not have bought if I had known it could include apartments. This is just setting up south may to be the next 1-240 in about a decade.

Apartments in and of themselves don't create bad areas. Many times they go down as the surrounding neighborhoods go down and they are just more visible in showing issues. I would like to know where some people on here expect young people to live before they are settled into a location and are still somewhat transient. I guess one is just supposed to immediately marry after college and buy a house.

There's already a Target just a few minutes south in Moore, and I frankly don't have any use for more Super WalMarts. The one at Santa Fe and I=240, Newcastle, or Moore seem ample options for me.

I'm thankful the WalMart originally planned for 104th and May fell through.


I think a Super Target would be very convenient for many people in West Moore. It is 7 miles to the Target in east Moore. I heard that they are already planning to build a Target on SW 104th & I-44. Not sure if this is true or just a rumor.

Apartments in and of themselves don't create bad areas. Many times they go down as the surrounding neighborhoods go down and they are just more visible in showing issues. I would like to know where some people on here expect young people to live before they are settled into a location and are still somewhat transient. I guess one is just supposed to immediately marry after college and buy a house.

A lot of singles myself included buy houses. While apartment dwellers come and go, my house is a major investment. I would have preferred to avoid the light pollution, noise, additional congestion, the loss of scenic view from my backyard and the eventual crime in 15 years when the apartment dwellers have moved on to the newer apartment complex. The village south apartments at western make sense to me. From Western it doesn't appear that they dominate the neighborhoods behind.

Apartments in and of themselves don't create bad areas. Many times they go down as the surrounding neighborhoods go down and they are just more visible in showing issues. I would like to know where some people on here expect young people to live before they are settled into a location and are still somewhat transient. I guess one is just supposed to immediately marry after college and buy a house.

I agree. Not everybody can afford to or wants to live downtown either, especially young couples. Apartment owners simply need stay on top of their complexes because once it starts going downhill its difficult to reverse i.e. Penn and NW 122nd. However, apartments can remain desirable for decades if managed well.

There's already a Target just a few minutes south in Moore, and I frankly don't have any use for more Super WalMarts. The one at Santa Fe and I=240, Newcastle, or Moore seem ample options for me.

I'm thankful the WalMart originally planned for 104th and May fell through.

I agree. OKC has enough Wal-Marts. Target at 104th and I-44 would be nice though.

I think a Super Target would be very convenient for many people in West Moore. It is 7 miles to the Target in east Moore. I heard that they are already planning to build a Target on SW 104th & I-44. Not sure if this is true or just a rumor.

The Moore city limits only extend as far west as one half mile west of Santa Fe. The current Target would be much more convenient for anyone living anywhere in Moore.

The Moore city limits only extend as far west as one half mile west of Santa Fe. The current Target would be much more convenient for anyone living anywhere in Moore.

Agreed but kind of splitting hairs as most people living in and around sw 104 and sw 119 are more in tune with Moore than okc. I technically live in okc but I really consider myself Really a Moore person as that is where my kids go to school. Our dentist, orthodontist, etc are all in Moore. That whole area really blends together. The previous poster is correct in that there really isn't a target that is convenient to those in sw okc/ "west Moore". The south Moore location is difficult to get to because it is all city street driving and not highway.

Agreed but kind of splitting hairs as most people living in and around sw 104 and sw 119 are more in tune with Moore than okc. I technically live in okc but I really consider myself Really a Moore person as that is where my kids go to school. Our dentist, orthodontist, etc are all in Moore. That whole area really blends together. The previous poster is correct in that there really isn't a target that is convenient to those in sw okc/ "west Moore". The south Moore location is difficult to get to because it is all city street driving and not highway.

It may be semantics, but SW OKC isn't Moore, as she said. Also getting to the area in question from most of far SW OKC is also city streets. Far NW OKC isn't Edmond or Piedmont and far west OKC isn't Mustang or Yukon whether they run together or not. It isn't splitting hairs at all. You're thinking about school districts, which is an entirely different issue.

I agree. OKC has enough Wal-Marts. Target at 104th and I-44 would be nice though.Really, OKC has more than enough Walmarts and I would't mind seeing one or two of them torn down and something much better built on the site.

It may be semantics, but SW OKC isn't Moore, as she said. Also getting to the area in question from most of far SW OKC is also city streets. Far NW OKC isn't Edmond or Piedmont and far west OKC isn't Mustang or Yukon whether they run together or not. It isn't splitting hairs at all. You're thinking about school districts, which is an entirely different issue.

I think the issue becomes what the actually address is opposed to city limits. I know a lot of people between Mustang and Yukon that technically live in OKC that say they live in Mustang or Yukon depending on what their address is. Even more confusing is those that live in OKC limits, have a Yukon address, but say they live in Mustang because again, that's where their kids go to school. Fact is a lot of people do reference where they live by school districts in the Suburbs because they have pride in them. I know the neighborhood down from on its sign that describes it, due to it being still developed, says Westmoore and it's at 89th and Rockwell.

With OKC being so big it's hard to place identity on areas that don't have names such as Bricktown, Paseo, etc. Some people will just refer to the area by its directional location, but sometimes that's confusing. I tend to think of South OKC has that between I44 and Moore, South of 240, but some people have it stuck in their head that this is the area directly South of downtown. Then there are those of us that are West of Will Rogers, what I would consider Southwest OKC, but so geographically speaking I'm practically in Mustang, but again, Moore schools, which most people can't believe even go that far. (I'll admit Moore's school district is huge and way overextended IMO). So really when I try to tell people where I live, in their brain it makes most sense to describe where I live as Mustang. I'm sure there are people reading this right now thinking the very same thing.

I live in the area described. I proudly refer to myself as living in OKC. And many neighbors do too.

I live in the area described. I proudly refer to myself as living in OKC. And many neighbors do too.

That's interesting. I know part of it is because many of the people I live around, including myself lived in Mustang for a long time, went to school there, and essentially just have moved away from the 'city' center as we have aged and could afford bigger houses on more land. OKC neglects the area so much or half asses it, it's hard to take pride in them.

I think a Super Target would be very convenient for many people in West Moore. It is 7 miles to the Target in east Moore. I heard that they are already planning to build a Target on SW 104th & I-44. Not sure if this is true or just a rumor.

This was a hot rumor about five years ago, and from what I understand the one that was rumored for that area ended up being the one built in Moore.

If they want to build one on the west side of I-44, I have no problem with that. I just have a hard time believing they'd put one so close to an existing one. If I'm forced to make a choice between a SuperTarget and a WalScum, I'll take the former every time.

Agreed but kind of splitting hairs as most people living in and around sw 104 and sw 119 are more in tune with Moore than okc. I technically live in okc but I really consider myself Really a Moore person as that is where my kids go to school. Our dentist, orthodontist, etc are all in Moore. That whole area really blends together. The previous poster is correct in that there really isn't a target that is convenient to those in sw okc/ "west Moore". The south Moore location is difficult to get to because it is all city street driving and not highway.

Absolutely and categorically wrong. I went to Moore High School, but lived almost all my life in OKC. My kids go to Westmoore, and we live west of where I grew up - even more distant from Moore. I do not live in Moore, and I make no beans correcting people who make the same mistake. I've heard radio people make the same mistake for businesses and shops along SW 89th - oh, down in Moore? NO!!! It's OKLAHOMA CITY. And I"ve not hesitated to correct their error. It isn't a matter of opinion.

I've lived in that area all my life and have aggressively fought the notion that I live in Moore. I do not.

Now, before folks start heaving pitchforks at me for having something against Moore, please let me make it plain that I have nothing against Moore. But no matter how many people are confused about districting and maps and (fill in the blank), I don't live in Moore any more than I live in Norman, San Antonio, El Reno, or Newark.

I live in Oklahoma City. I vote in Oklahoma City municipal elections. I use Oklahoma City trash collection and water. By virtue of my location *within* Oklahoma City, I pay Moore (well Cleveland County) property taxes and my kids attend Moore schools. And that's it.

I'm really hoping that IF they do put apartments in on that lot, that they are nice and well maintained. Does anyone know what happens to property value when something like this goes in, for the homes around it? Just curious.

I would love to see a Super Target go in at 104th and I-44, I personally can't stand Wal-Mart and they seem to be everywhere anyways. Maybe they'll put a Starbucks over there too! lol!

As I said before, I live at 104th and S. May and attended Moore Schools, but anytime someone ask, I just say I live in S. OKC. I do a ton of stuff in Moore, but I live in S. OKC.

Drove by there few days ago and hadn't really seen any work on either one of these projects. Did they maybe get scrapped?

Drove by there few days ago and hadn't really seen any work on either one of these projects. Did they maybe get scrapped?

Have not heard anything one way or the other beyond what was discussed earlier in the thread. Assuming things are still in work until I hear differently.

Good deal keep us up to date.

It may be semantics, but SW OKC isn't Moore, as she said. Also getting to the area in question from most of far SW OKC is also city streets. Far NW OKC isn't Edmond or Piedmont and far west OKC isn't Mustang or Yukon whether they run together or not. It isn't splitting hairs at all. You're thinking about school districts, which is an entirely different issue.

Hmm. I live in far SW OKC but really identify more with Mustang. Mustang schools start right across the street from us (its a private road) and we are actually in the Moore school district. The closest grocery store/Lowes, etc. are in Mustang because we are in a rural/semi rural part of OKC. I can understand someone identifying with a different town when you have more in common with that than technical lines on a map - especially when your schools and emergency services are provided by other providers. I sure love my OKC water, don't get me wrong, but I pay for them. I don't remember ever seeing an OKC cruiser in the neighborhood and most of the firetrucks seem to be from Mustang.

Hmm. I live in far SW OKC but really identify more with Mustang. Mustang schools start right across the street from us (its a private road) and we are actually in the Moore school district. The closest grocery store/Lowes, etc. are in Mustang because we are in a rural/semi rural part of OKC. I can understand someone identifying with a different town when you have more in common with that than technical lines on a map - especially when your schools and emergency services are provided by other providers. I sure love my OKC water, don't get me wrong, but I pay for them. I don't remember ever seeing an OKC cruiser in the neighborhood and most of the firetrucks seem to be from Mustang.

Sounds like you are my neighbor. You don't happen to live off 104th do you? I live right on the Mustang/Moore district line too. I grew up in Mustang and work there so of course that's what I still associate and do business with.

Sounds like you are my neighbor. You don't happen to live off 104th do you? I live right on the Mustang/Moore district line too. I grew up in Mustang and work there so of course that's what I still associate and do business with.

We're closer to 89th but not far from you. Husband was also a Mustang boy and lived on 104th near Mustang Road.

Ok way you described it at first I thought you lived off coldstream and I was thinking that's literally across the street.

The west parcel of the Schaefeur (spelling?) mansion on 104th and Penn is proposed to become an assisted care apartment facility.

The Kingswood homeowners are livid, from what I hear.

Their complaints are they don't want the traffic, and they don't want the wildlife using the vacant mansion lot to be disturbed.

The homeowners association is threatening to sue to block this, from what I have heard.

The west parcel of the Schaefeur (spelling?) mansion on 104th and Penn is proposed to become an assisted care apartment facility.

The Kingswood homeowners are livid, from what I hear.

Their complaints are they don't want the traffic, and they don't want the wildlife using the vacant mansion lot to be disturbed.

The homeowners association is threatening to sue to block this, from what I have heard.
I heard they think there is going to be a Sprouts go in where the mansion is located and they're more against that than the Memory Care facility. Apparently though there is nothing about a Sprouts that's filed.

That would be cool. Haven't heard of Sprouts coming in...

oh man... i hope that sprouts rumor is true. -M

If it is, better hope the lawyers and rich people in kings wood don't get their way.

They sent a petition to every home owner to block the zoning change. They do not want that lot developed at all.

oh man... i hope that sprouts rumor is true. -MThe only access would be from SW 104th. Sprouts are 25,000 to 28,000 sf stores with at least 125 parks; so, there would be plenty of room. Usually they go in a retail center but there may be stand alone stores. The property is about 10 acres total and the Memory Facility is trying to buy 3.5 acres. That would leave 6.5 acres. The asking price is $6 per sf. Although if the Kingswood association is successful in blocking rezoning from R-1 to commercial then it wouldn't be very good.

Just watched the video of the meeting.

Approved as an R-1, but otherwise approved as filed. The east parcels (where the rumored grocery store) were not included in the zoning request. (Duh, but the homeowners were freaking out)

It doesn't sound like the planning commission wants a grocery store on those parcels, but would not be opposed to a different type of commercial.

I loved how one of the commissioners fired back at one of the homeowners, who claimed all the development has destroyed the creek in the back of the neighborhood, by stating "The homeowners association is responsible for the maintenance of your creek, so if there's a problem there you need to fix it."

I just find this whole thing humorous, all of the conservatives in that neighborhood constantly shouting against the government, are pandering and crying to the government to stop someone from building something they don't like.

I watched a lot of that meeting. It is long - like an hour or more. First time I've watched a planning commission meeting.

I thought the Kingswood lawyer bringing up the fact that it had to be kept R-1 for 10 years really didn't help his case much because if Kingswood had really been serious about the R-1 they could have put a restriction in perpetuity.

Certainly Interesting.

Honestly though with all 3 other corners being commercial it is hard to see why this corner shouldn't be commercial. It is SW 104th and Penn after all.

Some of the Kingswood arguments were silly really to me.

And if they really wanted to keep the thing as a single family zoned site they could pony up the money and buy it themselves.

Whenever the commercial request comes up, I'll definitely be signed up to speak in favor.

If you loved nature so much, you'd have moved to the country.
If you loved no traffic, you'd have moved to the country.
If you loved a creek with wonderful rocks, you'd have moved to the country.
You moved into a subdivision inside city limits, with 200 other homes. Surrounded by several other subdivisions, also filled with homes. Don't be surprised when development follows you.

Can't wait to sign up and speak in favor. Bring on the retail!

Interesting to see if this development does happen whether or not they will keep the lakes there. They make up almost 50% of the area highlighted and are home to a lot of wildlife. I am sure if they build there the future residents are going to have a lot of angry critters as fellow neighbors.
5933

Ok way you described it at first I thought you lived off coldstream and I was thinking that's literally across the street.

I since looked at the school district map and the dividing line between Moore and Mustang schools is actually a couple of blocks west of us. When I signed up for a membership at the Mustang gym they used the school district map and she told me that I was just on the wrong side of the road to be included but she did it, anyway.

I just find this whole thing humorous, all of the conservatives in that neighborhood constantly shouting against the government, are pandering and crying to the government to stop someone from building something they don't like.

I find it humorous that you stereotype an entire neighborhood as "conservatives...constantly shouting against the government" when you have no idea what you are talking about.

The vast majority are. Drive thru the neighborhood during a national election.

I find it humorous that you stereotype an entire neighborhood as "conservatives...constantly shouting against the government" when you have no idea what you are talking about.

Have to understand that, in the eyes of some, conservatives should disallowed their role in participatory government merely for the fact that they're conservatives. Its a socially acceptable form of bigotry. Any other context in which a group of people were boxed up into a knothole for where they live or what they believe would be immediately excoriated...but so long as the target is a conservative...well, that's...different.

Not at all. My conversational experience with most people in that neighborhood is usually, of the notion "we want the government out of our lives. Why should they tell me what to do?".

I just find it ironic, that those same people are now wanting the government to block development.

I think everyone has the right to the government processes, I just find it ironic how the tone changes when one is affected.

I've rarely even had government come up in the many, many conversations I've had with residents of Kingswood, let alone any anti-government statements. You make it sound as if the neighborhood is full of Tea Partiers just because you see more republican than democrat signs during national elections. I'm sure there is a NIMBY factor at play, but that takes place in liberal neighborhoods, too.

I've rarely even had government come up in the many, many conversations I've had with residents of Kingswood, let alone any anti-government statements. You make it sound as if the neighborhood is full of Tea Partiers just because you see more republican than democrat signs during national elections. I'm sure there is a NIMBY factor at play, but that takes place in liberal neighborhoods, too.

Well perhaps we speak to different people :)

Feel free to correct me if wrong but isn't Kingswood the neighborhood southwest of 104th and Penn? Is someone proposing a Sprouts for that corner as opposed to the apt complex at 104th and May? Can the moderator start a new thread for that area so it isn't as confusing.

Feel free to correct me if wrong but isn't Kingswood the neighborhood southwest of 104th and Penn? Is someone proposing a Sprouts for that corner as opposed to the apt complex at 104th and May? Can the moderator start a new thread for that area so it isn't as confusing.

Excellent point. Second this.

Development at all costs is not a win win situation for home owners or the city. It's frustrating for homeowners who base part of their decision to purchase in a certain area on current zoning only to have it change. I would be interested in any updates on the proposed apartment complex at 104th and S. May. That area is about 50% ponds and would like to know how the proposed development is going to impact the ponds & wildlife. We really enjoy the geese, ducks and cranes. Also, a lot of people fish in that area.

Development at all costs is not a win win situation for home owners or the city. It's frustrating for homeowners who base part of their decision to purchase in a certain area on current zoning only to have it change. I would be interested in any updates on the proposed apartment complex at 104th and S. May. That area is about 50% ponds and would like to know how the proposed development is going to impact the ponds & wildlife. We really enjoy the geese, ducks and cranes. Also, a lot of people fish in that area.

I used to like the geese until they started dropping boatloads of....goose poo.... along the sidewalks and driveways in the neighborhood.......

Ick.

I have to admit I prefer the ducks to the geese. Less mess. Geese= Free fertilizer? Though my mom prefers the geese as they are easier for her to see on the pond and in the yard.

Development at all costs is not a win win situation for home owners or the city. It's frustrating for homeowners who base part of their decision to purchase in a certain area on current zoning only to have it change. I would be interested in any updates on the proposed apartment complex at 104th and S. May. That area is about 50% ponds and would like to know how the proposed development is going to impact the ponds & wildlife. We really enjoy the geese, ducks and cranes. Also, a lot of people fish in that area.A city is an ever changing environment and zones are changed all the time. Just because you move to an area with residential zoning right next to it, doesn't mean it will always be that. Put your money where you mouth is and buy the property if you don't want it changed.

Why don't I purchase all the land surrounding my neighborhood? Really?? I'm not a wealthy person. There is no need to be antagonistic when this has been a polite discussion about competing needs. I don't think it is too much to expect the city to put some thought and balance into zoning decisions. As we can see from downtown and the blight in the 'burbs bad planning has consequence that can last for decades.