Easier solution. Have maintenance people clean up dog waste and that’s it. If they witness someone leave their dog waste behind confront them and fine them.

Agreed. . What does the extra $40 month pet rent cover? You already are paying a non refundable deposit for any damages. The extra "pet rent" seems like a money grab unless they are having to actually do something like have a pet scooping service clean up.

All Midtown R properties do pet DNA testing I was told (but don't live in one of those properties so not first hand info).

This is true. I lived in one of their properties and so did my wife. They started probably back in 2014.

Those are pretty invasive policies. I wonder if MR really doesn't want pets... but they figure that if pet owners are willing to agree to such agreeable terms to them then it's in their interest to allow them.

As someone who owns and manages 5 rentals, you can't charge enough for a pet fee :) It may seem like a money grab, but I can assure you all of it goes to deep cleaning and ozone treatments after tenant moves out.

^Agree, We now prohibit pets after a couple of really bad experiences - chewed door facings, scratched floors, torn carpets, etc. Anyway, that extra per month isn’t unreasonable.

As someone who owns and manages 5 rentals, you can't charge enough for a pet fee :) It may seem like a money grab, but I can assure you all of it goes to deep cleaning and ozone treatments after tenant moves out.

I have owned residential rentals also and have no issue with the pet fee of $350 per pet as there is extra cleaning but I would hope every unit gets a deep cleaning between tenants regardless of whether they had pets. Any extra damage can come out of the regular deposit. I find issue with the extra recurring monthly fee. What extra expense does the landlord have each month due to a pet. I do see that they have a dog park and if they are doing upkeep and maintenance on it....that may justify it.

I live in a building that allows pets (and also charges a monthly fee/rent for them) and there is recurring damage to common areas by the pets at times. Accidents on the hallway/elevator carpets, scratches to exterior apartment doors, elevator walls, probably things I don't notice. Not justifying the fees per se but reporting on things I've seen that could be using to rationalize. But if they're going to do a monthly fee, especially in these larger facilities, maybe something like $5-10/mo (maybe more for a smaller facility with fewer units/pets) which should more than cover said common area damage in the aggregate.

What I heard about Midtown R DNA policy is that is stopped cold the residents from not picking up after their animals. They test everything and only non-residents/non-tested animals aren't picked up after. The non pet owners are happy about this arrangement.

My current complex has a dog park, multiple doggy bag stands around the property and problems with people not picking up. Somebody recently left a handmade sign in one area, it's getting that bad. I can understand the DNA testing for this reason

Agreed. . What does the extra $40 month pet rent cover? You already are paying a non refundable deposit for any damages. The extra "pet rent" seems like a money grab unless they are having to actually do something like have a pet scooping service clean up.

I think most rental management companies are complete scam artists to begin with. I just moved out of an apartment 2 weeks ago (hopefully my last as I’m purchasing) and they said they won’t assess any deposit charges for 30-45 more days.

I know at least one local apartment complex that uses a DNA testing service to match dog poop to owners in their complex.

This made me laugh out loud.

An ex of mine rented a house one street north of Nichols Hills in The Village from a very nice man who just moved his family out of the house--typically a wise move to keep your starter home as a rent house. A month later she adopted a pit-mix and never told him. The house was carpeted and the dog was allowed to roam around. The landlord eventually found out about the dog and made her pay a pet deposit (much kinder than eviction.) After the lease was up she decided to move somewhere else. When the landlord stepped foot in his house he immediately realized the deposit was not going to cover the damage. The year old, white carpet was covered in stains from the dog chewing on a rawhide all throughout the house. The back yard looked like a minefield, scratches all over the front and back doors and other miscellaneous damage to the house by the dog. The man eventually decided to sell the house as to not deal with the stress.

After that I made the decision to never own a pet until I own the property I am living in. The shame-by-proxy I felt in that situation was too much for me to handle again.

This has been a long winded way of saying that I agree with the additional fees these apartments are charging. You just never know what is going on behind the doors.

An ex of mine rented a house one street north of Nichols Hills in The Village from a very nice man who just moved his family out of the house--typically a wise move to keep your starter home as a rent house. A month later she adopted a pit-mix and never told him. The house was carpeted and the dog was allowed to roam around. The landlord eventually found out about the dog and made her pay a pet deposit (much kinder than eviction.) After the lease was up she decided to move somewhere else. When the landlord stepped foot in his house he immediately realized the deposit was not going to cover the damage. The year old, white carpet was covered in stains from the dog chewing on a rawhide all throughout the house. The back yard looked like a minefield, scratches all over the front and back doors and other miscellaneous damage to the house by the dog. The man eventually decided to sell the house as to not deal with the stress.

After that I made the decision to never own a pet until I own the property I am living in. The shame-by-proxy I felt in that situation was too much for me to handle again.

This has been a long winded way of saying that I agree with the additional fees these apartments are charging. You just never know what is going on behind the doors.

Yeah, irresponsible pet owners ruin it for everyone. Accidents happen, but everything you mentioned was plain negligence and that’s really unfortunate. With proper training and management when not able to be within eyeshot (confinement to a small room when home or crate when away) most of that could’ve likely been prevented. She never should’ve let a newly adopted dog or a puppy roam free like that...just completely irresponsible and not at all conducive to actually training a dog or breaking bad habits...whether in an apartment, rent house or your own house. Some people just shouldn’t own a dog, your ex sounds like one of those people.

Now some hotels are 'pet friendly' and allow dogs into hotel rooms. I've know situations where rooms were severely damaged by dogs in addition of tics being in carpet and other furnishings. What a mess from pet owners who are clueless to how much damage their pets can cause.

Yeah, irresponsible pet owners ruin it for everyone. Accidents happen, but everything you mentioned was plain negligence and that’s really unfortunate. With proper training and management when not able to be within eyeshot (confinement to a small room when home or crate when away) most of that could’ve likely been prevented. She never should’ve let a newly adopted dog or a puppy roam free like that...just completely irresponsible and not at all conducive to actually training a dog or breaking bad habits...whether in an apartment, rent house or your own house. Some people just shouldn’t own a dog, your ex sounds like one of those people. I warned her about the responsibilities of being a pet owner. She didn't care.

I failed to mention that I ended the relationship before she ever moved out of the house. Her roommate filled me in on the aftermath.

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Those lots with Taco Bell and Sonic are pleading, "pick us, we're ready for a two or three story building!"

Speaking about the Taco Bell, the last and hopefully the final time I had to do city jury duty, I visited the Taco Bell upon release to purchase drinks. There were several freeloaders on the lot. A big black woman came out and kindly told one guy to leave the premises; he said to her 'what are you going to do if I don't leave, 'call the police.'

She replied, "No. hope you have a cellphone cause you will need to call the police once I jump on you.' He quickly crossed the street to the VIP station. I pulled in to order some of their outstanding fresh fried catfish--they will fry it fresh if you're willing to wait--served between 9am - 4pm.

Gave the guy $5 dollars, he was very thankful; said he was hungry. Hate to see people down on their luck. If I can contribute, 'no problem.'

Never had any fear of street people, It doesn't take long to know the challenges they face. Many encountered were once engineers, professionals and bums by choice. They're all over the downtown area, you sometimes see caravans headed to the Salvation Army Centers, Jesus House, City Rescue Mission or the Homeless Alliance Day Shelter.

there are those in need who need help and there are many resouces for them. However, most on the street are not in need but instead will use your gifts for drugs and alcohol. Please take care in giving money to panhandlers and 'homeless'.

We have a HUGE epidemic up here in Seattle even though the city government reportedly spent $1B last year on affordable housing and homeless; drug abuse "homeless" is no joke.

2nd large mural going up:

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Saw the mural progress yesterday. Does anybody know if the areas to the sides of the murals will be painted or dressed in any way? Looks a little odd with just plain concrete slabs next to some murals.

At one time it was to be covered with Corten steel...not sure if that is still the case.15209

^

Yes, in the proposal about the murals they specifically said the remainder of the bare concrete will be covered with that material.

Does that include the bare concrete on the garage without a mural? I assume so, but figure it's worth asking.

Does that include the bare concrete on the garage without a mural? I assume so, but figure it's worth asking.

I believe so.

Both Ben Nockels and Chris Castro posted on Instagram today that they are opening a vinyl record shop on Fred Jones Avenue in West Village. It will be called Wonder Records.

Both Ben Nockels and Chris Castro posted on Instagram today that they are opening a vinyl record shop on Fred Jones Avenue in West Village. It will be called Wonder Records.

That's some interesting news, hopefully they know music well and aren't just in it for the money... I'm actually going to hit them up and see if they'd like any or all of my 4 small moving boxes full of vinyl I've bought from all over the USA over the past 30 years that I'm getting rid of (still keeping about that many, though :))

hopefully they know music well and aren't just in it for the money..

People don't enter the vinyl record business who are in it for the money

People don't enter the vinyl record business who are in it for the money

They do it as a public service? All that risk with no profit expectation? Who knew.

They do it as a public service? All that risk with no profit expectation? Who knew.

No, there is a profit to be made - but profits are generally low. You go into the vinyl record business because of a love for the format and a love for music - not because you want to make money hand over fist.

Record store that close to my office is great news.... I'll be over there browsing regularly and helping them turn a profit.

People don't enter the vinyl record business who are in it for the money

Yeah, they actually do, there was a store in IL that I frequented and that was their business model - owner knew nothing about music, wanted to make a bunch of money, and physical media was hot then (this was a while ago), so he opened a few stores, had to hire folks who knew music, but that didn't always work out, and he just couldn't keep it all together for some reason, so his stores failed.

Seems to me their motivation is to bring people together and make the community a better place. Regardless, it's a win for the area.

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Seems to me their motivation is to bring people together and make the community a better place. Regardless, it's a win for the area.

Absolutely, I've been buying vinyl since the Wilcox/Woolco days, always glad to see another record store, wish Size was still around.

Absolutely, I've been buying vinyl since the Wilcox/Woolco days, always glad to see another record store, wish Size was still around.
I miss Size. No matter what I came in looking for, the folks there always pointed me to something else I'd like.

The wife and I tried Stitch this past weekend. We really enjoyed both the coffee and food we ordered. Definitely made us want to move right in so we didn't have to drive.

I miss Size. No matter what I came in looking for, the folks there always pointed me to something else I'd like.

Yep, they were great. Knew Jim (the main guy) for years, and whenever I'd walk in, he'd actually already have a stack of stuff for me set aside, and it was about 90% accurate, much to my ears' delight and bank account's chagrin

Yep, they were great. Knew Jim (the main guy) for years, and whenever I'd walk in, he'd actually already have a stack of stuff for me set aside, and it was about 90% accurate, much to my ears' delight and bank account's chagrin

Speaking of vinyl, I have an old turn table and speakers I got from my grandparents that I am hoping to refurbish and bring back to life. The old turn table doesn't work when I plug it in, not sure what is wrong. But I am looking at getting a new table and maybe new speakers if the old ones are shot. What is a good local shop for me to visit?

Speaking of vinyl, I have an old turn table and speakers I got from my grandparents that I am hoping to refurbish and bring back to life. The old turn table doesn't work when I plug it in, not sure what is wrong. But I am looking at getting a new table and maybe new speakers if the old ones are shot. What is a good local shop for me to visit?

I don't know of any shops that fix them, but one degree removed is Guestroom on 36th/Western which has quite a few turntables, so if you call them, they can probably recommend somebody since they most likely have someone they use for their stuff.

They are close to wrapping up the building to the immediate west of Jones Assembly.

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This is pretty much my favorite development downtown. Hopefully it helps spearhead further developments in that general area long Western and Classen.

I forgot about this development. Is phase one open? Any word on vacancy rates?

What did the total investment come out to on this project?

Not sure if this is exactly the right thread for this, but they have lights strung over Fred Jones Ave. between Sheridan and Main now and it looks great.

it's been like that awhile, looks great. they can do it because it's a private road I think? anyway, I was in LA last weekend and saw string lights over a public street and wished we could do that here in certain spots

it's been like that awhile, looks great. they can do it because it's a private road I think? anyway, I was in LA last weekend and saw string lights over a public street and wished we could do that here in certain spots

Is that just an OKC law? I know Norman has string lights over Main Street between Peters and Crawford and it looks great there as well.

I don't know, I guess I just presumed it was similar to the whole "no balconies over the sidewalk [public right of way]" thing...

^ ridiculousness!

^ ridiculousness!
That they have lights over the street?

That section of Fred Jones is indeed private.

I believe they want to eventually do the same thing on the section to the south, between Sheridan and California.

That section of Fred Jones is indeed private.

I believe they want to eventually do the same thing on the section to the south, between Sheridan and California.


that section is currenty public however there is an item before the DDRC on thursday to provide a recomentadion to the planning commission to close that ROW and make it not public ..

even though they would have it "open" most of the time it would let them host food trucks parties music ect with out having to get temp permits each time from the city

staff has recomended approval

that section is currenty public however there is an item before the DDRC on thursday to provide a recomentadion to the planning commission to close that ROW and make it not public ..

even though they would have it "open" most of the time it would let them host food trucks parties music ect with out having to get temp permits each time from the city

staff has recomended approval

DDRC was split on this issue
and didn't recommend it either way

That they have lights over the street?

no, the balcony 'policy'.

Yukon has lights over Route 66 through our little downtown area.

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The building just west of the Jones is just about complete and ready for tenants.

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The building just west of the Jones is just about complete and ready for tenants.

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Drove this area last night. Completely missed opportunity to add bike lanes to Sheridan. The vehicle lanes are entirely too wide and could have easily been narrowed to accommodate.

that building already has lots of tenats that have already moved in

it is a really nice spot ..

Drove this area last night. Completely missed opportunity to add bike lanes to Sheridan. The vehicle lanes are entirely too wide and could have easily been narrowed to accommodate.

Agreed! It makes no sense. There will be hundreds of potential bikers living there with bike lane access just one block away. As someone who bikes frequently in the area, I'm always baffled. It's not very safe feeling to have to merge with traffic at the end of a bike lane.

Especially since there are already bike lanes farther east on Sheridan