Not buying that. Building and selling homes can sometimes take longer to get a return than a commercial development. Just look at The Hill to see how its not so easy to build and sell relatively expensive homes. I'd guaranty they're proposing homes because its the path of least resistance. Not hard for a few highly motivated NIMBYs to round up opposition among neighbors and delay and ultimately crater a commercial development.

It is disappointing, this being at a highway interchange with good demographics screamed commercial/mixed use development. But, even though they live adjacent to a loud highway, a starbucks would have totally ruined the neighborhood I guess...

As Pete previously pointed out, part of the property is already zoned commercial, so the developer could already tell the neighbors to pound sand on that portion of the property.

Also, The Hill was clearly a group in over their head trying to develop an area with questionable demand and copious competition. The demand for this area is huge, proven, and there's not a lot of area for new housing and fewer developers who can compete.

I'm not saying it's impossible that the desire to deal with NIMBY had something to do with the decision, but Bradshaw is a capable developer who has done a lot of projects....How much commercial has he developed in the last 10 years vs residential.

Press release:

(Note that the high density presumed townhomes fall exactly within the boundary of the current commercial zoning and the remainder is already zoned for single-family housing. Also "Private D/E" = Drainage Easement.)

************

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/firstchristian021524a.jpg

Colony Developers, Inc. Files Plat for Development at NW 36th St and Walker Avenue in Oklahoma City; Could Break Ground by September

Oklahoma City - Today, developer Ron Bradshaw filed a proposed plat and re-zoning request, taking the first official step in the transformation of the former First Christian Church campus into something of a unicorn – a beautifully-planned, urban infill neighborhood in the heart of Oklahoma City’s historic urban core.

The current project team includes Ron Bradshaw, Colony Developers, Inc., developer; Bruce Bockus, Bockus Payne, architect; Mark Zitzow, Johnson & Associates, LLC., engineers and urban planners; and Jennifer Kragh, Sage Sotheby’s International Real Estate, sales and marketing agent.

“When we began thinking seriously about this property last year, the more we thought, the more we loved the idea of creating a wonderful new neighborhood, in this beautiful historic part of the city, that feels like it’s been part of the community for decades,” Bradshaw says.

“This is going to be such an exceptional opportunity. To be able to live in a new home in a traditionally historic neighborhood is so special and so exciting. We are so impressed by the level of thought and care going into this development - exactly what must occur for a project of this magnitude,” says Jennifer Kragh, Sage Sotheby’s International Realty, the sales and marketing agent for the project.

This yet-to-be-named neighborhood is one of only a few infill developments of this size to occur in Oklahoma City since 1950. It will be interesting for the community to follow along as each step in the process occurs. It begins today, with the filing of the preliminary plat, and the request that the property be zoned as a Planned Unit Development (PUD). Currently the land is zoned R-1, single-family residential. Rezoning the entire property as a PUD, also a residential designation, gives Bradshaw and his team greater flexibility in terms of lot size, allowing for a variety of housing options such as townhomes, which require smaller lots than the R-1 zoning designation allows. It also converts the existing small, commercially-zoned section of the property to residential only.

With Bradshaw’s filing of the plat and PUD, the City of Oklahoma City’s zoning department, Planning Commission and City Council will begin its review of the re-zoning request. This step is anticipated to be complete within six months, by summer. During this period, public hearings and meetings will occur for the community to remain involved in this project. While that’s happening, Bradshaw, Zitzow and Bockus will begin preliminary work on the grounds of the property including removing existing asphalt, planting grass to mitigate erosion and creating infrastructure to prep the site for construction.

At the same time, Bradshaw, Bockus and Kragh and the team will create design guidelines for construction and begin selecting builders for the single-family homes and townhomes. Kragh’s team has already met with a handful of builders and individuals interested in purchasing plots in the neighborhood when they become available.

The preliminary, 32-acre plat includes:

103 single family lots
26 townhomes
14 acres reserved for greenspace and common areas
Walking trails
Preservation of mature trees and creek


Interested parties may contact Kragh at (405) 363-7575 to be placed on a list to receive updates and notification of lot-purchase availability.

two observations: looks like the disciples of christ are keeping a small tract and building on the southeast portion of the property. the plan eliminates the building that jewel box theatre is currently using. i wonder if they will call it quits after this season.

two observations: looks like the disciples of christ are keeping a small tract and building on the southeast portion of the property. the plan eliminates the building that jewel box theatre is currently using. i wonder if they will call it quits after this season.

I can't imagine why that would happen. It's not unusual at all for small theater companies to move to new locations and they certainly could also.

I’m sure that the answer is just “people who value things differently than myself”, but I would still love to know who will be lining up to purchase a borderline seven-figure house that backs up directly to a freeway exit. I lived in an apartment next to the Kilpatrick for a year and it is not exactly an experience that I’m dying to replicate anytime in the near future.

I’m sure that the answer is just “people who value things differently than myself”, but I would still love to know who will be lining up to purchase a borderline seven-figure house that backs up directly to a freeway exit. I lived in an apartment next to the Kilpatrick for a year and it is not exactly an experience that I’m dying to replicate anytime in the near future.

You kind of have to understand that the neighborhoods and the houses around this parcel existed before freeways.

Your apartment off Kilpatrick existed miles away and decades later because of freeways.

You’re talking about two totally different parts of the city, historically and developmentally.

I believe the Disciples are actually going to vacate the building and let the staff be 100% remote. They have trimmed the staff numbers over the years anyway. The regional minister just retired and was only one of 3 people left that really "staffed" the office now. So it makes sense to me to go ahead and vacate. We'll see what that means for the building.

Here is a drone shot that better shows most of the property; this was taken 9-26-22:

HTTP://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/firstchristian021524b.jpg

It’s just a great spot for mixed use.

I’m sure that the answer is just “people who value things differently than myself”, but I would still love to know who will be lining up to purchase a borderline seven-figure house that backs up directly to a freeway exit. I lived in an apartment next to the Kilpatrick for a year and it is not exactly an experience that I’m dying to replicate anytime in the near future.

My SIL lived in the lofts across the street from the Mont in Norman with a train track directly next door. They said it was annoying at first and then you didn't hear it anymore. Only noticed it when someone else did.

Likewise, my grandparents lived in Crown Heights (201 NW 40th Street) at the dead end of the street. This was before they did any of the widening of 235 so there wasn't the concrete wall between the highway and the neighborhood. I moved in there after college and noticed it for about two days and then got used to it.

There used to be a really nice ampitheater by that creek. Played some concerts there in my youth orchestra days in the early/mid 90s. Is that completely gone now?

I think the current plan for development is fine. The roads in that area are pretty awkward and I don't think they could easily handle a lot of new traffic. Not everything needs to be dense and urban, particularly in areas where it never has been dense nor urban. High dollar single family residences will probably bring a lot of people in to redevelop some of the more dilapidated properties in the surrounding neighborhoods.

There used to be a really nice ampitheater by that creek. Played some concerts there in my youth orchestra days in the early/mid 90s. Is that completely gone now?

It's still there but is approaching ruin and I don't think it's been used in quite a while.

It's still there but is approaching ruin and I don't think it's been used in quite a while.

IIRC, it was all concrete. Access would have to be improved, but it could probably be usable pretty quickly. It could be a really neat thing to have in the neighborhood.

But yeah, 30ish years ago, I didn't get the sense it was used much. It was still a neat venue.

Cool street names -- Jewel Box Lane, Alexander Place (I think the pastor when the church moved to that site), and Conner Court (I think one of the architects of the egg church). Not sure why Perry and Maxwell are there -- Perry Maxwell is the golf course architect for lots of great Oklahoma golf courses. I'd love to know the significance of his inclusion (unless it is another "Perry" and/or "Maxwell").

IIRC, it was all concrete. Access would have to be improved, but it could probably be usable pretty quickly. It could be a really neat thing to have in the neighborhood.

But yeah, 30ish years ago, I didn't get the sense it was used much. It was still a neat venue.

If it is the one that is just east of Walker to the north part of the development, it looks like that will be taken out for a street and single family homes. At least, that is what I am getting from comparing the renderings to the existing map.

My SIL lived in the lofts across the street from the Mont in Norman with a train track directly next door. They said it was annoying at first and then you didn't hear it anymore. Only noticed it when someone else did.

Likewise, my grandparents lived in Crown Heights (201 NW 40th Street) at the dead end of the street. This was before they did any of the widening of 235 so there wasn't the concrete wall between the highway and the neighborhood. I moved in there after college and noticed it for about two days and then got used to it.I lived in Edmond 2 houses west of the track and just off 33rd. I would agree that it's annoying as anything at first but you get to a point that you don't even notice.

Cool street names -- Jewel Box Lane, Alexander Place (I think the pastor when the church moved to that site), and Conner Court (I think one of the architects of the egg church). Not sure why Perry and Maxwell are there -- Perry Maxwell is the golf course architect for lots of great Oklahoma golf courses. I'd love to know the significance of his inclusion (unless it is another "Perry" and/or "Maxwell").

That land and the crown heights land were golf courses in the early 1900s. Though Perry did not design either of them (the original OKCGCC mostly on the Crown Heights land and Edgemere golf course to the east until the train tracks), G.A. Nichols traded the club the Crown Heights land for the land on which Perry Maxwell built the club's current course. Could be an ode to that and the golfing history of the land, but more generally there is a lot of Perry Maxwell history nearby and he is rightfully gaining more of the respect he deserves in golf architecture/history/etc. circles.

IIRC, it was all concrete. Access would have to be improved, but it could probably be usable pretty quickly. It could be a really neat thing to have in the neighborhood.

But yeah, 30ish years ago, I didn't get the sense it was used much. It was still a neat venue.

I performed in the first summer of Jewel Box Theatre's amphitheatre re-opening (Jewel Box Under the Stars) in 1992, and it was quite successful. They did a few shows each summer for several years, so it was definitely up and running, at least in the summer months. I couldn't tell you when they stopped doing regular shows there, but I always had high hopes for the restoration of that amphitheatre.

I remember Chuck Tweed, the man behind Jewel Box forever, telling the story of opening night for the amphitheatre reopening. He had printed, I think, 500 programs for the run of the show (4 nights), and ran completely out before they finished seating the first night's audience. It was a lot of fun.

That land and the crown heights land were golf courses in the early 1900s. Though Perry did not design either of them (the original OKCGCC mostly on the Crown Heights land and Edgemere golf course to the east until the train tracks), G.A. Nichols traded the club the Crown Heights land for the land on which Perry Maxwell built the club's current course. Could be an ode to that and the golfing history of the land, but more generally there is a lot of Perry Maxwell history nearby and he is rightfully gaining more of the respect he deserves in golf architecture/history/etc. circles.

Very interesting. I have heard over the years that the park was once a golf course. I wish there were more information out there about it. I was hopeful this land would be turned into a par-3 golf course...but talk about no chance of ever making your money back.

Here's some history from the Oklahoma City Golf and Country Club website (https://www.okcgcc.com/about):


ABOUT THE CLUB

Nestled in the heart of Nichols Hills, Oklahoma, the origin of the Oklahoma City Golf & Country Club began on July 6, 1911. Being the oldest and most prestigious private golf and country club in Oklahoma City.

On July 6, 1911, a committee of 300 members signed an agreement to form the Oklahoma City Golf & Country Club. The committee attained 160 acres of land on Northwest 36th Street and Western Avenue, presently known as Crown Heights Addition.

As the Club’s membership grew, ideas of relocation began. The developer of Nichols Hills, G.A. Nichols had a dream of creating the “perfect” subdivision for families. Nichols believed an essential part of this new development was to centralize an excellent and prestigious golf course. Nichols consulted with Perry Duke Maxwell, who was known for designing courses that were challenging yet accommodating to all skill ranges. The course opened in the summer of 1929.

In 1930, Nichols offered the officers of the Oklahoma City Golf & Country Club a trade. The 160 acres of land on Western for 163 acres in Nichols Hills with a clubhouse, swimming pool, and 18-hole Perry Maxwell designed golf course. In November, 1930, the board members of the Oklahoma City Golf & Country Club had their first meeting in the new club, and this became the Club’s permanent location.

For over a century, the Oklahoma City Golf & Country Club has expanded and enhanced its facilities and amenities, while continuing one tradition. Experiencing the Tradition of Excellence.

Here's some history from the Oklahoma City Golf and Country Club website (https://www.okcgcc.com/about):

I had no idea! Thank you for sharing!

Here's a map I have in my house that shows the area with the courses. Also peep all of those streetcar lines.

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I had better photos at one time but can’t find them, but here are the clubhouses that were on the original crown heights property. (Screen grabs from that video).

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Thanks for posting that map Timshel, I've been looking for something like that!

I stumbled onto some photos of the clubhouse looking at photos at OHS/LOC...look at how open it was in 1947 (second photo).

^Those pics are very cool. Thanks for posting!!

^Those pics are very cool. Thanks for posting!!

Yes, very cool. This type of thing is so interesting.

It would be fascinating to see what the metro would be like if that public transit infrastructure was left in tact and maintained.

So, this thread has taken me down a Newspapers.com rabbit hole. Until I did this, I personally had an incomplete understanding of the histories of Crown Heights (bordered by Walker on the east and Western on the west) and Edgemere Heights (east of Walker).

I’d always (or almost always) known that this was the general location of the original Oklahoma City Golf and Country Club, but had a misunderstanding of the exact locations and timing of the relocation. I’d assumed that Crown Heights was a neighborhood adjacent to OCG&CC and that when people said that the club was originally in/near Crown Heights they really meant Edgemere Heights, immediately to the east.

The homes in Edgemere Heights are clearly 2-3 decades newer than those in Crown, and it is pretty obvious that tract was developed later. I assumed on land vacated by the golf course. Well, I was right, in a way, just not right about WHICH golf course. Before seeing the map above, I was completely ignorant to the fact that there were TWO golf courses; one private (OCG&CC) and one public, directly across the street (Edgemere Golf Course).

This spurred my deep dive on Newspapers.com, specifically looking for articles and ads related to the Edgemere course, which survived in that location for nearly two decades after the country club relocated to Nichols Hills.

As it turns out, the public Edgemere course had an interesting history itself. To begin with, it was located on state owned school land, owned by the Commissioners of the Land Office.

About 25 years ago I got an education on CLO land when I served on a jury in a civil trial where the plaintiff had been hired by the CLO to design a database, and was accusing the corporation hired for peer review of stealing the business from him. All of that is immaterial here, but there I learned that the CLO manages land in all 77 counties that is designated for the benefit of schools.

In some cases that meant the land might actually CONTAIN a school, but in others - such as the land now home to Edgemere Heights and the ruins of the First Christian boob church - schools benefitted from revenue generated by the land via leases and mineral rights (more on that later).

While the country club was founded in 1911, the Edgemere course appears to have opened in or about 1925. Both were going strong, across the street from each other, in the early 20th century. While OCG&CC was, well, a club, Edgemere was a public course, though not a municipal. It was owned by an individual, who leased the land from the CLO (apparently for only $800 a year!!!). The course was apparently quite popular and during the 20s and 30s results of tournaments and players based there got equal billing with Lincoln Park and Twin Hills.

The owner of the course R.Q. Blakeney was - perhaps not coincidentally - also secretary of the Oklahoma County Election Board. This became a sticking point at times when there was political and legal wrangling relative to the land. There were accusations during a mayoral campaign that he was trying to tilt the election in favor of a candidate who - if elected - would buy the land and use it as the new home of the fairgrounds.

The land was also in play during the 1930s to house a WPA-built armory (instead eventually built at Lincoln Park).

I also found articles related to the building of First Christian, which was tied to the redevelopment of the rest of the land as housing. The church was build roughly where the golf course’s clubhouse was located (illustrated in the aerial above).

Here is an article showing the vacated clubhouse as the intended temporary home of the church’s youth home, while plans were underway for the full redevelopment of the church property:

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There was also a 1969 article about the above-mentioned amphitheater. Apparently it predated the church and instead was a feature of the golf course. It was renovated in the late forties, and then again in 1969, essentially rescued from overgrowth and ruin.

Another interesting aspect of the story was related to oil wells. Since this land was owned by the state and not the city (or private owners), the CLO started entertaining offers to drill, and eventually allowed drilling to occur along the eastern edge of the property, which caused homeowners in the now-burgeoning Crown Heights to take legal action. It sounds like the state ignored City restrictions related to exploration and production within City limits, much as they did on state capitol grounds; state property being not subject to City regulation.

While there was initially some success with an exploratory well, it sounds like it played out pretty quickly. There was a state law that required school land first be deemed as worthless from an oil and gas production standpoint before being sold to third parties. Here’s an article from 1944 that details Champlin Oil’s decision to vacate their lease, which would set the wheels in motion for the land to be auctioned.

18638

After a false start in 1944 it was eventually successfully auctioned in 1946 to W.P. (Bill) Atkinson, et al. It should also be noted that E.K. Gaylord and The Oklahoman were involved; they purchased part of the land and then donated it to the City of OKC to facilitate the extension of Broadway to the north; essentially the beginnings of the Broadway Extension. The City agreed to additional street construction projects to enable the development.

18637

Anyway, the golf course outlasted by nearly 20 years the Oklahoma City Golf and Country Club course, once located across Walker in what is now properly Crown Heights. Based on timing, I think the Lake Hefner north course (opened in 1951) must’ve to some extent been viewed as a replacement for Edgemere, which closed in the late 40s.

By the way, Perry Maxwell, whose work included Dornick Hills in Ardmore, Twin Hills in OKC, Southern Hills in Tulsa, the Oklahoma City Golf and Country Club, the Colonial in Fort Worth, Prairie Dunes in Hutchinson, KS (probably America’s best dunes-style course), plus major renovations at places like Pinehurst, Augusta National, Pine Valley, Marion, Westchester - all legendary fixtures of USGA and PGA events - designed the original Hefner North course, his very last before he passed away in 1951. I suspect this connection (replacing the Crown Heights and Edgemere tracts with new courses) might explain the naming of the streets, likely in his honor.

If you’ve bothered to read this far I’ll reward you with a clip from The Oklahoman in 1948, advertising the Edgemere Heights addition to prospective home buyers:

18636

Thanks for sharing, Urbanized!

I think you're right on the amphitheater predating the church. I found an amphitheater construction photo from 1947, and a photo of the completed amphitheater from 1949. The photo "Edgemere Under the Stars" is from the same year. I've enjoyed looking back at the acts there from the 50s and 60s. This one from 1956 was amusing to me:


Photograph used for a story in the Oklahoma Times newspaper. Caption: Barbara Roos, Enid, will be making her second appearance in the Miss Oklahoma contest next Friday night at the Edgemere Amphitheater when she appears as "Miss Rattlesnake Queen."


On the O&G note, I'll never get over this photo from 1936 overlooking Edgemere toward the Capitol--look at all those derricks!

Source: OHS

Thanks for sharing, Urbanized!

I think you're right on the amphitheater predating the church. I found an amphitheater construction photo from 1947, and a photo of the completed amphitheater from 1949. The photo "Edgemere Under the Stars" is from the same year. I've enjoyed looking back at the acts there from the 50s and 60s. This one from 1956 was amusing to me:


Photograph used for a story in the Oklahoma Times newspaper. Caption: Barbara Roos, Enid, will be making her second appearance in the Miss Oklahoma contest next Friday night at the Edgemere Amphitheater when she appears as "Miss Rattlesnake Queen."


On the O&G note, I'll never get over this photo from 1936 overlooking Edgemere toward the Capitol--look at all those derricks!

Source: OHS

Thank you for these! Those early photos of the amphitheatre are so cool.

great pictures and information in this thread!

i thought i could see the amphitheatre in post 503 and now i have an explanation!

Great pics of Edgemere. My old house I lived in from 2010-2013 on Edgemere Ct is just off the pic to the right. The street in foreground is Harvey Parkway and street running down middle is NW Eubanks

I was wondering if it was recognizable without all the trees. That answered my question. :)

I performed in the first summer of Jewel Box Theatre's amphitheatre re-opening (Jewel Box Under the Stars) in 1992, and it was quite successful. They did a few shows each summer for several years, so it was definitely up and running, at least in the summer months. I couldn't tell you when they stopped doing regular shows there, but I always had high hopes for the restoration of that amphitheatre.

I remember Chuck Tweed, the man behind Jewel Box forever, telling the story of opening night for the amphitheatre reopening. He had printed, I think, 500 programs for the run of the show (4 nights), and ran completely out before they finished seating the first night's audience. It was a lot of fun.

I performed there a few times around that same time with the youth symphony that used to rehearse in the church's youth building, which at the time even in the 90s seemed to have been more active with youth maybe 10-15 years before that time--we paired with the church's choir. I can't really remember what we performed, but it was a really beautiful venue, and at this point in my musical career, I've performed all over town and in all kind of indoor and outdoor settings and that is one which would be worth preserving, but I guess it's not in the plans.

Press release:

********

Name Announced for New Neighborhood on OKC’s Former First Christian Site; Plat Approved

Oklahoma City – Drumroll, please…the name of the newest and largest urban infill neighborhood project in Oklahoma City has been selected.

Welcome to Lexford Park. The Lex in Lexford subtly nods to Reverend Alexander, founder of the beloved First Christian Church that once stood on the property. Ford means to cross a river, referencing the creek that traverses the land. Every part of this brand is intended to create a sense of established reverence that fits seamlessly with the surrounding neighborhoods, the property's history, and the land's natural beauty.

Developer Ron Bradshaw worked with Oklahoma City-based Cooper House to create a name, logo mark, color palette and brand voice explicitly crafted to show respect to the neighboring communities, the property’s history, and the landscape.

“We are pleased and proud of the Lexford Park name and concept. It is very important to us that our neighborhood should fit seamlessly into its surroundings, which are some of Oklahoma City’s most beloved historic neighborhoods,” Bradshaw said.

Lexford Park’s name isn’t the only part of the project to see progress. On March 28, 2024 the City of Oklahoma City Planning Commission unanimously approved the preliminary plat and Planned Unit Development of Lexford Park. The final approval is tentatively scheduled to be heard by the City Council on May 21, 2024.

The current project team includes Ron Bradshaw, Colony Developers, Inc., developer; Bruce Bockus, Bockus Payne, architect; Tim Johnson and Mark Zitzow, Johnson & Associates, LLC., engineers and urban planners; and Jennifer Kragh, Sage Sotheby’s International Real Estate, sales and marketing agent.

The team also hosted an informational meeting for neighbors on March 25, during which the team presented an update and answered questions. About 150 neighbors attended the meeting, which was held at Westminster Presbyterian Church, 4400 N. Shartel Blvd.

Beginning this fall, Bradshaw, Zitzow and Bockus will begin preliminary work on the grounds of the property including removing existing asphalt, planting grass to mitigate erosion and creating infrastructure to prep the site for construction.

Right now, Bradshaw, Bockus, Kragh and the team are creating design guidelines for construction and will begin selecting builders for the single-family homes and townhomes. Kragh’s team is also meeting with individuals interested in purchasing lots in the neighborhood when they become available.



The 32-acre plat includes:

101 single family lots
28 townhomes
14 acres reserved for greenspace and common areas
Walking trails
Preservation of mature trees and creek

Interested parties may contact Kragh at (405) 363-7575 or visit www.lexfordpark.com to be placed on a list to receive updates and notification of lot-purchase availability.

This sounds like it has the potential to be something special.

Not a large enough area (for comparison, Wheeler is 150 acres) and not enough density for this to make any significant impact on this part of the core.

Not a large enough area (for comparison, Wheeler is 150 acres) and not enough density for this to make any significant impact on this part of the core.

Might as well scrap it then.

Not a large enough area (for comparison, Wheeler is 150 acres) and not enough density for this to make any significant impact on this part of the core.

Which is probably the best approach, given that it's in the middle of several historic neighborhoods. Preserving and complimenting the established identities of our oldest neighborhoods and districts has helped OKC create a mix of diverse areas with their own character as the inner parts of the city have been brought back to life over the past 20-25 years. That's what makes for interesting cities. Something like Wheeler creates its own identity from scratch, and, even then, they have incorporated its past use as an airport.

Obviously, it sucks to have lost a great piece of mid-century architecture in the middle of the city and we still don't really know exactly what this will look like, but it sounds like the approach is to respect the almost 100 year old area, rather than to ignore it. That's usually a much better recipe for success.

Talk is talk but the little bit that they’ve said makes me feel optimistic about it. I think it could’ve been a neat spot for a more density focused development, like Alley North but with a heavier emphasis on residential. But it’s easy to talk about what might be neat versus what developers can afford, is healthy for the market, and the neighborhood will support.

I don't think they will really have any problem leasing anything out that they build there. It's close enough to the really budding 23rd corridor. Near the capital. Short commute to everything up near American Fidelity. Schools suck, but there are several private options nearby and Classen SAS is close.

Like BDP said, it sucks to have lost the old structure, but the cost of bringing that thing into the modern day was just never going to happen. And like oh so many other church locations, they've turned into something totally different. I do with something could have been done, but I know a lot of effort had gone in to trying to make that happen.....and it just didn't. They fought the good fight for a long time trying to keep the doors open, but there's only so much you can do before things start to fall behind. It's a story being told at churches all over.

Not a large enough area (for comparison, Wheeler is 150 acres) and not enough density for this to make any significant impact on this part of the core.


Idk 500-600 more humans in an area that currently houses 0 people seems like a difference maker to the area. That's more people buying groceries, picking up prescriptions at the CVS on 50th, eating out, walking dogs, etc.

This will be a character changing development for sure. That stretch of 36th is a dead zone currently.

I think the best place in the city to be out in nature, walk the dog, or have a picnic is Edgemere Park. It is such a beautiful green space, and the neighborhood surrounding it has so many wonderful homes. I hope they keep Lexford open like that as well. All that green space will make this a comfortable place to live.

I have high hopes here.

Building styles have changed immensely in the years since the surrounding neighborhoods were built, and nobody expects exact duplicates of Crown Heights/Edgemere but I do hope that attention is given in regards to the appearance and sizing of these homes so that they blend with, and build on, the character of the area. A gated off McMansion"subdivision" like something to be found in West Edmond is definitely not what is appropriate here.

I have high hopes here.

Building styles have changed immensely in the years since the surrounding neighborhoods were built, and nobody expects exact duplicates of Crown Heights/Edgemere but I do hope that attention is given in regards to the appearance and sizing of these homes so that they blend with, and build on, the character of the area. A gated off McMansion"subdivision" like something to be found in West Edmond is definitely not what is appropriate here.

I hope we won't see another Wheeler District there, those designs won't age well with time.

I hope we won't see another Wheeler District there, those designs won't age well with time.

Can you explain more?

Can you explain more?

Hum, how should I put this into words?

This doesn't look cool when it doesn't look new, this is an example of lazy, filling-the-blank school of architecture, or simplicity for the maximum profit school of real estate development. To me, it fails the "Why you did what you did?" or "What is the though process behind those details?" tests.

https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e98da320502da79ab955a62/1645165611839-DZ2V9ZQTYEAKXODF1SF5/941+Pedaler_s+Lane+-+OKC-4.jpg

This is always a beauty even 500 years from now.
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The shapes aren't so bad, but that porch is egregious. I'm guessing that will be replaced inside of 10 years whenever the shine comes off. The metal roofs won't be so shiny and neat looking for too long. I think the lack of window treatments also hurts them, but I expect to see them added on later.

Regardless, I have a feeling that style of architecture won't be chosen on this side of town - but we'll see. Architecture does indeed tend toward "laziness" these days, mostly due to clients demanding things while also wanting to cut costs.

I hope we won't see another Wheeler District there, those designs won't age well with time.

I hope time proves me wrong but I have always thought the materials used look cheap. They are probably well made homes but just doesn't look that way to me. I am assuming the siding is a fiber cement product like Hardie board but looks like the old T1-11 siding.

Does anybody know if this land sale has closed? Or what it is pending for? It was interesting, online it was listed for $8.31/SF but that was based on 14 acres MOL. County has it as 31 acres MOL. Perhaps the 14 acres didn't include green areas? Just wondering how much they are paying for this land?

I hope time proves me wrong but I have always thought the materials used look cheap. They are probably well made homes but just doesn't look that way to me. I am assuming the siding is a fiber cement product like Hardie board but looks like the old T1-11 siding.

I absolutely abhor the modern farmhouse aesthetic. I blame Chip and Joanna Gaines for inflicting it on the masses, whether or not it was their creation. YUCK.

Wheeler is a more eclectic, sophisticated design concept than the farmhouse atrocities that are popping up like spring mushrooms around the Plaza and throughout our inner-city neighborhoods. Yes, there are some Wheeler homes that are loosely derived from that genre, but overall, it's better and I don't agree that Wheeler's properties look cheap.

Like other trendy things, the farmhouse look will eventually lose favor and people will want to kill it with fire. To be clear, I don't think Wheeler is in danger of that; it is more sophisticated and offers some modern takes on fairly classic homebuilding themes.

Does anybody know if this land sale has closed? Or what it is pending for? It was interesting, online it was listed for $8.31/SF but that was based on 14 acres MOL. County has it as 31 acres MOL. Perhaps the 14 acres didn't include green areas? Just wondering how much they are paying for this land?

Is the entire property listed because the back section where the youth center is has a lot of land around it where we used to play softball that may not be included?

I hope time proves me wrong but I have always thought the materials used look cheap. They are probably well made homes but just doesn't look that way to me. I am assuming the siding is a fiber cement product like Hardie board but looks like the old T1-11 siding.

FWIW, I am not a fan of the look in that photograph, either. Give me a simple traditional ranch design with Frank Lloyd Wright -esque horizonal touches.

I absolutely abhor the modern farmhouse aesthetic. I blame Chip and Joanna Gaines for inflicting it on the masses, whether or not it was their creation. YUCK.

Wheeler is a more eclectic, sophisticated design concept than the farmhouse atrocities that are popping up like spring mushrooms around the Plaza and throughout our inner-city neighborhoods. Yes, there are some Wheeler homes that are loosely derived from that genre, but overall, it's better and I don't agree that Wheeler's properties look cheap.

Like other trendy things, the farmhouse look will eventually lose favor and people will want to kill it with fire. To be clear, I don't think Wheeler is in danger of that; it is more sophisticated and offers some modern takes on fairly classic homebuilding themes.
Not sure I would use the term sophisticated to describe Wheeler. Homey, neighborly, evocative of times gone by, walkable…. But it isn’t sophisticated architecture. Its appeal is the opposite. It seems to appeal as “let’s not stand out architecture”…. Let’s fit in with the neighbors and be the same.

From their Facebook account just posted
https://www.facebook.com/share/r/jooaEpt67uMhGhvC/?mibextid=WaXdOe

19006

N/m

Lots to be priced $110k to $340k

Lexford Park Website (https://lexfordpark.com/) has been updated with Builders, Lot map with pricing, and Floor Plan examples. Really nice update.

19083

If you click on the "properties" in the drop down, it has prices for a 6,461 sf lot for $275,000... I am guessing that is just for the lot and the house would another $200/sf? Which would be around $450,000, so someone is going to pay $725,000 for a 2,200 sf house. I guess those are around Wheeler prices.

If you click on the "properties" in the drop down, it has prices for a 6,461 sf lot for $275,000... I am guessing that is just for the lot and the house would another $200/sf? Which would be around $450,000, so someone is going to pay $725,000 for a 2,200 sf house. I guess those are around Wheeler prices.

Some of the lots are lower than $200,000 and the smallest row home lots already say sold. Not sure if that means the builders purchased the lots and will build the row homes and then sale them.

The home row lots were sold to a builder.