9 Townhomes planned for SoSA District (http://www.okctalk.com/content.php?r=552-9-Townhomes-planned-for-SoSA-District)


Plans have been submitted to the Urban Design Commission for a 9-unit townhome project at NW 8th and Francis.


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/8th101618a.jpg


Currently, a church and two homes occupy the property and would be demolished to make way for the new project.


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/8th101618fa.jpg


The homes would face NW 8th Street and consist of two levels consisting of approximately 1,250 square feet. All would have 2-car garages facing the alley and connect to the living space via covered arbors through outdoor courtyards.


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/8th101618e.jpg


Materials would be clad in modular brick with EIFS accent details.

As the property sits atop a significant grade, rooftop decks will offer commanding views of the skyline to the southeast.


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/8th100118ea.jpg


The surrounding area is systematically being re-worked into new and renovated homes, most featuring modern architecture. Many surrounding homes have sold for $800,000 or more.

A similar project -- the Dwellings at SoSA two blocks to the south -- has recently welcomed its first residents and 5 of the 7 fully detached units have sold. A second phase should start soon. The 6-unit Lisbon Lofts was completed about 3 years ago to the north.

Mike Girocco of Edmond is listed as the owner and design work is by RBA Architects. The plans will be reviewed by the committee on October 24th.


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/8th100118a.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/8th100118b.jpg

This is directly across the street from Steve Mason's house, so I presume he's on board...

more living option types is definitely something we need in SoSA

Most the neighbors spoke in favor of this project at last week's Urban Design Commission meeting, and the developer received approval.

Most the neighbors spoke in favor of this project at last week's Urban Design Commission meeting, and the developer received approval.

Im kind of shocked that it was mostly well received. Lot of opinionated people in SOSA.

Im kind of shocked that it was mostly well received. Lot of opinionated people in SOSA.

The developers have been working with homeowners for quite some time.

I heard about this well over a year ago.

The developers have been working with homeowners for quite some time.

I heard about this well over a year ago.

The developers did not talk with all the homeowners, just a few select ones. We knew the land sold last year and were told something similar to what was in the area was going in, thinking it was more duplexes or single family homes, NOT a 9 unit border-to-border complex. We found out less than a week before the UDC meeting. I will admit that the owner has made some concessions going into the UDC meeting by pulling the units back off of NW 8th at his own cost and he told us the townhomes would be about 5 feet from the east property line. The new owner also acted quickly on some issues with the existing properties once notified. The new Townhomes are going to look great on our street and am looking forward to a new look for our area.

Demolition of the old church and cottages well underway to make room for this project. I just took this:

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/sosatownhomes022619.jpg

Pete - have they started marketing these or released formal info about plans, etc?

Pete - have they started marketing these or released formal info about plans, etc?

Not that I've seen.

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/sosa032619a.jpg

The developers did not talk with all the homeowners, just a few select ones. We knew the land sold last year and were told something similar to what was in the area was going in, thinking it was more duplexes or single family homes, NOT a 9 unit border-to-border complex. We found out less than a week before the UDC meeting. I will admit that the owner has made some concessions going into the UDC meeting by pulling the units back off of NW 8th at his own cost and he told us the townhomes would be about 5 feet from the east property line. The new owner also acted quickly on some issues with the existing properties once notified. The new Townhomes are going to look great on our street and am looking forward to a new look for our area.

See I don't understand wanting the town homes set back further from 8th st. Now there's a front lawn that needs maintaining and serves no purpose except to increase our water shortage. The homes could have had larger back yards that would actually get used for pets, small children, etc. The real crime is how all these houses have alley access but some still find the need for a driveway.

Just my opinion but the perfect housing stock is similar to this: with dense multi-story townhomes or rowhouses directly fronting the street/sidewalk that is inviting to walk past and not cut up by concrete driveways, a compact backyard that still offers some privacy and the ability to let small kids/dogs outside without having to monitor them, and a detached driveway alongside an alleyway that can even be turned into an accessory dwelling unit went density increases. Add a front porch and I would be in heaven.

Land is now up for sale at $1.4 million.

Pete - Was this based on shaky market conditions/not being able to secure financing?

Pete - Was this based on shaky market conditions/not being able to secure financing?

Almost always, condo projects require substantial pre-sale before they can get construction financing.

Never saw this group trying to sell the units in advance though.

It's a nice piece of property; hopefully someone buys it and moves forward with similar plans.

Agree. Surprised this even made it to the market. I’d think certain neighbors would want to buy it and control what goes in there.

Classic OKC, demolish what's there and then try to sell a vacant lot.

How do we fix it? Is it practical/possible to put a restriction on the sale above the acquisition price if the structure is destroyed without being rebuilt?

The property was sold late last year and the new owner (Holsey Construction) has started work.

They tell me the units will sell for $350/SF.

The new name is '9 on 8th'.

HTTP://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/9on8tha.jpg


HTTP://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/sosatownhouses030621a.jpg

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/sosatownhouses051321a.jpg

sosa is really starting to look good, now need to start focusing on lighting and treescaping

a bunch of sidewalks in the area have been redone in the last several months as well

a bunch of sidewalks in the area have been redone in the last several months as well

I was looking for this thread to post that, lol. SoSA was extremely treacherous, especially at night, until this year. They haven't done every block but they've done a lot and it's a huge improvement. I was wondering if this is a situation where a neighborhood association contributed money to it, somehow? It seemed odd to me that a bunch of vacant or mostly vacant blocks got new sidewalks. I am not complaining - I am glad for any sidewalks we get and I happen to use these regularly. If there's a mechanism to promote new sidewalks in other areas I'd love to learn more.

^

The city merely made those sidewalks a priority -- the homeowners didn't contribute. Now, when there is new construction the contractor is required to install a sidewalk even if it leads nowhere.

The city paid for complete redoing a bunch of the alleyways in SoSA.


On the subject of improving SoSA, Valir -- which only did a partial renovation after planning something much more comprehensive -- has a dirt/grass lot where it stores/parks several of its vehicles along Shartel. It's against city ordinance and looks terrible (I used to look out on it from my apartment). It's also highly visible from Red Andrews Park where recently there was a big civic investment:

HTTP://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/valir052021a.jpg

On the subject of improving SoSA, Valir -- which only did a partial renovation after planning something much more comprehensive -- has a dirt/grass lot where it stores/parks several of its vehicles along Shartel. It's against city ordinance and looks terrible (I used to look out on it from my apartment). It's also highly visible from Red Andrews Park where recently there was a big civic investment:

It has always made me sad to walk past Valir - a rehabilitation hospital and physical therapy center - and see sidewalks that would be impossible or difficult for anyone with a mobility issue to use. (You can see it in the foreground of your image.) I know it's not Valir's fault, just a cruel irony.

Saint Anthony also has a big grass/dirt lot on 9th between Shartel and Lee.

The city is very strict about this sort of thing: you can't even put gravel down or any sort of porous surface and park there without going through a variance process.

I'm surprised the homeowners in that area haven't made a big issue out of both Saints and Valir. Both areas are disgraceful.

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/sosa062121a.jpg

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/sosa081821a.jpg

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/sosa092221a.jpg

I ride by that blue warehouse thing often and it always cracks me up that it can even exist there...

The blue "warehouse" was a gym for the former church at 8th and Francis. It is slated to be torn down but the owner has not followed through. The old two story house across Francis from it is also slated for demolition.

Thanks for the insight.

Shame about the old house. I see in passing that it's in rough shape, but always love a good old home rehab.

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/sosa110721c.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/sosa110721a.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/sosa110721b.jpg

Very nice.. my friend bought one of the completed ones and had dinner there last night. I liked it a lot.

Very nice.. my friend bought one of the completed ones and had dinner there last night. I liked it a lot.

Do you mean one of the duplexes to the east?

This is a new development with no completed units.

Maybe you meant these: https://www.okctalk.com/showthread.php?t=40656

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/sosa110721b.jpg

I'm always curious to know who the owner of the parking lot (at the bottom of the photo) with EV charging stations is. Why is it there? Is it phase one of a project?

I'm always curious to know who the owner of the parking lot (at the bottom of the photo) with EV charging stations is. Why is it there? Is it phase one of a project?

It's part of the office building to the south... Clevr software developers.

They also completely remodeled their building.

^^^

Thanks, Pete!

My bad, yes the duplexes to the east

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/sosa010722a.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/sosa010722b.jpg

This development looks great, especially at street level. But my oh my is that blue aluminum barn fugly. What's the story with that?

This development looks great, especially at street level. But my oh my is that blue aluminum barn fugly. What's the story with that?

I was thinking the same thing! That building needs to go! It has a place, but SOSA isn't it!

The blue barn building was part of the old church and was scheduled and permitted to be torn down last fall, but it sold to another owner and now it sits...what's worse is the old house caddy-corner to it, a fire and death trap, that has been reported several times to the city, it was also supposed to have been torn down as of last august...and yet it still stands, barely...

The blue barn building was part of the old church and was scheduled and permitted to be torn down last fall, but it sold to another owner and now it sits...what's worse is the old house caddy-corner to it, a fire and death trap, that has been reported several times to the city, it was also supposed to have been torn down as of last august...and yet it still stands, barely...

Your wish is granted!

Just today a demo permit was filed for that house (927 N. Francis).

These 9 homes are nearing the finish line. They are on the market for near $1 million.

https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/833-NW-8th-St-Oklahoma-City-OK-73106/2066822202_zpid/

HTTP://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/sosa031922a.jpg

Looks like they've dropped the price... One unit is $705K:

https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/831-NW-8th-St-Oklahoma-City-OK-73106/337737623_zpid/

HTTP://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/sosatownhomes082822a.jpg

Looks like they've dropped the price... One unit is $705K:

https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/831-NW-8th-St-Oklahoma-City-OK-73106/337737623_zpid/

HTTP://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/sosatownhomes082822a.jpg

Market finally starting to adjust. I like it. Houses all over the country are dropping in price, because financing is not as cheap or easy to get.

HTTP://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/sosa111322a.jpg

Market finally starting to adjust. I like it. Houses all over the country are dropping in price, because financing is not as cheap or easy to get.

We will see the sales price pretty soon. 831 has a pending offer with the list price at $705.