We are absurdly spoiled with low rates in this city. $12 is low. No wonder no one wants to build new space or pay to renovate if people think $12 is high.

We are absurdly spoiled with low rates in this city. $12 is low. No wonder no one wants to build new space or pay to renovate if people think $12 is high.
Yep, our space in Northwest Austin is close to $30.00/SF, older Class B space is around $16-18/SF and Class C is in the 10-12 range. Office/Industrial is the only stuff under $10/SF. Much of it depends on how much space you are looking as you can find pockets of lower rates depending upon the space you require so it varies greatly.

Here is a space available for sublease (http://austinsubleases.com/index.php?action=listingview&listingID=339) that our interiors department did.

4th of May: If you owned a retail business or wanted to start a retail business and you could locate/relocate to a high-visibility, high-traffic location and receive 1 yr of free rent, you'd probably jump at the opportunity. Just think, you could open up a wheel shop and sell those cool spinners that you seem to be so fond of. That 1 yr of free rent is worth more than $15,000. You could buy 3 or 4 more sets of spinners with that kind of money.

All the buildings that Midtown Renaissance has completed have great occupancies, including their apartments. My lease at Park Harvey is up in Sept and I called Midtown Renaissance and they have all but one of their apartments rented. Sounds like they're doing OK.

B+ on using condescension. Well done.

If the space is that great, then it should have been off the market years ago. A year of free rent is all fine and dandy, but call it for what it is: the same tactic seedy apartment complexes use to fill roach-laden units, not a "competition".

I applaud them for actively trying to fill their space and bring businesses into the area. The criticism here to call it seedy is just the same inane criticism we see anytime anybody tries anything. People seem to criticize EVERYTHING. I guess it is easier to act superior on a web posting than to actually go be productive. These people invested in the neigborhood, have taken a run down building and made it an anchor, and are doing whatever they can to fill it......and yet some people STILL have to criticize. LOL.

My point is that it is misleading, that is all.

4th of May: I'm glad you liked my condescension.

If your point is that the free rent "competition" is misleading, why must you say/imply so much other negativity?

Those guys have done a great job with that area of town and nowhere in your posts do you ever acknowledge that. NegativeNancy would be a better user name for you. :fighting3

4th of May:

You must be Randy Terrill.

I missed this place.

Rooftop garden provides fertile ground for community growth
By April Wilkerson

OKLAHOMA CITY – The line between the indoors and the outdoors has become a little more blurred, thanks to a new space atop an Automobile Alley building.

A recently completed rooftop patio and garden, the brainchild of Steve Mason of Mason Realty and Cardinal Engineering, brings green space to the area and a sense of community to those who frequent it. That’s just what Mason ordered.

“What’s happening in Automobile Alley and the town is that we have a community that is building and growing,” Mason said. “A vibrant community has a lot of facets, and one part of it is green spaces.”

The rooftop patio and garden is atop the building that Rawhide occupies at 1007 N. Broadway. The area has benches, chaise lounges and other furniture, along with a bar area. Landscaping is a prominent piece of the design, with Mexican sedum, ice plants and feather grass, and part of the area is garden space, complete with irrigation.

“Next summer, we’ll be growing tomatoes,” Mason said.

The architect for the project was the Office of James Burnett in Houston, which also works with Mason on Project 180. Jereck Boss, principal, said he was excited to be a part of something new and unique to Oklahoma City. The clean lines of the architecture were designed to blend with the landscaping, he said, and the space invites camaraderie.

“As we continue to see city projects and as people have more interest in being connected with the outdoors and with landscaping, and as land prices start to be more expensive, we’re maximizing all of the opportunities associated with properties and projects,” Boss said. “It provides a great amenity to people.”

The technology associated with a rooftop garden has become more sophisticated and proven, Boss said, so people are increasingly comfortable with putting volumes of dirt, irrigation and plants on a rooftop without fear of leaking.

Mason said the rooftop garden provides a different feel than the Oklahoma City Museum of Art rooftop space because of the elevation. Because it’s higher, the museum patio provides a vista view, he said, while his area is closer to street level, so people feel immersed in the city.

Mason said the space is mostly for people who work in his buildings – there’s Wi-Fi available for laptop productivity while catching some rays – and he anticipates nonprofit organizations using the rooftop for events.

“Right now, there’s a nice breeze out there around 9 at night,” he said. “In another month, it will be beautiful out there.”

Very cool. I'm a big fan of OJB. They are all great guys too. I imagine they will continue to get a lot of work in the city, especially after the gardens are done.

Steve L did some video up on the roof a month or so ago. Looked really cool. Everything Steve M touches turns into an awesome project.

Of course it will eventually get too cold to use that space but a few well placed outdoor heaters can extend the season.

nevermind that it is not in midtown

I just moved to Midtown and OKC and so I'll probably have some questions that are naive... so I apologize in advance. I have really been impressed with the MidTown area and I think the area has even greater potential. Plaza Court is doing well, Automobile Alley is off to a great start, and 9th street (Iguana, Pachinco, Sara Sara, and Shop Good) is becoming a really hip area. I have 2 questions about the area that y'all might be able to help me with.

#1: What is the place that is going in in Autombile Alley at 9th and Broadway that has a sign in the window that says, "Nothing to see here... Or is there?" They have a website www.oristhere.com. I was just curious.

#2: What is up with the Osler Building? It seems like a really nice old building. Is there anything in the building or plans for it? It seems like it would be an excellent place for residential or office space...

Thanks in advance.

Hey Kilgore, I did a blog post recently where I looked at a lot of the changes planned for 10th Street, which you might want to check out. Here's the link: http://downtownontherange.blogspot.com/2010/07/10th-street-rising_29.html

The Osler will eventually be rehabbed, but probably not for at least another 5 years. 10 is more realistic IMO. It is owned by the same company doing everything else (just about) right now and is on the list to be turned into residential after Hadden Hall, Guardian Lofts, the Cline, 1212, etc..

ug, i hate it when people advertise their blogs instead of answering a question.

He actually did answer the question, in addition to promoting a very long, well-researched blog post on other developments that the OP would probably be interested in. No problem in doing that.

I agree with King183. Spartan had a great blog post on this subject. Why wouldn't he direct someone there if he thought it would provide a more complete answer to a question. He was trying to be helpful- I don't ever comment on these kinds of personal skirmishes, but I think some people criticize simply to criticize.

BTW, I appreciated the link that Spartan provided. It was very helpful. Thanks!

Exactly, would you rather he reposted the entire blog entry here?

I consider it spam. Others here do it as well, so I'm not just picking on Spartan. If we think this forum is full of people's opinions, what do we think a blog is? If it works for you, great. I'm still not a fan. I used to blog as well, but I didn't go around plopping a URL everywhere for it.

Bomber, I respect your opinion but Nick did nothing other than answer the question and in a much more meaningful way than the answer would have otherwise been. Do you think that it would have been better for him to NOT to give the information?

It's one of Nick's better articles, in my opinion.

I consider it spam. Others here do it as well, so I'm not just picking on Spartan. If we think this forum is full of people's opinions, what do we think a blog is? If it works for you, great. I'm still not a fan. I used to blog as well, but I didn't go around plopping a URL everywhere for it.

Generally speaking, spam is something that is unsolicited. Considering that he posted the link as a pretty good answer to a question, it's almost the very definition of something that isn't spam.

Good God.. read the guy's blog. It is excellent and exactly on-point. Quit being so damn petty bomber.

Maybe I should start a new thread? I've been looking at land in the Cottage District (I prefer SoSA since really the new construction are certainly not cottages). I'd like to build a modern home in the area. It's closer in than currently and I like the potential vibe. Does anyone have any insight? I saw where one of the lots sold for 65k. That's, in my opinion, a stifling price. These are after all, relatively small, inner city lots in an area that will continue to be spotty until people who are genuinely interested and have the financial wherewithal to build do just that. So, opinions? Who here would pay more than 15k for one of these small lots? And, does anyone think that this area will continue to develop if the speculators buy them at 15k and ask 40-60k for them? Plus, and this is just a question, does anyone think that the UCD is easy to work with when building in this area or do you have to "know" somebody?

Nick, maybe you answer this question in the blog post (which I've yet to have time to read), but why do you think it will take so long to get the Osler open? It being smack dab in the middle of the hottest part of Midtown, I think it would sell out/fully lease instantly if converted to condos or rentals NOW.

Maybe I should start a new thread? I've been looking at land in the Cottage District (I prefer SoSA since really the new construction are certainly not cottages). I'd like to build a modern home in the area. It's closer in than currently and I like the potential vibe. Does anyone have any insight? I saw where one of the lots sold for 65k. That's, in my opinion, a stifling price. These are after all, relatively small, inner city lots in an area that will continue to be spotty until people who are genuinely interested and have the financial wherewithal to build do just that. So, opinions? Who here would pay more than 15k for one of these small lots? And, does anyone think that this area will continue to develop if the speculators buy them at 15k and ask 40-60k for them? Plus, and this is just a question, does anyone think that the UCD is easy to work with when building in this area or do you have to "know" somebody?

what cross streets are these lots you speak of?

seems like if you can keep the lot cost to 1/3 or 1/4 of total project, it would be a good deal.

but sure, who wouldn't want to pay 15k for a lot when they are going for more, lol?

the clagg/howard group is now moving along at a little slower pace ... they finish 4 buildings west of st anthony (3 res) and are now moving on to hadden hall

they didn't start with the osler because of how big of a project it is and they are fairly conservative .. it is on their list and IMHO it will be done within the next 5 years

Nick, maybe you answer this question in the blog post (which I've yet to have time to read), but why do you think it will take so long to get the Osler open? It being smack dab in the middle of the hottest part of Midtown, I think it would sell out/fully lease instantly if converted to condos or rentals NOW.

Well, they've been working on the Packard for 4 years now, still at least a year to go. And there are still a lot of projects between now (the Packard and Hadden) and then (Osler and 1212). They seem to be taking their time doing each project right, focusing on a lot of details, and as BoulderSooner said, they are also being fairly conservative.

Sorry if my posting of the link is seen as spamming. As was alluded to, I had more information than anyone would want posted in a thread and just thought someone who recently moved to Mid-town would be interested in what we're supposed to believe is the Mid-town modus operandii. The more people that I can make aware of these masterplans, hopefully the closer we can get to actually realizing some of these. Also, I've noticed that threads on here tend to disappear after a while--so the blog format is good for retaining information I've compiled in the past.

But Hadden is supposed to be done by December I thought. And who said that the Packard would take another year? It's leasing now, or at least according to their website it is. And don't apologize Spartan. I had read the plan for that area before your blog entry, but it was a great read anyways and I enjoyed it thoroughly.

I'm excited for 1212 and the Osler to just start. Those two buildings are going to be jewels.

And lastly. Can someone please answer the OP's first question? Because I checked it out and it's very intriguing indeed. I must know who that space belongs to now and what will come of it. Really clever promotional campaign too.

All of the MidTown Redevelopment properties have had leasing signs in front of them for years, including the Packard. I understand they had a deal last month that fell through. I am hardly saying that I think the project is doomed, because I actually think they have some real winners. But I just don't think there is much more urgency in the leasing than there was last year.

I just think for anyone excited to see 1212 and Osler (which I too am pumped for) is going to get tired of waiting after a while. I just hope people don't get as jaded as me in waiting for these projects, and it really is a good thing that they are taking their time and getting it right. So I'm just saying, don't expect it in the next 5 years or you may be disappointed.

I am still seriously holding out hope that Full Circle might move into the Packard..that would be a huge deal for everyone involved.. Full Circle, Clagg/Howard, and Mid-town.

I would assume Full Circle is moving somewhere. With Balliet's leaving, I'm sure virtually everyone left at 50 Penn is seriously thinking about moving. I know one of the salesgirls at Route 66 told me they were looking into a new location. It seems like Midtown would be a great place for them.

I would assume Full Circle is moving somewhere. With Balliet's leaving, I'm sure virtually everyone left at 50 Penn is seriously thinking about moving. I know one of the salesgirls at Route 66 told me they were looking into a new location. It seems like Midtown would be a great place for them.

All of them are most likely moving further north. The only way we can keep that from happening is if we jump on this opportunity to make downtown retail happen. This is an opportunity to bring some of the 50 Penn retailers downtown, seeing as 50 Penn is done.

Yeah! No one answered my other question? What is that building at 9th and Broadway going to be? According to the countdown on their website they are opening soon... What is it?!?

County records show that it is owned by "Urban Redevelopers" which is kind of vague. Other buildings on the block though are owned by the Salyers, who are putting a Hideaway possibly in on the other side of the block. Here, who knows.

Just a guess, it will be a Rand Elliott project. They have a facebook here
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Oklahoma-City-OK/-or-is-there/131979463504027?v=wall#!/pages/Oklahoma-City-OK/-or-is-there/131979463504027?v=wall&__a=6&ajaxpipe=1

County records show that it is owned by "Urban Redevelopers" which is kind of vague. Other buildings on the block though are owned by the Salyers, who are putting a Hideaway possibly in on the other side of the block. Here, who knows.

Just a guess, it will be a Rand Elliott project. They have a facebook here
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Oklahoma-City-OK/-or-is-there/131979463504027?v=wall#!/pages/Oklahoma-City-OK/-or-is-there/131979463504027?v=wall&__a=6&ajaxpipe=1

This came up in another thread and another poster said it is owned by Ghost Advertising... which makes sense.

I consider it spam. Others here do it as well, so I'm not just picking on Spartan. If we think this forum is full of people's opinions, what do we think a blog is? If it works for you, great. I'm still not a fan. I used to blog as well, but I didn't go around plopping a URL everywhere for it.
^^Other than OKCTalk,I keep up on all things OKC from Doug,Nick and Steve all three of these fine gentlemen's web site's/blogs are adding a great deal of insight to this forum and OKC in general,but thats just my opinion!If thats your definition of Spam then thats the best spam I've ever read!Like I said it's just my opinion and your entitled to yours!

double post to that which follows ...

To make up for it, I'll add a personal note ... when my mom was pregnant with me (dob 7/2/1943), her doctor officed in the Osler Building before I was born at St. Ann's on the date just stated. Hence ... I have a personal reason for being fond of this building.

Other than OKCTalk, I keep up on all things OKC from Doug, Nick and Steve all three of these fine gentlemen's web site's/blogs are adding a great deal of insight to this forum and OKC in general, but that's just my opinion! If that 's your definition of Spam then that's the best spam I've ever read! Like I said it's just my opinion and your entitled to yours!

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/thankyouverymuch.jpg

^^Lol! Your welcome!

City awards loan for Midtown apartment renovation
By Brianna Bailey
Journal Record

OKLAHOMA CITY – The city has awarded a California developer a $120,000 economic development loan to renovate a vacant, dilapidated brick apartment building in Midtown.

When the roughly $540,000 renovation project is completed, the Beasley Apartments, 901 NW 13th St., will add 14 units of affordable housing to the Midtown area.

Built in 1926, the 10,628-square-foot, two-story brick building has been vacant for several years.

There is a high demand for affordable housing in the downtown area, said Oklahoma City Planning Director Russell Claus.

“There is a larger demand than supply for what we call ‘work force housing,’” Claus said. “This will be a nice addition to the area and Midtown is a happy medium where it’s downtown, but not the core of downtown.”

City funding for the renovation project will come from the Murrah Area Economic Development Loan Program, which has helped to revitalize the Midtown area over the past 15 years. First National Bank will underwrite the Beasley renovation project.

In a time when developers are finding it harder to find financing for large-scale housing developments downtown, the city can help out with the smaller projects, Claus said.

“It’s really important to do these smaller projects,” he said “These projects just make a lot of sense and a lot of them have worked.”

Several other apartment rehabs in the Midtown area have benefited from the Murrah loan program, including the old Sieber Hotel, 1305 N. Hudson Ave.

The Beasley building is owned by the Oklahoma corporate entity New Beasley LLC. County records list an address in Los Angeles for the owners. Phone calls to E&E Capital, listed at the same address as New Beasley LLC in several online directories, were not immediately returned on Friday.

New Beasley LLC bought the building for $140,000 from First National Bank in March, according to county records.

This is exactly the type of city action needed that I've been ranting and raving about for the past year.

I drove down 10th today during lunch and noticed an older, dilapidated building near Robinson with a Midtown Renaissance sign on it. It has a gigantic hole in its brick fascade, but it looks like it could be quite nice. I thought I saw some workers there prearing to do something on it.

Anyone know what this building is? It has an old sign over its door that is partially destroyed and it says something about "Tours."

This is exactly the type of city action needed that I've been ranting and raving about for the past year.

It's not City action, Spartan the program has been there, no one has been taking advantage of it. You kept criticizing the city for not offering such and how they should offer such, the program has been there for years. Nonetheless, I'm glad to see this project come to life.

Also ModeHomes is fixing to announce their project on NW 9th and Shartel. Additionally, in SoSA on NW 7th three houses down from Francis, two older dilapidated homes were torn down and new modern housing is underway, which will be the 4th and 5th for the block now. The house next door was also recently updated and professionally painted. SoSA and MidTown continue to improve.

I drove down 10th today during lunch and noticed an older, dilapidated building near Robinson with a Midtown Renaissance sign on it. It has a gigantic hole in its brick fascade, but it looks like it could be quite nice. I thought I saw some workers there prearing to do something on it.

Anyone know what this building is? It has an old sign over its door that is partially destroyed and it says something about "Tours."

Yes, it's Hadden Hall, it's going to be for rent apartments. There is a thread on it with more info if interested.

Correct, it is Ghost Advertising, I announced this in the Automobile Alley thread months ago.

I always feel conflicted about 4th and 5th street as we are technically in "Downtown Design Fringe" designation and not "Midtown" or "Core" proper. But we are definitely "South of Saint Anthony's" lol

This week, Clint and Krystalyn Spencer are going to Downtown Design Review Commission for approval of their two homes. They are proposing squeezing two houses on a 40' by 140' lot! Exactly the kind of exciting density needed. I will be pleased to have them as neighbors if it proceeds as planned. If you don't know them, they built the modern home next to the Red Cross building on Lincoln. David Wanzer's 308 Design Collaborative developed the design.


These houses front 5th Street looking towards our building. They will have a great view of downtown as they are on a slope with at least a 10' grade change.

It's not City action, Spartan the program has been there, no one has been taking advantage of it. You kept criticizing the city for not offering such and how they should offer such, the program has been there for years. Nonetheless, I'm glad to see this project come to life.

You're right. City loans aren't city action. And darn those silly developers for not taking advantage of free loans that have existed this whole time.

How would a developer apply for this type of loan?

Not sure, I'm trying to find out with the City. It's done through the Planning Dept. Russell Claus is the director, so far I haven't gotten any real information from the city. I'm trying to see if the multi-unit development downtown where I live can qualify.

The loan that the Beasley Apts. received was a Murrah loan. The project must be within a specific geographic area and must meet other criteria. It must have a "commercial element" to it. Funds that are loaned out are paid back into the program and are loaned out again to others. It is a great program that has made and continues to make re-development possible in areas where traditional financing is hard to come by. The program is administered by the city planning department. They don't have any info about it on their website. You should call the city planning department for details.

I have called the city as my post indicates. The article posted above already indicated it's a Murrah Area Economic Development Loan, we're just trying to get the SPECIFIC details outlined here.

I have called the city too. I can not get any information from the city planning departments in regards to this. The people at the city planning dept that I spoke with, did not know anything about this type of loan. Also as mentioned before there is no info to be found on the City website.

I have tried attaching the murrah loan application to this message but it may be too large to go through. Anyone who wants a copy send me your email through a private message and I would be happy to send it along. I received a murrah loan for the construction of a house on 7th street.

Speaking of private messages, they have been "disabled" for a while now (or is this just on the computers I am using) rest of the site seems to be working normally (others have mentioned the Search feature is spotty)...all seems to have happened at some point after the site upgrade???

Did not realize this was the Murrah program. Interesting, considering Russell Claus came up in the Planning Dept overseeing that program. What OKC really needs right now is something that can be used anywhere downtown, and not just immediately north of the bombing site.

So what will be the commercial element of the Beasley Apts?

I always feel conflicted about 4th and 5th street as we are technically in "Downtown Design Fringe" designation and not "Midtown" or "Core" proper. But we are definitely "South of Saint Anthony's" lol

This week, Clint and Krystalyn Spencer are going to Downtown Design Review Commission for approval of their two homes. They are proposing squeezing two houses on a 40' by 140' lot! Exactly the kind of exciting density needed. I will be pleased to have them as neighbors if it proceeds as planned. If you don't know them, they built the modern home next to the Red Cross building on Lincoln. David Wanzer's 308 Design Collaborative developed the design.


These houses front 5th Street looking towards our building. They will have a great view of downtown as they are on a slope with at least a 10' grade change.

I should say that the 308 Design Collaboration is made up of both David Wanzer and Brett Johnson. They office in Film Row with other architects, several engineers, and designers.

It'd be nice if the new developments in Mid-Town would be easier to afford then downtown...I really want to move to that area

Hey All,

I was poking around online and noticed that the empty lot that flanks my apartment in Midtown from the south and west to Classen is up for sale - in it's entirety. I knew the bit off Classen was up for sale, next to the Metaphysics school, and at one time that site was potentially going to be home to an office depot. it now appears the entire 2.6 acre pad is listed at Price Edwards. Here's the flyer:

http://www.priceedwards.com/files/flyers/1121%20Classen.pdf

Just for a little additional perspective, I live in one the newly renovated Midtown R properties on the edge of Midtown on 12th and Francis, or as I like to call it - the Slightly Northwest of St. Anthony's District (SNWoSA). From my apartment - this is how the site looks to the south:

http://gallery.me.com/mikey1976/100062/DSC_0005/web.jpg?ver=12824989850001
It then connects heading west toward Classen here, and here:

http://gallery.me.com/mikey1976/100062/DSC_0003/web.jpg?ver=12824989940001
http://gallery.me.com/mikey1976/100062/DSC_0002/web.jpg?ver=12824989990001
To the immediate east of the site is my apartment, a newly renovated midtown office building, followed by the St. Anthony's Physician's tower, pictured here out my east bay window:

http://gallery.me.com/mikey1976/100073/DSC_0001/web.jpg?ver=12824995040001

We have all the makings of a great urban neighborhood -just a stone's throw from heritage Hills, the Plaza Court building, St. Anthony's, and all the new mod construction that's going on in SoSA. Does anyone have any thoughts about what is likely to go on this site? I'm curious if it's intended to be sold in one, strangely tetris shaped puzzle piece, or if they'll part with it in chunks? In this economic climate, I'm not sure that the view from my windows are likely to change anytime soon, just curious if anyone had any insights.

My guess is they will parcel each piece off in this economy.