Where-to-Live Advice

[foursfourl]

(Hopefully I'm not posting this in the wrong section...)

I'm going to be moving from San Francisco to OKC in less than a month, and am wondering where to be looking for an apartment.

I'm male, young, dumb and single, so I'd definitely like to live downtown close to where I can have some sort of social life. I'll also be spending an inordinate amount of time at the new and soon-to-be-finished boathouses, so being closer to there would definitely be nice. I'm looking at places like Deep Deuce, but I have no idea what the area is like besides what I can find from google. Are there any parts of OKC I should try to avoid, e.g. due to there being nothing to do, too much crime, etc.?

I visited for a few days not too long ago, but only really saw the OCU campus and drove through some parts of Bricktown briefly, so I don't know much about Bricktown or Midtown or any other parts of downtown. Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

[LIL_WAYNE_2012_PREZIDENT]

Move to the courts on sw 15th an penn

you will absolutely love the nightlife

[brianinok]

Deep Deuce is great. I used to live there. You might also check out Sycamore Square, Montgomery, or Legacy at Arts Central, though they are on the west side of downtown further from the boathouses.

[rcjunkie]

Move to the courts on sw 15th an penn

you will absolutely love the nightlife

Actually it's SW 15h and Westwood Drive.
I don't think you'll find much nightlife, however, you will find a lot of LOWLIFE.

ANYONE BUT OBAMA FOR PRESIDENT in 2012

[LIL_WAYNE_2012_PREZIDENT]

actually it's sw 15h and westwood drive.
I don't think you'll find much nightlife, however, you will find a lot of lowlife.

Anyone but obama for president in 2012

well lets just get all technical

[blangtang]

You should buy a condo in Wayne and a loft in Payne, they have their own interstate exit sign.

[Bunty]

There's some recently built apartments within a fairly short walking distance of Bricktown. You could then proudly say you live by Bricktown.

[betts]

Deep Deuce or Legacy apartments is where I would live. Deep Deuce would be marginally closer. I know a fair number of young adults who live at Legacy and, while we can spend days complaining about how it looks on this forum, they like living there. There are some new apartments south of the Health Sciences Center, and although that area is a bit marginal, the apartments look nice. I don't know much about housing availability around OCU, but someone on this forum will. If you wanted to live in a house, I would think you could possibly find something in the Paseo or Jefferson Park area.

[flippity]

Move to the courts on sw 15th an penn

you will absolutely love the nightlife

that's just mean.

[flippity]

Deep Deuce is right over the hill from Bricktown... Also closer to the boathouse. There are some nice apartments in Park Harvey, and in the Montgomery Building, but they are more downtown than bricktown. A little longer walk but still walking distance.


here's a link to the new lincoln apartments...they are very nice

The Lincoln at Central Park

[OKCMallen]

Deep Deuce. Park Harvey if you can afford.

[benman]

You cant go wrong with most of the downtown apartments everyone has listed. The downtown nightlife crowd is rather interesting i.e. sometimes you feel like youre at the jersey shore as opposed to the south, but that also depends where you hang out. I would also tell you to look in and around nichols hills or crown heights areas for a rent house. When I was looking, I found houses there that would rent for less than the expensive apartments downtown. If you can find a roomate, it is almost always cheaper to look for a rent house.

[flippity]

Deep Deuce. Park Harvey if you can afford.

they're about equal in pricing, aren't they?

[jstanthrnme]

Save some cash and find a garage apartment in Gatewood or Mesta Park. Get the best of all worlds.

[mheaton76]

For apartments, definitely check out the core of downtown, Deep Deuce, Park Harvey, Legacy Arts, the Sieber Hotel, and possibly the Aberdeen if you're on a budget (it's in the Heritage Hills area and they have been recently renovated). They are all very convenient to the boathouse area.

You may also want to check out the Classen, located on 23rd street in the asian district. It's an eclectic area with close proximity to a great grocery store some fabulous local restaurants.

Also, check out individual homes in the Paseo area, Gatewood, Meta Park and Heritage Hills. There are some 4-plexes that were built in the 1920s or so, have tons of character, and are in great walkable neighborhoods. Since you're coming from the bay area, I recommend you stick to the core and the historic areas of the city to have access to some of the amenities to which you may have grown accustomed.

I think you'll really enjoy the boathouse row - I participated last year in the corporate rowing league, and took individual lessons as well - it's really a blast and I hope you grow to enjoy what the city has to offer.

[soonerguru]

For apartments, definitely check out the core of downtown, Deep Deuce, Park Harvey, Legacy Arts, the Sieber Hotel, and possibly the Aberdeen if you're on a budget (it's in the Heritage Hills area and they have been recently renovated). They are all very convenient to the boathouse area.

You may also want to check out the Classen, located on 23rd street in the asian district. It's an eclectic area with close proximity to a great grocery store some fabulous local restaurants.

Also, check out individual homes in the Paseo area, Gatewood, Meta Park and Heritage Hills. There are some 4-plexes that were built in the 1920s or so, have tons of character, and are in great walkable neighborhoods. Since you're coming from the bay area, I recommend you stick to the core and the historic areas of the city to have access to some of the amenities to which you may have grown accustomed.

I think you'll really enjoy the boathouse row - I participated last year in the corporate rowing league, and took individual lessons as well - it's really a blast and I hope you grow to enjoy what the city has to offer.

Just print out a copy of this post and use it while searching for an apt. in OKC. Ignore virtually everything else you've read on this thread.

[jbrown84]

Definitely check out the historic areas of Mesta Park, Heritage Hills, Paseo, Jefferson Park, and Crown Heights.

Coming from SFO, you should feel perfectly safe and comfortable in any of these areas as well as all of downtown.

I lived in the Park Harvey for a year and loved it. The Sieber is a bit more expensive, but if I could afford it, that's where I would live. It's a great historic building with a brand new remodel and just a block or two from the Plaza Court--the hub of nightlife in Midtown. It's also close to Bricktown and Boathouse Row.

Deep Deuce is the closest to Boathouse Row if you're looking to rent. Don't know if you're in the market to get a condo. There are some fairly inexpensive ones in the Deep Deuce area (Lofts and Maywood Park, Block 42, Central Ave. Villas).

[Spartan]

Downtown housing projects, that you should check out, if you're on a budget (rent beginning: $600-$800):

Sycamore Square
Park Harvey
Garage Lofts
5th Avenue Lofts
Harvey Lofts
Deep Deuce
Regency Tower

If you can afford $1,000/mo, check out these projects:

Sieber Hotel
The Montgomery
Legacy at Arts Central
The Aberdeen

When you're ready to settle down and buy a house, there are several great projects in downtown as well as some excellent neighborhoods that are turning the corner. Essentially it's the inner north side of OKC that is desirable and hip. Whatever you do, I would avoid the projects that start around $500,000, even though several of those have been successful developments, I just don't see it being a wise investment at this point, even if that is your price range..which I doubt being younger.

The suggestion that you should try scowering historic districts for garage lofts is also a great idea. Those can be found, but they're never advertised, and you won't ever see a sign saying "Really cool garage loft for rent, prices reasonable."

[OKCMallen]

Downtown housing projects, that you should check out, if you're on a budget (rent beginning: $600-$800):

Sycamore Square
Park Harvey
Garage Lofts
5th Avenue Lofts
Harvey Lofts
Deep Deuce
Regency Tower

If you can afford $1,000/mo, check out these projects:

Sieber Hotel
The Montgomery
Legacy at Arts Central
The Aberdeen

When you're ready to settle down and buy a house, there are several great projects in downtown as well as some excellent neighborhoods that are turning the corner. Essentially it's the inner north side of OKC that is desirable and hip. Whatever you do, I would avoid the projects that start around $500,000, even though several of those have been successful developments, I just don't see it being a wise investment at this point, even if that is your price range..which I doubt being younger.

The suggestion that you should try scowering historic districts for garage lofts is also a great idea. Those can be found, but they're never advertised, and you won't ever see a sign saying "Really cool garage loft for rent, prices reasonable."

You can get in the Aberdeen for less than $1000 last time I checked...

[OKCMallen]

they're about equal in pricing, aren't they?

Nope.

[foursfourl]

Lots of thanks to everyone in this thread - gave me a lot of info to go with.

[Spartan]

You can get in the Aberdeen for less than $1000 last time I checked...

I didn't know that Mallen. Aberdeen might be one of the better values in downtown housing, which I hadn't realized. I guess being in Heritage Hills kind of makes you assume rents start at $1,000..but then again I don't know how big the units are.

[Platemaker]

Cool studios with murphy beds, and a couple 1 beds... clean and updated... $495-$600
next to Sieber.

Claremont Apartments

[dismayed]

I lived at the Aberdeen at one time. They have several different unit types to choose from. One section is more like traditional apartments but they are pretty cool on the inside, some being lofts with open second floors and others being town homes. The coolest units are in the Aberdeen tower... it's 10 stories or so and has some fantastic views of downtown for relatively cheap. At one time long ago when it was built it was the tallest building in Oklahoma. The area around there is pretty safe. Some big pluses are some great neighborhood walking areas nearby and also St. Luke's right across the street always keeps its area up nicely.

The only real negatives were very small closet space (the place was built in 1920-something...), and unfortunately if you live in the tower there's really not a way to know you have guests since there's no buzzer or intercom system (back in the old days the tower had a doorman...). Also some of the units can be small, but they do have some pretty big ones.