Map of Potential Infill Sites in Central OKC

[betts]

What happened to alleys? They were a great place to locate utility easements, offered people an option to having their garages face the front of the street and offered access between fences. And, I've just about had it with privacy walls around subdivisions as well. Just as you say, Kerry, it offers people very limited access out of their subdivision, and gives such a closed-in feeling. As I've said before, my son lives in the Springfield neighborhood in JAX. We were able to walk to dinner several times, as well as to a coffee shop nearby. There's a lot of empty retail that would be excellent for redevelopment in that area, and I hope as the economy recovers it happens. He's got a great alley that allows him access to his garage/carriage house. It also allows lots to be narrower. I became very nostalgic for alleys when I visited.

[Platemaker]

What happened to alleys?

I've often wondered that myself. They only exist in the oldest parts of OKC, yet some cities - like Altus - build alleys for all new subdivisions and streets.

[USG'60]

Alleys are perfect for trash pickup, underground utilities, etc. It is sad that they were discarded when tract house suburbia became the thing.

[Pete]

Regarding alleys, sometime after WWII and the great spread out to suburbia, they were forsaken in favor of large backyards.

It used to be that homes were oriented toward the street; shorter setbacks and large front porches. But more and more Americans preferred big, private backyards to interacting with their neighbors.

Thankfully, we are starting to see a push back towards alleys and putting cars in the back where they belong, and more front-oriented homes.


Plus, homes just look better without a huge garage dominating at least half of it's front elevation.

[bluedogok]

The main reason why alleys are unpopular with developers is that they eat up space that could be sold and yield a better profit.

I absolutely hate the alley/garage system that is so dominant in the Dallas area. It creates a bunker mentality in most people if they never have to interface with their neighbors. I have more interaction with neighbors when I am out front and see them come home as opposed to pulling into a blind alley and into their garage never to be seen. I do prefer a garage set behind the house with a front, street access like my Great Grandfathers house in Heritage Hills. The biggest thing that has reduced interaction is the lack of porches and people using them.

[Spartan]

I wanted to bump this thread in light of our city's apparent difficulty to find room for new developments and convention centers.

[CaptDave]

I wanted to bump this thread in light of our city's apparent difficulty to find room for new developments and convention centers.

Good call.....wonder if any of them will actually look?

[progressiveboy]

The main reason why alleys are unpopular with developers is that they eat up space that could be sold and yield a better profit.

I absolutely hate the alley/garage system that is so dominant in the Dallas area. It creates a bunker mentality in most people if they never have to interface with their neighbors. I have more interaction with neighbors when I am out front and see them come home as opposed to pulling into a blind alley and into their garage never to be seen. I do prefer a garage set behind the house with a front, street access like my Great Grandfathers house in Heritage Hills. The biggest thing that has reduced interaction is the lack of porches and people using them.

I agree that the alley system does not encourage interaction with neighbors and it also encourages crime. In Dallas, robbery is a common thing when residents drive their cars through the alley ways and are greeted by a robber. The one thing I do see good about having garages in the back of the house is it detracts from seeing all the junk in ones garage and with the style of many homes in Dallas being "ranch style" it adds beauty in the front of the house and just looks good "aesthetically". Just my opinion of course.

[wschnitt]

you want to build out there the homeowners have to pick up 100% of the cost and maintenance. Government can't afford it anymore.

Well said.

[MidCenturyModOKC]

This is a great thread! I am so interested in the infill opportunities in NW OKC! Oklahoma City is one of the largest cities in America (by square miles) and that has left behind a huge number of Urban Core vacancies!

I have begun work on a business plan centered around developing single family new res on infill lots in NW OKC! I feel these are the perfect options for building new modern styled, energy efficient homes. My research shows that OKC has a huge demand for Modern style and brand new energy efficient green options in the Urban Core! Primarily young professionals like myself, so price points will be a major factor, but why can't this be done in OKC? One of my favorite blogs 100khouse.com shows that you can build with an eye on modern style, energy efficiency, and budget in PA, but I think we should bring it to OKC!

[UncleCyrus]

Small update to the first map image: I believe that green triangle between NE 4th, Lincoln Blvd., and I-235 now has a building on it.

[UncleCyrus]

It has made a dent in the traffic for the people that use it. DART wasn't created so people on the freeway would have less traffic, it was created so people taking the train would have less traffic. It works everytime it is tried.

Well said!