If you don't live downtown, why not?

[SSEiYah]

So let me get this straight. I have to drive OUT OF downtown to shop. I have to drive OUT OF downtown to buy groceries. I have to drive OUT OF downtown to work. And I am paying $200/sq foot? Explain why this seems like a cost effective solution. I will stay a couple miles straight north of downtown thank you very much.

[Double Edge]

I assume most of everyone on this particular board is on here because they love downtown OKC or are at least highly interested in it. So, question #1: do you already live downtown, and question #2: if you don't, why not?

You know what people say about assuming?

1. No
2. Why would I? I can't think of a compelling reason either under present circumstances.

eta:But in all fairness, I am highly interested in downtown.

[BBatesokc]

So let me get this straight. I have to drive OUT OF downtown to shop. I have to drive OUT OF downtown to buy groceries. I have to drive OUT OF downtown to work. And I am paying $200/sq foot? Explain why this seems like a cost effective solution. I will stay a couple miles straight north of downtown thank you very much.

In all honesty though, it really doesn't matter where you live in or around OKC, you can get to shopping, groceries, etc. within a 5-10 minute drive. If you must live closer to a WalMart, Target, Mall, etc. than 5-10 minutes then that's a whole new issue.

I just wish more people would spend time in places like Austin and see where small, older homes can be very nice for living and raising a family. Other than the inflated housing costs in Austin, I love that entire neighborhoods people here would consider 'ghettos' are actually very nice homes.

[dankrutka]

So let me get this straight. I have to drive OUT OF downtown to shop. I have to drive OUT OF downtown to buy groceries. I have to drive OUT OF downtown to work. And I am paying $200/sq foot? Explain why this seems like a cost effective solution. I will stay a couple miles straight north of downtown thank you very much.

You also have to drive out of your suburban home to do all those things, but there are many things you do NOT have to drive to if you live downtown. In the suburbs you have to drive to EVERYTHING.

[dankrutka]

I live in "downtown" if you consider midtown downtown. I am extremely happy renting there, but then again, I am young and living on my own. I love living in a small space (which is quite different from most). I used to have a 3 bedroom house in Edmond, but I would rather rent a studio in midtown. But that's just me.

[krisb]

For what it's worth, I believe the future of urban living in OKC will be concentrated in the smaller urban "villages" spread throughout the city (i.e. Paseo, Plaza District, Western Ave, Meadowbrook Acres). These neighborhoods offer charm and a diverse mix of retail and grocery options. They also have a good mix of people from a variety of socioeconomic backgrounds. There are also some new urban developments coming to the suburbs in the form of walkable master-planned communities. Downtown is great, but some perceive downtown to be more business and entertainment oriented, rather than a place for real people to live.

[earlywinegareth]

I think the Maywood Park brownstones are awesome and the view is amazing...but I would not want to live DT due to the noise and fumes. My dream is 10 acres out in the sticks someday.

[Double Edge]

You also have to drive out of your suburban home to do all those things, but there are many things you do NOT have to drive to if you live downtown. In the suburbs you have to drive to EVERYTHING.

but there are many things you do NOT have to drive to if you live downtown.

Other than the ford center or similar centers, and the legal places like city hall, I can't think of a thing that I'm not as close or closer to than I would be if I lived downtown.

I have a handful of restaurants, shopping, mailing, schools, my work, bus stop etc within a half mile of my house. I drive most of the time and it's easy. If I lived downtown I wouldn't have half of that and I'd walk because parking is a PITA and costly. My loss, in that respect, I could use the exercise, but except for driving to entertainment options, I do have more choices.

[dankrutka]

Other than the ford center or similar centers, and the legal places like city hall, I can't think of a thing that I'm not as close or closer to than I would be if I lived downtown.

I have a handful of restaurants, shopping, mailing, schools, my work, bus stop etc within a half mile of my house. I drive most of the time and it's easy. If I lived downtown I wouldn't have half of that and I'd walk because parking is a PITA and costly. My loss, in that respect, I could use the exercise, but except for driving to entertainment options, I do have more choices.

Then it sounds like you should stay in the suburbs. Urban living isn't for everyone (or hardly anyone in OKC). Next.

[Double Edge]

Then it sounds like you should stay in the suburbs. Urban living isn't for everyone (or hardly anyone in OKC). Next.

I plan on it, until I move to a warmer climate, then I might consider a vacation condo downtown so I can have a place to stay in OKC while visiting family and friends. Of course they would hate that, because most of them live in the burbs.

[okclee]

I assume most of everyone on this particular board is on here because they love downtown OKC or are at least highly interested in it. So, question #1: do you already live downtown, and question #2: if you don't, why not?

#1) No, I do not live downtown, I live close to 23rd street.
#2) I like old homes and historical neighborhoods.

Why does it always seem the discussion is the choice for either downtown living or suburban living?

What about living in the inner city neighborhoods?

[MadMonk]

You also have to drive out of your suburban home to do all those things, but there are many things you do NOT have to drive to if you live downtown. In the suburbs you have to drive to EVERYTHING.

LOL, it depends on where you live, but in many cases, you don't have to drive if you don't want to. I can walk to three restaurants, a couple fast food establishments, two grocery stores, a coffee shop, a liquor store, two bars, a bank, a couple convenience stores, a gym, a donut shop (ironically right next to each other), a video rental place, a mechanic, an elementary school, a middle school, a high school, a tag agency, a post office, several churches (one of which is also my voting location), two car washes, two vets, a dentist office, a clinic, a pharmacy, and a variety of other little shops that change from time to time. They are all within an easy walk or an easier bike ride of my house. About the only thing I can think of that's downtown that I don't have walking-distance access to are my work, sporting arenas (thank goodness!), a movie theater and a bus station, most of which I wouldn't want near my home anyway. When the weather is good, many people walk the area, or ride a bike, but most of us drive for convenience reasons.

[CaseyCornett]

1. No, I don't.
2. Prices are stupid high.

I would prefer to live in a small condo than a house in the burbs. I bought a house in Sept of '09 to take advantage of the $8,000 tax credit. I would have bought downtown if they had anything available under $150,000. Granted, there were about two condos available for $127,000 in the Lofts on 2nd street, but I didn't buy them because the layout was horrific.

I lived in Regency Tower in a one bedroom 550sf apartment and loved the layout, I would have paid $125,000 for that...but $125,000 for a 600sf with that horrendous layout was ridiculous.

[Reggie Jet]

I don't live downtown, but I just live up the road in Jefferson Park and have outrageously low rent. I would *love* to live downtown if I could afford it.

[Double Edge]

#1) No, I do not live downtown, I live close to 23rd street.
#2) I like old homes and historical neighborhoods.

Why does it always seem the discussion is the choice for either downtown living or suburban living?

What about living in the inner city neighborhoods?

The argument as I see it is like northside/southside, OU/OSU, east coast/west coast, kind of thing, mostly. The inner city is flyover country. We didn't have this discussion until some people started spending lots of money to live downtown and then started making a big deal out of it. IMO.

[FritterGirl]

As much as I enjoy working and playing downtown, I live in the burbs for primarily three reasons: 1) bang for your real-estate buck; 2) three dogs who need lots of room to romp and play; and 3) a spouse who is not the least into "fixer-upper" types of homes.

Suburban life doesn't keep me from enjoying the many food and entertainment offerings of downtown. Except for my commute (18 miles as opposed to my husband's 4), I'd say it's the best of both worlds.

[BBatesokc]

That's the great thing about OKC. You can choose to live in Edmond, Moore, MWC, etc. and still get to downtown in 10-15 minutes to do whatever you want. One reason we've never been in a hurry to move downtown. We've spent the last 10 years saving for the move as we want a home not a financial burden.

[BG918]

In all honesty though, it really doesn't matter where you live in or around OKC, you can get to shopping, groceries, etc. within a 5-10 minute drive. If you must live closer to a WalMart, Target, Mall, etc. than 5-10 minutes then that's a whole new issue.

I just wish more people would spend time in places like Austin and see where small, older homes can be very nice for living and raising a family. Other than the inflated housing costs in Austin, I love that entire neighborhoods people here would consider 'ghettos' are actually very nice homes.

There are lots of nice neighborhoods in inner OKC with small homes. Many people, like myself, don't desire to have a big house or big yard and these types of homes are perfect. You are still in an older, established neighborhood and you can get to downtown and other parts of the city easily. I like fixing up old houses but some don't.

[Matt]

So, question #1: do you already live downtown, and question #2: if you don't, why not?

#1. No
#2. Spite

[onthestrip]

My reasons not to live DT are pretty much the same as everyone elses, relatively too expensive, not enough DT amenities and nearby retail, I have a dog, and you can get more bang for your buck by just going 1 mile outside of DT.

As someone stated, this doesnt have to be a DT vs suburbs thing. OKC has tons of good neighborhoods north of DT. They all have yards, there are nicer homes that you dont have to fix up and they are only a few minutes from DT. While filling up DT with more residents is great, OKC also needs people to move back into these neighborhoods. And speaking of traffic, if you live in the area east and south of I44, North of 23rd and west of Broadway Ext, you can pretty much never have to worry about traffic, no matter what direction you are going.

[BoulderSooner]

yes i live "downtown"

[flintysooner]

I assume most of everyone on this particular board is on here because they love downtown OKC or are at least highly interested in it. So, question #1: do you already live downtown, and question #2: if you don't, why not?

Really, the forum, since I joined at least, has become increasingly downtown or politically oriented.

1. No.
2. Our regular daily places are within a 5 mile radius of our home.

[Midtowner]

I did live downtown for several years at Sycamore. Once I graduated from law school, I would have loved to move to a condo downtown. Unfortunately, the developers think they can provide an unlimited supply of property at $250-$350/sq. ft. and find buyers for it. They attempt to price our downtown real estate at or around Dallas prices. I'm bumfuzzled. Instead, I have property that's practically lakefront on Hefner, attached to the city's bike trails, a yard, a good floor plan, etc. at $90/sq. ft. I'm a 15-minute drive from work, but I have vastly superior retail near me. I should be downtown's target market--young, professional, decent income, no kids, involved in my community, etc.

I figure anyone who buys downtown right now doesn't really see money as an object. The current prices, in my estimation are not sustainable. If you look at your home as an investment (and at my age, unless you are living off of a trust fund, you have to), these homes are just awful investments.

I don't care about the grocery store thing. When we lived downtown, it was never a big deal. I love the atmosphere, all the stuff there is to do, the zero commute, but it's not worth the price tag.

[BBatesokc]

I do laugh at a couple of my friends that live downtown (2 in Heritage Hills, 1 in Putnam Heights and 2 in Deep Deuce). They brag about living downtown and being able to "walk to everything". The reality though is other than the 2 in Deep Deuce who occasionally walk into Bricktown, they all still get in their car and drive to everything downtown. If you're going to drive anyway, then what's an extra 5-10 minutes and avoid the high cost of living. I think the wife and I will most likely bike to everything when we move. Or, maybe that 2-seater Segway will be available!

[CaseyCornett]

I did live downtown for several years at Sycamore. Once I graduated from law school, I would have loved to move to a condo downtown. Unfortunately, the developers think they can provide an unlimited supply of property at $250-$350/sq. ft. and find buyers for it. They attempt to price our downtown real estate at or around Dallas prices. I'm bumfuzzled. Instead, I have property that's practically lakefront on Hefner, attached to the city's bike trails, a yard, a good floor plan, etc. at $90/sq. ft. I'm a 15-minute drive from work, but I have vastly superior retail near me. I should be downtown's target market--young, professional, decent income, no kids, involved in my community, etc.

I figure anyone who buys downtown right now doesn't really see money as an object. The current prices, in my estimation are not sustainable. If you look at your home as an investment (and at my age, unless you are living off of a trust fund, you have to), these homes are just awful investments.

I don't care about the grocery store thing. When we lived downtown, it was never a big deal. I love the atmosphere, all the stuff there is to do, the zero commute, but it's not worth the price tag.

I feel like you read my mind and wrote it out perfectly. I grew up around Hefner, too. Also, the no grocery thing didn't really bother me a ton when I lived downtown either.