Twelve Twelve

[betts]

Of course any rental can eventually end up as for sale real estate if it's well built enough that people will want to buy after a few years have passed. That happens all the time back east, and we may find that as the economy improves and it's a bit easier to get a loan, some of the nicer buildings end up with condos for sale.

[BoulderSooner]

1212 N walker 24 units rental

[BBatesokc]

Was parking upstairs at the Midtown YMCA yesterday and took these photos of the work in progress.....

[huskysooner]

Just drove down Walker earlier and saw that work has begun on the long awaited building next to the old hotel across from Louie's midtown.

Attachment 933

[SSEiYah]

If anyone is in the area I'd love to see some pics of the progress at 1212 (Walker) and some of the other Midtown projects...

[dankrutka]

There is now a sign up in front of the 1212 development on Walker that says they are leasing in Spring 2012...

[OKC1987]

The apartment floor plans are available on their website as well. No pricing information though.

http://www.midtownr.com/ViewProperty.aspx?id=10

http://www.midtownr.com/pdf/1212.pdf

[soonerhcf]

It appears that this property is waiting on a Downtown Design Review Committee approval before they complete this project. Here's the link to this month's agenda:

http://www.okc.gov/planning/planning...drc/agenda.pdf

I don't know quite what to think about it yet, because it's not 100% finished, but I do think that it's a drastic improvement from how it looked in that "before" picture that Pete posted.

[Pete]

1212 N. Walker is coming right along...

[Pete]

Some small things in that second photo but very important little changes in our beloved town...

A sidewalk cafe and more importantly, a SIDEWALK! AND people actually using it!!


Really a cool little street scene and there is plenty more of this to come.

[ljbab728]

Some small things in that second photo but very important little changes in our beloved town...

A sidewalk cafe and more importantly, a SIDEWALK! AND people actually using it!!


Really a cool little street scene and there is plenty more of this to come.

That is Louie's.

[Pete]

Looking at the photo again, here's what you can see: A new Louie's with a great outdoor seating area on the street, a sidewalk and streetscape that people are actually using, 1212 Walker being renovated into cool apartments, the Osler building that will soon be renovated, 1492 restaurant, Cafe do Brazil and Plaza Court.

Amazing what can happen in a few years and fun to think about that area in a couple of more.

[metro]

Drove by at lunch. It still has quite a says to go, they will be pushing the deadline. I think the residential can be completed by then, as it looks further along on the inside, but the retail would be pushing it.

[metro]

Here are the pics from last Friday. These were on my iphone so the quality isn't the best.



Notice the window panes being put in on retail level.

[Urbanized]

I know the west-facing windows are going to be a challenge in the summer, but I have to say that 1212 has hit on something critical that I think most projects in downtown ignore; large window openings. Those are basically floor to ceiling, and I suspect they will be a huge success because of it.

I still believe that the best and most salable/rentable place someone could build downtown has yet to be built; straight-up boxes with industrial finishes including brick, or terra-cotta tile or even cinder block walls, exposed mechanicals, minimalist kitchens (but with nice surfaces and appliances), great lighting and most of all LARGE WINDOW OPENINGS.

I think people who move downtown are much more concerned with connecting to the outside, even if it is only visual. They WANT to see the sidewalk, and the things that are going on down there. They want great views of other buildings. They're typically much more concerned with those types of things than they are crown moldings or oak cabinets with lots of trim detail. It just seems most of the places down here are being built for Edmondites rather than downtowners. Just my opinion.

This looks like it is headed in the right direction.

[Urbanized]

In looking at the rendering again, the overhangs/balconies will help tremendously with the sun shining into the west-facing windows. Evening sun in the summertime will be rough, but nothing some blackout shades won't fix. After sunset, those balconies will be seriously nice to hang out on. Cool factor on this one is high.

[city]

I know the west-facing windows are going to be a challenge in the summer, but I have to say that 1212 has hit on something critical that I think most projects in downtown ignore; large window openings. Those are basically floor to ceiling, and I suspect they will be a huge success because of it.

I still believe that the best and most salable/rentable place someone could build downtown has yet to be built; straight-up boxes with industrial finishes including brick, or terra-cotta tile or even cinder block walls, exposed mechanicals, minimalist kitchens (but with nice surfaces and appliances), great lighting and most of all LARGE WINDOW OPENINGS.

I think people who move downtown are much more concerned with connecting to the outside, even if it is only visual. They WANT to see the sidewalk, and the things that are going on down there. They want great views of other buildings. They're typically much more concerned with those types of things than they are crown moldings or oak cabinets with lots of trim detail. It just seems most of the places down here are being built for Edmondites rather than downtowners. Just my opinion.

This looks like it is headed in the right direction.

Most of the finished projects in Midtown so far have been historical re habs using tax credits. The things you call Edmond are what is required to get the credits. 1212 was not eligible for tax credits and had no such requirements.

[Urbanized]

Hardly. The things I call Edmond are almost universally new construction. If you're talking about projects like the Seiber, I am TOTALLY down with what Marva & Co did there. Same with Harvey Lofts and others. Historic tax credits require preserving the history of old buildings, and I am 100% on board even (actually especially) if it includes historic high finish and architectural detail. I've even defended/explained HP tax credits ad nauseum in this forum.

I'm not naming names, but the places I am describing are new construction with interior finishes more befitting an Edmond subdivision than urban development. And heck, I'm not even saying there is no room for those places; only that I think they miss the mark when it comes to what the majority of the downtown-ready market wants.

[metro]

Well said Urbanized. Also exactly why I renovated my SOSA condo to exposure more industrial elements!

[betts]

The Brownstones are customizable to whatever style you want. Some are what I would consider "Edmond style" but some are not. I don't think mine is, at least, but I'm very happy not having floor to ceiling windows. They're hard to drape, and difficult to sleep and dress in if they're not draped. Block 42 has massive windows, too, and it's new construction. It's nice if people have a choice. The Hill is closest to what I would call Edmond style, but it's now selling pretty well. The most contemporary of the finished out Brownstones hasn't sold. So, it may be that there's diversity in what the downtown-ready want and if we have options we're more likely to appeal to different people.

[Urbanized]

I've toured multiple units in every development mentioned here, betts. I'm not talking about contemporary, I'm talking about industrial. It barely exists downtown (it would be "nice if people had a choice," right?), it would greatly reduce the price per square foot, and I believe there is a significant audience out there for it, frustrated that they can't find it. By the way, the right large windows with the correct orientation need no window treatments at all, and in fact covering them is a crime.

[BoulderSooner]

I've toured multiple units in every development mentioned here, betts. I'm not talking about contemporary, I'm talking about industrial. It barely exists downtown (it would be "nice if people had a choice," right?), it would greatly reduce the price per square foot, and I believe there is a significant audience out there for it, frustrated that they can't find it. By the way, the right large windows with the correct orientation need no window treatments at all, and in fact covering them is a crime.

5th st lofts might be the closest thing to what you are talking about ..

[Urbanized]

They're pretty iffy. Probably the best for-rent or for-sale multifamily example is the Garage Lofts, done in the '90s by Nick Preftakes and Mark Ruffin, though Nick has said since that if he had it to do over again he would have done it a bit differently.

The best private, one-owner example is the expansive upstairs at Laura Warriner's [ArtSpace] at Untitled Gallery on NE 3rd. Of course, that place is huge, serves as sort of an artist's co-op and is well beyond what an individual would normally require.

[jdcf]

I've toured multiple units in every development mentioned here, betts. I'm not talking about contemporary, I'm talking about industrial. It barely exists downtown (it would be "nice if people had a choice," right?), it would greatly reduce the price per square foot, and I believe there is a significant audience out there for it, frustrated that they can't find it. By the way, the right large windows with the correct orientation need no window treatments at all, and in fact covering them is a crime.

This is exactly the type of place we would like to purchase - industrial look, very open, large windows, and affordable - in a walkable neighborhood.

[Pete]

The best place for true lofts (high ceilings, exposed brick walls and duct work, few if any partitions) are the upper floors of many buildings in Bricktown. Parking would be an issue but hopefully the people that would be drawn to such space would be willing to walk a block or two.