Level Apartments

[zookeeper]

Remember when downtown had no life?

Then again some of us remember when it was a fun and bustling downtown. It wasn't sterile, it had a lot of character, much more dense than the current downtown, actually had lots of retail, foot traffic, lots of restaurants and was a destination for all city residents. While I love the current CBD, it's actually not as great as I remember downtown in the 60's. There's a lot of revisionist history here which seems to say that the Oklahoma City pre-MAPS was just the period of time post-Pei. I'm writing this because I really want some of the younger posters and newer to the city posters to realize this.

[soonerguru]

Then again some of us remember when it was a fun and bustling downtown. It wasn't sterile, it had a lot of character, much more dense than the current downtown, actually had lots of retail, foot traffic, lots of restaurants and was a destination for all city residents. While I love the current CBD, it's actually not as great as I remember downtown in the 60's. There's a lot of revisionist history here which seems to say that the Oklahoma City pre-MAPS was just the period of time post-Pei. I'm writing this because I really want some of the younger posters and newer to the city posters to realize this.

I'm sorry, but I don't understand exactly what you're trying to say.

Here's what I know to be true:

1. OKC used to have a fabulously urban inner core, with truly mixed used urbanity: retail, office, residential, restaurants & entertainment, streetcar system, et. al.

2. Beginning in the 1960s the decision was made that our inner city downtown was "blighted" and these "old buildings" needed to be dispensed with to make room for "new buildings."

3. To a large extent, after the removal of as many as 1000 "old buildings," the "new buildings" never came, leaving a scabrous urban wasteland, destroying a former retail hotbed, and rendering our city core a hollow ghost town of what it once was.

Is this what you were trying to say? I'm not sure if I qualify as one of the "younger" posters (I'm in my early to mid-40s), but I totally understand OKC's history. You may be surprised to find out that most of the people who post here are quite familiar with it also.

[Rover]

Wow, talk about revisionist history. Late 60s and the 70s were depressing downtown, and scary. I guess prostitution and drunks are now "mixed use". Lol

[soonerguru]

Wow, talk about revisionist history. Late 60s and the 70s were depressing downtown, and scary. I guess prostitution and drunks are now "mixed use". Lol

It may have been "scary," but it was also where a ton of shopping was. It was mixed use: retail, restaurant, office. Am I missing anything?

I didn't realize prostitutes and drunks were so "scary." If so, maybe we shouldn't build a city.

[dankrutka]

I prefer Louie's to Republic believe it or not - mostly for the much better veggie options. Do enjoy the "view" at Republic tho haha. Excellent beer selection as well.

I'm not really sure how to respond to this. Louie's > Republic = mindblown

[soonerguru]

I'm not really sure how to respond to this. Louie's > Republic = mindblown

I have to agree with you. Louie's food is utter garbage, while Republic's is as good as Good Egg gets. Louie's may be a cozier sports bar, however, which may be what no1cub17 was trying to say.

[Rover]

It may have been "scary," but it was also where a ton of shopping was. It was mixed use: retail, restaurant, office. Am I missing anything?

I didn't realize prostitutes and drunks were so "scary." If so, maybe we shouldn't build a city.

Prostitutes en mass and drunks lurking around run down and vacant buildings was scary. Downtown was a dump.

[no1cub17]

I'm not really sure how to respond to this. Louie's > Republic = mindblown

Republic has exactly zero veg options. Granted it's a sports bar and we're in Oklahoma so no one's heard of vegetarian food, so I fully acknowledge that. Just making a small point. Blow your mind all you want

[betts]

I like Louie's. Their Margherita pizza reminds me of a quiche or pie of some sort more than pizza, but it's delicious. I like several things on their menu actually. I don't feel like I'm eating something special but I think their food is generally tasty.

[tuck]

Republic has exactly zero veg options. Granted it's a sports bar and we're in Oklahoma so no one's heard of vegetarian food, so I fully acknowledge that. Just making a small point. Blow your mind all you want

False...Black Bean Tostado Stack, all salads without protein as well as 6 side options. Adding a red lentil burger in a few weeks.

[dankrutka]

Republic has exactly zero veg options. Granted it's a sports bar and we're in Oklahoma so no one's heard of vegetarian food, so I fully acknowledge that. Just making a small point. Blow your mind all you want

I've ordered fruits and vegetables by just asking for them before.

And I don't hate Louie's. It's fine, but Republic food is exceptional in every way. But whatever satisfies you is all that matters.

[lindsey]

Now back to the LEVEL restaurant...they have NOT started the build out yet.

[city]

False...Black Bean Tostado Stack, all salads without protein as well as 6 side options. Adding a red lentil burger in a few weeks.

As a vegan because of medical issues I have stopped going to The Good Egg group restaurants. They have a very poor selection and Republic's black bean tostato stack and the quinoa dish at Cheever's is tasteless. Not worth spending money on. I do think Louie's tries harder in that area. S&B's has a great veg burger.

[tuck]

As a vegan because of medical issues I have stopped going to The Good Egg group restaurants. They have a very poor selection and Republic's black bean tostato stack and the quinoa dish at Cheever's is tasteless. Not worth spending money on. I do think Louie's tries harder in that area. S&B's has a great veg burger.

Please check PM...thanks.

[no1cub17]

I do think Louie's tries harder in that area. S&B's has a great veg burger.

I agree completely. I'm not even vegetarian, I just try to limit my meat consumption - so in general I enjoy restaurants with veg options more. To each their own though. I am freaking ADDICTED to S&B. Good thing they're not moving into Aloft - I'd be there every other day (at least!).

[Geographer]

I quite love the bar district in my backyard (Bricktown). I think Deep Deuce has a chance to be less focused on one niche and more well-rounded with amenities. Nothing concrete right now I can share but there are lots of plans for Deep Deuce and they will really elevate the whole area. I'm convinced that Deep Deuce will be a model community in a few years not just for Oklahoma City, but for this part of the country. I'm crossing my fingers anyway.

I hope you're right...I love spending time in Deep Deuce...I wish I could afford to live there! (the plight of a college student..) btw, I enjoyed your talk at the IQC conference a couple weeks ago!

[UnFrSaKn]

LEVEL Apartments (June 03 2013) - a set on Flickr

[Praedura]

Dang! It's a photo extravaganza today. I'm going into corneal overload... but I love it!

[UnFrSaKn]

When I get the videos edited, it will be a video extravaganza. All the stuff I posted has footage to go with it.

[Praedura]

When I get the videos edited, it will be a video extravaganza. All the stuff I posted has footage to go with it.

Awesome. Can't wait to see it.

[Chadanth]

Any Level residents care to share their approximate electric bills? The leasing office was touting the energy efficiency as a selling point.

[Pete]

They are finally getting busy inside the restaurant space at Level for the Urban Johnnies.

Note the ultra-high ceilings.

[OKCisOK4me]

Man...those dirt floors are gonna be something new in downtown ;-)

[Praedura]

...Note the ultra-high ceilings.

Man, no kidding! Wow. That must be a 30 foot tall room. You could put a trapeeze act in there (dinner time entertainment? )

[Urbanized]

Reminds me of a building at the Kansas State Fair when I was a kid. It was a fully-functional KFC (back then it was called Kentucky Fried Chicken, of course). Painted cinderblock walls, counters, registers, corporate signage, the works...and a dirt floor.

But I digress. Glad to see the restaurant underway.