Level Apartments

[mcca7596]

I believe that is all that is left of the church's parking. I seriously doubt they will let it go unless they move the church too.

I think it would be a negative for Deep Deuce if the church was moved. It's one of the few remaining links to the roots of Deep Deuce and it greatly contributes to the diversity of the area.

[shane453]

I am sure this has been asked before, so I apologize, but.... who owns the vacant lot east of Level?

3rd and Walnut (SE corner) is owned by OCURA

[SkyWestOKC]

Is the grocery store sill going to happen? Saw a banner today on the fence of NE3 and Walnut that said something to the effect of "Perfect location for a grocery!" Would have taken a picture but I was driving.

[dankrutka]

Is the grocery store sill going to happen? Saw a banner today on the fence of NE3 and Walnut that said something to the effect of "Perfect location for a grocery!" Would have taken a picture but I was driving.

That's been there for a while. Maybe they just never took it down...

[OSUMom]

3rd and Walnut (SE corner) is owned by OCURA

So the church doesn't own it? They are really going to be hurting for parking if it ever gets developed.

[shane453]

So the church doesn't own it? They are really going to be hurting for parking if it ever gets developed.

There is a lot of street parking in the area- Of the three restaurants east of Walnut, only Deep Deuce Grill has a small off-street parking lot. I think a lot of Deep Deuce residents park on the street as well, so it is possible that parts of 2nd Street will need to be designated "2 hour parking" during certain hours so that residents don't take up all the potential customer spaces.

[OSUMom]

I bet the church is hating the fact that they didn't pick up one of the many adjacnet empty lots around them when they could have bought it for pennies. Now they could end up with no parking lot.

[shane453]

I bet the church is hating the fact that they didn't pick up one of the many adjacnet empty lots around them when they could have bought it for pennies. Now they could end up with no parking lot.

The church historically did not have a parking lot- they still don't need one today, and if on-street parking resources are properly managed then they still won't need one when Deep Deuce is fully developed.

[Architect2010]

I bet the church is hating the fact that they didn't pick up one of the many adjacnet empty lots around them when they could have bought it for pennies. Now they could end up with no parking lot.

I thought Steve had mentioned LONG ago, that the church was actively seeking a new home? Due to the state of the building, and the lack of money to keep it well-maintained? Correct me if I'm wrong.

[bluedogok]

I thought Steve had mentioned LONG ago, that the church was actively seeking a new home? Due to the state of the building, and the lack of money to keep it well-maintained? Correct me if I'm wrong.

That is what I remember as well.

[OSUMom]

So if the church moves, what should happen there? Tear down the building for more condos/apts? Keep the building and put something really cool in there? Not sure what......

[dankrutka]

I would say to definitely keep that building. It is pretty awesome. I'd hate for the church to have to leave though... Maybe a parking garage with retail on the first level would work next to the church. No clue who would pay for that though...

[OKC@heart]

Definately keep the exisitng structure. The building adds a great deal of character to the district and so we need to preserve what is there that can be repourposed.

[CurtisJ]

So if the church moves, what should happen there? Tear down the building for more condos/apts? Keep the building and put something really cool in there? Not sure what......

Something like this maybe?

http://www.frontrangeliving.com/arch...urchcondos.htm

There are a lot of old churches in Oklahoma city that I imagine could be awesome condo projects. Every time I drive by the city curch building on 10th and robinson it makes me wish I had $5M to buy and renovate.

http://www.precorruffin.com/City_Church_3pgaug.pdf

[CaseyCornett]

I drove by and took some video today of Level Urban. Check it out: http://youtu.be/9CWpgmLTfaE

[mcca7596]

Something like this maybe?

http://www.frontrangeliving.com/arch...urchcondos.htm

There are a lot of old churches in Oklahoma city that I imagine could be awesome condo projects. Every time I drive by the city curch building on 10th and robinson it makes me wish I had $5M to buy and renovate.

http://www.precorruffin.com/City_Church_3pgaug.pdf

Wow, I never knew that building was for sale, I thought it was an active church. How long has it been empty?

[Urban Pioneer]

Ever since I have lived there across the street, the church was for sale. The congregation and services are probably still there, it's just now it is listed.

Always very cool to have my apartment windows rattle when they would crank up the Hammond organ. You could always here the choir on the street.

What I was told by several of the members is it is simply the pastor wanting to "cash in." At the time, there were very few people actually from the neighborhood going to church there, so many of the congregation were somewhat ambivalent if indeed they could get the asking price.

[Urban Pioneer]

I bet the church is hating the fact that they didn't pick up one of the many adjacnet empty lots around them when they could have bought it for pennies. Now they could end up with no parking lot.

I believe they own the large grassy lot to the East facing 2nd. It can be congested, but parking has not held them back. Also the OIC offers parking as their building is not in use on most Sundays. The parking concern, particularly in the Deep Deuce, is a fallacy that continues to create "the House of Bedlam" developments. People, get of you a** and walk. That's what people do in the Deep Deuce.

[mcca7596]

I think active churches in both Midtown and Deep Deuce would be better than converting them to residential. There are so many other opportunities for rehabilitations or new construction; having mixed uses is more than just retail, office, and housing.

[mcca7596]

The parking concern, particularly in the Deep Deuce, is a fallacy that continues to create "the House of Bedlam" developments. People, get of you a** and walk. That's what people do in the Deep Deuce.

This

[Urban Pioneer]

Another thing about that church- Martin Luther King apparently applied there to become their minister. They turned him down because they thought "that he was too young," per a discussion with one of their members.

That didn't keep him from having the grand march across the Walnut Street bridge. One major reason that the effort by the historic preservationists were able to salvage the bridge and have it reconstructed when it was threatened with destruction. That area is steeped in history. The church building should remain. Already the cool art deco neon sign that used to be there is gone.

[CS_Mike]

I apologize for going off topic, but does anybody else think that the City Church site would be an excellent location for the Bible museum that the Greens want to build? I know that they're looking for 300,000+ sq/ft, but I would think they could easily attain that by adding floors to the education wing and building onto the adjacent parking lot. Maybe this would get them to reconsider their preference for Dallas.

[dankrutka]

Probably not. If I remember right, their preference for Dallas was not because they couldn't find a building but because they want a high population of people to provide more exposure for the museum...

[CurtisJ]

Wow, I never knew that building was for sale, I thought it was an active church. How long has it been empty?

The Building has been for sale since before I moved back to OKC six monthes ago, just two or three weeks ago they put a big sign out front that says they have moved to a location on NW expressway.

I may be wrong and/or biased and/or sacrilegious, but I think that people want to go to church near where they live, and I don't feel like alot of these churches serve the needs of the younger crowd living nearby (I don't know this for sure, its just a thought as too why these two buildings are up for sale). Obviously some of the churches in and around downtown are doing great, but I don't see the point in new churches moving in where old churches are vacating if there isn't a demand for them there. Life churcher's please don't take that as an invitation.

Now I'm going to go ahead and apologize for de-railing this thread, Level Urban Apartments Everyone!

[shane453]

^^ Frontline Church is currently in Automobile Alley, desperately outgrowing their space. They are moving to the City Church building at 10th and Robinson. They have a very mixed crowd including a lot of young people who are residents in the inner city.