7 at Crown Heights

[Spartan]

You should check out some of the other Deco and 50s modern homes scattered around Crown Heights and similar neighborhoods. Good architecture is good architecture. Nobody has recently bemoaned the Bruce Goff home on NW 59th even though that definitely stands out. That used to be in terrible shape also until it was recently remodeled. Now that I think of it, we are just hemorrhaging all of this incredible architecture right now..it's kinda sad. But it's awesome that this building will be saved!

But if someone wanted to build something more traditional out of quality materials, I think that would be great. Just pick a vacant surface lot downtown and build the thing already!! lol

[bluedogok]

I tried buying that to restore it. Although I wish I'd gotten it, I'm glad to see it saved.

I never got a call back from them the times that I tried calling the number on the sign that was there forever.

The roof on the apartment building was caved in the southeast corner when I looked at it last year.

[RealEstateCop1]

That looks really nice. I can't wait to see it when its finished.

[soonerguru]

That Brent Swift group does some great work. That loft on Film Row is stellar.

[warreng88]

Norman builder plots condos in OKC’s Crown Heights
By Brianna Bailey
Journal Record
Oklahoma City reporter - Contact 405-278-2847
Posted: 07:24 PM Wednesday, October 19, 2011

OKLAHOMA CITY – Norman builder Brent Swift plans to revive a historic Crown Heights Historic District art deco apartment building that has been vacant for decades.

The property’s garage was too far gone to be salvaged – the roof caved in after years of neglect – but Swift saw the potential to restore and rebuild the rest of it into seven high-end condominiums.

“It’s rich with history and a great opportunity to restore something back to original grandeur,” Swift said.

Swift acquired the empty brick fourplex at 1000 NW 37th St. and adjoining garage and duplex for $350,000 earlier this year. He’s partnered with architects Hans Butzer and Jeremy Gardner of Butzer-Gardner to restore most of the property to its original art deco design and build an extra structure on the back of the building to add three additional units. The new addition will have a more modern, sleek design, but will still fit with the art deco feel of the 1936 original building, Swift said.

The seven two-bedroom units will be anywhere from 850 square feet to 1,375 square feet and will range in price from about $169,000 to $279,000.

Swift has been acquiring and renovating historic properties in Norman for several years, but the Crown Heights property will be his first project in Oklahoma City.

If the condominium restoration goes well, he plans to look for more restoration projects in the city, he said.

“There’s a lot of opportunity, with all of the development that’s happening in the city,” Swift said. “I’ve been very impressed with Oklahoma City’s government structure that has really embraced redevelopment and there are just so many buildings out there that are just waiting to be restored.”

Catherine Montgomery, historic preservation architect for Oklahoma City, has had several people call and express interest in restoring the old apartment building over the past few years, she said.

The previous owner of the fourplex, Gene Von Stein, became motivated to sell the property after city officials attempted to declare the garage dilapidated and have it torn down, she said.

Although Swift could not save the garage part of the property in the end, the remainder of the structure has a bright future, Montgomery said.
“It’s unfortunate the garage had to come down, but as far as I can tell they’re doing a great job to respect the building and turn it into a great property,” Montgomery said.

[Skyline]

The previous owner of the fourplex, Gene Von Stein, became motivated to sell the property after city officials attempted to declare the garage dilapidated and have it torn down.

I find this line very interesting and mostly important for much of the inner city re-development throughout Okc. The city stepped in and created the motivation for the owner to do something with his abandoned and deteriorating property.

Each and every one of us know of an inner city property that could use a little pressure from the city in order for the absentee owner to become motivated and either sell or make improvements to their properties.

[metro]

There is an existing thread on this somewhere

[urbanity]

‘Moldy Manor’ no more

An Art Deco fourplex gets a new owner after decades of neglect.

http://www.okgazette.com/oklahoma/ar...;-no-more.html

[MidCenturyModOKC]

This is a fantastic project! Brent Swift only builds/re-builds/designs at the highest level! I do wonder about how OKC responds to condos vs. single family options (you can get a lot of square footage and a great yard in NW OKC for $170,000 which is the entry point for these. I do like that it seems that OKC is broadening their housing options and continue to evolve, the options should be as diverse as the people who live here!

[adaniel]

Does anyone know if a website or sales office has been established for this project? I *might* be interested in one of the lower priced units.

[MidCenturyModOKC]

adaniel : I have been considering it myself! I have been looking for single family but this may have everything I need....and with my budget - I will NOT be getting into Crown Heights unless its a project like this!

There is no sales office that I am aware of. Chris George with Churchill Brown is the realtor who is representing the condos on property. He would be your point of contact I would assume. I can say from experience he is great to work with and a very honest realtor! He helped me with my first home purchase, couldn't be more impressed!

email:
Chris@ChrisGeorgeHomes.com

[MidCenturyModOKC]

http://www.chrisgeorgehomes.com/phot...erty_ID=235464

Here are some hot off the press photos of the first completed building for this project! Brent Swift took the duplex which was included as I understand in the purchase of the Art Deco fourplex and transformed it first - I assume because of all the buildings it could be done quickly and begin generating revenue on the project. I love what he has done here and I think it speaks to the types of finishes that you will find in the rest of his project.

The cabinets and many of the color choices and aesthetic are very much in keeping with his past projects. I think we will have a real gem in Crown Heights once he is finished!

[Pete]

Is that duplex $329K for both units?

Fantastic finishes and design... Swift does a great job and if all these units get snapped up, I hope he and others like him will do more of these projects.

[MidCenturyModOKC]

I believe that the price is for both units. Someone could easily live in one and rent out the other, they are nice enough to bring a pretty hefty rent rate.

His design, finishes, and also building quality is outstanding! I am so glad that he is looking to OKC to expand his business!

[MidCenturyModOKC]

Bought this and the place next door for $350. Renovations - $1mil+ I would guess.

It's not really much of a steal, I don't think. Both buildings are in tremendously bad shape.

I don't really feel that the building was a "steal". More importantly the building is historically and architecturally important to Crown Heights and to NW OKC. Because of this I think that he will be able to get more than $200 per sq foot which means they will come out ahead.

[adaniel]

adaniel : I have been considering it myself! I have been looking for single family but this may have everything I need....and with my budget - I will NOT be getting into Crown Heights unless its a project like this!

There is no sales office that I am aware of. Chris George with Churchill Brown is the realtor who is representing the condos on property. He would be your point of contact I would assume. I can say from experience he is great to work with and a very honest realtor! He helped me with my first home purchase, couldn't be more impressed!

email:
Chris@ChrisGeorgeHomes.com

Thank you for the contact info MidCenturyMod. I'm with you that I love Crown Heights and Edgemere Park but its gentrified to the point of pricing out young professionals like myself.

I want to see how my finances are at the end of the year but if everything looks alright I am going to try and get a place, hopefully in that part of the city.

[MidCenturyModOKC]

This project continues to move at a great pace! I usually use my weekends to check up on what interests me around town and even on Sat. and Sundays they have full crews making progress! According to the real estate agent, Chris George with Churchill Brown, they are waiting to release more info until the condos have taken more shape. Probably a good plan since demanding a high sq footage price usually requires proof of the best finishes. However I was hoping that there would be some room for customization and I am not sure whether or not there will be any.

[MidCenturyModOKC]

For those of you who have kept up with this outstanding remodel it looks like the Condos in the main 4-plex have been put on the market. As I originally suggested Chris George with Churchill-Brown has the listings.

[Pete]

http://www.realtor.com/realestateand...ex=OK545190891

[MidCenturyModOKC]

Thank you Pete! I couldn't find a good way to link people to information. I guess we should not be surprised by the price points but I can't say that I am not!

[shawnw]

This was taken a week ago, but there is concrete going in just next to these, not sure why...




(i don't mean the concrete driveway that has been there for the furniture stores BTW)

[Architect2010]

As part of the plan, they are constructing an additional structure on the site. If you look back on the first page shawn, there are a few renderings posted. That should clear things up.

[shawnw]

I see. Well, I should get a good look at the progress. I'm in that parking lot every Tuesday.

[MidCenturyModOKC]

This is a fantastic development! The cost of these units definitely means they are going high-end! But I will say that there is a mid-century modern and historical cool feeling that nothing new and shiny and modern downtown can touch! These really are one of a kind in OKC!

[metro]

Taken from my iPhone last Friday.