Midtown

[Spartan]

Hey 1987, welcome to OKC. That's interesting, I have a few friends I grew up with actually living in Chicago now, and I know some people who have also recently moved to OKC from Chicago..not saying it's a trend or anything like California-to-OKC (like CA-to-Austin), but interesting nonetheless. Hopefully some Chicago perspective rubs off more than West Coast perspective which I could live without.

I think you caught us in the middle of an interesting period for OKC. There's a strong shift underway with a stronger focus on social environment engineering in OKC, increased walkability downtown, pedestrian mobility, promoting urbanism and density in the city, and more. I think OKC is essentially where Austin was in the '90s and where Charlotte was in the '00s, so it's an exciting time indeed. There are a lot of projects going on at once that will completely reinvent the center city. As for Hadden, I had no idea it was fully leased, that is awesome news. Downtown apartment housing has an occupancy of over 98% which is the highest occupancy rate of any kind in the entire metro area, so the developers proposing developments with hundreds of new apartments units are very justified in their calculations.

As for the building next door to you, the Packard Building, we have been hearing rumors for a while that they have gotten interest from certain tenants or signed with a certain tenant, but I have heard there will be a restaurant. Things may have changed though, because the restaurant I suspected it was ended up signing on Broadway instead (Hideaway). I passionately believe that building would be perfect for a book store and I've been nagging Full Circle about the idea, but they are probably going to make the common mistake and move further north soon.

If you're interested in urban things, it's really easy to get involved downtown and join up with groups. You can always attend any meeting on any kind of project and get more information in person on any project, such as streetscape, or streetcar, et al, that you have a personal interest in. This forum tends to be a great place for that kind of information as well, as many people who are involved regularly update us on here.

[betts]

Join Urban Neighbors

[Doug Loudenback]

Welcome to Oklahoma City, OKC1987, and thanks for the good report. Come back and post often!

[metro]

Join Urban Neighbors

Urban neighbors became more of a social club and less of a "neighborhood association"

[BoulderSooner]

Urban neighbors became more of a social club and less of a "neighborhood association"

i disagree with that statement we are more involved with the direction of downtown than we have ever been.


and i will agree with Betts you should join Urban Neighbors .. it is OKC downtown neighborhood association .. www.urbanneighbors.org ...

we have our monthly social this thursday from 530-7 at 1492 (11th and Walker) come out for free apps and good conservation with your new neighbors ..

[OKCMallen]

Urban neighbors became more of a social club and less of a "neighborhood association"

Said the guy that didn't get elected to student council. You are so negative lately, metro. Cheer up!

[OKC1987]

What brought me here, well I actually have always had a weird fascination with OKC (I will explain in a second). I wanted to go to OU for college, my dad and I came down and we loved it, I applied and got accepted but when push came to shove I decided I did not want to move that far away from home right out of college, so ultimately I landed at the University of Iowa (loved it, Iowa City is a great place and shockingly urban, if anyone gets a chance you should definitely visit it!!). When I decided to go to Iowa, I told myself that I would move to OKC after I graduated from college. Well after college, I got a job in the suburbs of Chicago (that I hated) and moved back in with my parents. After a few months at my new job, I decided it was now or never on moving to OKC, so I looked for a job, found one (in all honesty I only applied for one and got that same job) and moved down here a few weeks later! Did not know a single soul here, no family, friends, no one. I lived at the Regency Tower until a month ago when I moved into Hadden Hall.

This will sound weird but my fascination with OKC and Oklahoma came from my love for Severe Weather and Tornadoes. As far back as I can remember I have always loved extreme weather, which constantly kept Oklahoma on my radar from an early age. I also have always been extremely obsessed with everything that has to do with City Planning, Development, Real Estate, Etc. Played Sim City games for as long as I could remember and I used to draw development plans as a kid. OKC has been doing some great things over the past decade in these regards. So from about 2003 (I was 16) I knew I wanted to live in OKC, in my mind it was perfect - Exteme Weather and A city that is on the up and up in terms of new development, and I knew I wanted to be in the middle of both of those things! Since then I have followed through the internet the various projects that have been developed (and sadly the many that haven't due to the recession). I have been reading this board for a long time, and although I am new to OKC, I usually was able to follow the topics very well!

I could go on and on and on about it but I dont want to bore you all! If anyone wants to know more, feel free to message me.

In terms of Hadden Hall, as soon as I am allowed to post photos on the forum I will upload a few of the photos of my apartment (took them before I brought anything in to the apartment) so that you can all see it. Virtually all of my friends and co-workers love the place and it has spurred interest in many of them to move downtown. Many are jealous that I was able to find something that is "extremely unique" for Oklahoma City. There is a lot of demand for apartments by people my age down here, but there is hardly any quality supply! They were able to find 18 people that were willing to pay $700 - $1100+ for a quality one bedroom apartment, before the place even opened! And I have friends who inquired after they had all been leased! (btw they did this with virtually no mainstream marketing) I know for a fact there are many others out there, who are waiting for the opportunity for quality rentals downtown (and soon Deep Deuce should have many more available) Yes, I was specifically looking for rentals in downtown OKC. I do not want to own, I am not ready to own and I have know interest in buying at this point in my life. But at this point in my life I am willing to pay the higher prices for rent in downtown for a quality place, and trust me this apartment is very nice and new but by no means spacious! But I am a young, single person and I do not need a lot of space (nor do I own very much furniture). Hadden Hall was exactly what I was looking for!

[okclee]

Wow!!

That was a Beautiful building!!

[OKC1987]

Wow!! That looks absolutely awesome!! I can not wait until the finish the whole building. There is still landscaping and other items they need to complete on the outside, so I can not wait to see it! The first floor tenants are supposed to move in on March 15th, but honestly I am not sure if they will be done. It does not look like it when I walk through there every day. I hope its all done before my parents come down to see my new place in a few weeks!

[Doug Loudenback]

Wow!! That looks absolutely awesome!! I can not wait until the finish the whole building. There is still landscaping and other items they need to complete on the outside, so I can not wait to see it! The first floor tenants are supposed to move in on March 15th, but honestly I am not sure if they will be done. It does not look like it when I walk through there every day. I hope its all done before my parents come down to see my new place in a few weeks!

When you walk through for some progress views, please take your camera and give us some progress photos! If you don't have a camera, invite me to be a mouse in your pocket and I'll be glad to do the honors!

[okclee]

Noticed quite a few contractors (8-10) working inside the Packard Building (10th & Robinson) yesterday morning. Also seemed they had a Blueprint table set up with large set of plans laid out on it. Interesting because I haven't seen anyone there for the past few months.

Definite plumbing contractors working here everyday now. They have roughed in plumbing, water and new sewer lines inside the building. Something is up, as one would only put in plumbing after knowing where walls will be located. Walls would only be planned after knowing how to divide up the space, for a tenant.

[Kerry]

This will sound weird but my fascination with OKC and Oklahoma came from my love for Severe Weather and Tornadoes. As far back as I can remember I have always loved extreme weather, which constantly kept Oklahoma on my radar from an early age.

You just described 95% of the people in Oklahoma. They should just put Mother Nature Gone Wild on the license plates. My kids want to move to Oklahoma for the same reasons. My 10 year old asks me everyday if we can move there (we live in Jacksonville, FL).

[betts]

Definite plumbing contractors working here everyday now. They have roughed in plumbing, water and new sewer lines inside the building. Something is up, as one would only put in plumbing after knowing where walls will be located. Walls would only be planned after knowing how to divide up the space, for a tenant.

I saw them looking at architectural plans on the table today when I went by the Packard Building. I agree, something must be up. I haven't seen any work on the Hideaway recently though, except for what looks like a wall between it and the Schlegel's.

[OKC1987]

I talked with the contractor who is working on my building today. He said that they bid for the project next door but did not get it (they are still waiting to hear back about Cline). He said that the plans are for commercial (retail/restaurant) on the first floor (which we all knew or figured) but he didnt know if they had tenants lined up yet or not. But he said that the plans they bid on were for Residential upstairs! This was the first I had heard this, I always thought they were going to do offices upstairs. Has anyone else heard this??

[rboyer]

I recently noticed that workers appear to be replacing windows on the building just north of the Packard building. Anyone have any info.?

[Spartan]

Guardian Lofts.

[dankrutka]

Midtown Louie's opens tomrrow. It looks very nice inside. I think it will do well and be a nice addition to Plaza Court area...

[rboyer]

Guardian Lofts, huh? Does that imply that it will be 100% residential or will it be mixed use? I haven't seen a lot of discussion on this particular building. Maybe it's as secretive as the Packard.

[ljbab728]

Guardian Lofts, huh? Does that imply that it will be 100% residential or will it be mixed use? I haven't seen a lot of discussion on this particular building. Maybe it's as secretive as the Packard.

http://midtownr.com/ViewProperty.aspx?id=8

[metro]

I'm not allowed to say anything yet, but I learned of something new coming to auto alley that hasn't been mentioned yet, and won't be guessed.

[city]

I'm not allowed to say anything yet, but I learned of something new coming to auto alley that hasn't been mentioned yet, and won't be guessed.

I don't consider Auto Alley part of Midtown. Should a Auto Alley thread be started?

[mcca7596]

I'm not allowed to say anything yet, but I learned of something new coming to auto alley that hasn't been mentioned yet, and won't be guessed.

Could you at least say whether it's retail or a restaurant/bar?

[dankrutka]

I'm not allowed to say anything yet, but I learned of something new coming to auto alley that hasn't been mentioned yet, and won't be guessed.

I just drove down Broadway and into Midtown and I just can't help but think about the tremendous potential for this area. It's really starting to develop some character, but I believe that this is just the tip of the iceberg.

Midtown Louie's opened in the old MidTown Deli location this week. They did a great job with the inside and it's already doing better than MidTown Deli. The staff seems really committed to making it successful. Hopefully they keep it up. It's the first good place to watch a game in MidTown so that also adds something...

[OKC1987]

Thanks for the tease Metro!! They have been working pretty hard on the buildings next to and behind Hadden Hall. Wakes me up promptly at 6am every morning! I wish I could get the leasing agent to spill the beans

[onthestrip]

I'm not allowed to say anything yet, but I learned of something new coming to auto alley that hasn't been mentioned yet, and won't be guessed.

Vague, know-it-all posts like this are the lamest thing on the planet.