Idea For Downtown Housing

[carltonplace]

quote:Originally posted by jdb

"Its winter jdb and frogs are not easy to come by right now." - carlton

That's why I built me a frog hut: central heating, comfortable seating, free-range flies.

So shoot me...

Its just my opinion, but I think those frogs would be more comfortable in row houses in a nice dense, hoppable community.

[jdb]

Hoppable Communities, while more contemporary than Huts, are high risk and finding lenders in the Tulsa area was impossible.

I built what I could self-finance and included design conciderations that would appeal to Urban Toads in the event the Frog market croaked.

The P.U.D. is still in phase one.
However, projections look good, and with the sell another block of units, construction on the much needed retail and service sector can begin.

jdb

At one point the "Village" units in the old Central Park were slated to be row houses.
The set of plans I saw vanished early on.
Then Savage waved a RFP and a bit after I saw the plans of what was later built and wondered why the change?

[Double A]

quote:Originally posted by jdb

Hoppable Communities, while more contemporary than Huts, are high risk and finding lenders in the Tulsa area was impossible.

I built what I could self-finance and included design conciderations that would appeal to Urban Toads in the event the Frog market croaked.

The P.U.D. is still in phase one.
However, projections look good, and with the sell another block of units, construction on the much needed retail and service sector can begin.

jdb

At one point the "Village" units in the old Central Park were slated to be row houses.
The set of plans I saw vanished early on.
Then Savage waved a RFP and a bit after I saw the plans of what was later built and wondered why the change?

If memory serves me correctly they were also slated to start at 70 grand per unit. My how things change.

[USRufnex]

I was kinda disappointed after driving by the Village at Central Park... thought it was going to be "walkable" but found it to be otherwise (unless you mean walkable to Peoria?)

Yep, looks like the drinkers  have "destinations" in DT but maybe if there were other destinations like...... drumroll please...... a Frogger Stadium that could benefit more metro area Tulsans than just the urban sliver of potential "east end" residents.... hmmm, a TIF that benefits more than just urban activists' wish lists?.... and you could eventually see a situation where city/county taxpayers could start to see the value of a vibrant downtown... after all it's Vision 2025, right?  not to be confused with Vision 2008 or 2009???

Anyhoo, why worry about a magnet school in an area that doesn't even have a grocery store?  The people who'd want to live within walking distance of shops/nightspots/restaurants, etc are rarely people with school-aged children... they're going to be twenty-somethings, "empty-nesters," and losers like me, who decided Chicagoland was just too friggin' expensive an area to buy into... and Elgin, IL too far from the city and still overpriced... and a Chicago housing bubble caused mainly by ruthless condo flippers/speculators and investor/slumlords who were in business for a fast buck, aided and abetted by irresponsible real estate agents...

I'd love to see truth in advertising, but understand that real estate folks will always be touting The Townhomes at Merlot Crossing over some downtown "row houses" selling for $70k a pop down the street at NyQuil Chase...  And you know what?  If that keeps my favorite nightspots and coffeeshops from closing down, so be it.  

http://www.cityofelgin.org/index.asp?NID=501

So, does NyQuil Chase do lease/purchase??? [8D]

[swake]

quote:Originally posted by Hometown

quote:Originally posted by aoxamaxoa

It's what downtown needs. But to do it, a public magnet school needs to be inserted and designated as the only school nearby residents may send their kids. That would give the neighborhood an anchor. Actually, take back Central from PSO through TDA and eminent domain.
AEP is creepy enough to move into empty office space elsewhere and absorb some vacancy.

The churches are free to follow suit. Just no voucher shenanigans.

Young families care about good schools.  My sense is that the availability of really outstanding elementary and middle schools are what is holding back growth and development on the north side of town.  That must be true of downtown too.  

In cities like Oakland, where everyone who can has abandoned the public schools, good private schools can make or break a neighborhood.

Downtown and the north side seem primed for growth.  The absence of great elementary and middle schools is a serious problem.  If the public schools can't fill the bill, maybe private schools would work.

I don't know if there are enough single adults in Tulsa to make downtown happen.  I think you need to reach out to young families.  I've never seen a town as focused on children as Tulsa is.

Some of the best public schools in the state are right next to downtown Tulsa. Actually, they probably ARE the best public schools in the state. Emerson Elementary is only half a mile north of downtown. Carver Middle School is  less than a mile north, and Booker T Washington High School is only a mile and half northeast of downtown. Throw in Lee Elementary less than a mile south of downtown too.

All four schools are less than  a mile and a half from downtown, all are magnet schools and the best in the city, if not the state. Already, right now.

Private education in the area is very good too, Marquette, Cascia Hall, Monte Casino and The University School are all less than two miles from downtown.

Downtown education is top notch right now. There probably is not better area for a combination of public and private education anywhere in Tulsa, or the state.

[Hometown]

Thanks Swake, I knew about Booker T. and Lee and actually learned about Carver earlier today.  Good to know about Emerson.  This should be an important part of any marketing of downtown and near northside housing.  Isn't there another Catholic School in the Whittier Square area and doesn't Holy Family have an elementary or is that day care?  And what about good private schools further north?  Do you know of any?  Really good day care downtown would be important too.  Does that exist?  Something like a downtown Montesori School (forgive my spelling) would be a real draw.  If you could combine good schools with a perception that downtown and the near northside are "safe" you could pitch those areas as family neighborhoods.  I believe police foot patrols would really pay off.  And what a shame Central isn't still downtown.  And Horace Mann for that matter.

While Tulsa might not be a huge destination for singles it already is a great place to raise children and that should be marketed to businesses and young married couples.  Nearby day care and living in close proximity to work would support the family and a career at the same time.

Anyway, when I was growing up here the entire Tulsa Public School system was famous for its quality.  We could make that happen again.

[perspicuity85]

quote:Originally posted by Hometown

...doesn't Holy Family have an elementary or is that day care?  ...Really good day care downtown would be important too.  Does that exist?  

Holy Family's school runs from K-8th grade.  

Kanbar and Kauffman are or have already put a daycare facility inside the First Place Tower downtown.

[swake]

A couple of the downtown churches run top-notch day care/pre school programs. I know Trinity and First Baptist do at least.

[pmcalk]

Though I agree about all the other schools, I have to disagree about Emerson.  Emerson started out as a great school, along the tradition of Carver & BTW.  I don't know what happened along the way, but recent test scores, anyway, show they are behind the average for the district.  I believe that Lee, and nearby Eliot, or Lanier are better choices.