And the hits keep on coming: 119 Downtown

[sgrizzle]

For many owning a home is one of the worst things they'll ever do.

I think that every time I walk into Home Depot.

[cannon_fodder]

Very true!  I like working on my home, mowing, gardening, etc.  And I save the money needed if the ac goes out.  But tons of people don't- they just know that owning a home is what they are supposed to do.

My neighbor moved from downtown and is NEVER in his yard, travels a lot, hates mowing, can't fix a thing, and could care less about having 2 bedrooms and an extra bathroom that are never used.  But he owns a house, so he is a good american.

[sgrizzle]

My neighbor moved from downtown and is NEVER in his yard, travels a lot, hates mowing, can't fix a thing, and could care less about having 2 bedrooms and an extra bathroom that are never used.  But he owns a house, so he is a good american.

I wouldn't call us neighbors..

[swake]

Very true!  I like working on my home, mowing, gardening, etc.  And I save the money needed if the ac goes out.  But tons of people don't- they just know that owning a home is what they are supposed to do.

My neighbor moved from downtown and is NEVER in his yard, travels a lot, hates mowing, can't fix a thing, and could care less about having 2 bedrooms and an extra bathroom that are never used.  But he owns a house, so he is a good american.

When it's 104 that describes most neighbors. I would rather eat Haggis than mow lately.

[Red Arrow]

When it's 104 that describes most neighbors. I would rather eat Haggis than mow lately.

Stop watering the lawn, you won't have to mow it

[ZYX]

Stop watering the lawn, you won't have to mow it

We are watering ours, and I still only mow once every two weeks or so. It's barely staying green and is about 50% brown. Quite beautiful, actually.....

[Red Arrow]

We are watering ours, and I still only mow once every two weeks or so. It's barely staying green and is about 50% brown. Quite beautiful, actually.....

Even after the last rain of 0.6" (a few weeks ago?) the dog raised dust in the back yard when chasing the toy I threw for him.  It's dry out.  I've been watering the pepper plants and veggie garden but that's all.

[JCnOwasso]

I have a friend who was paying $1300 a month for a 700sf apartment, he then upgrade to a two bedroom apartment with 1200sf for $1900.  I should also mention that this was in DC, specifically Dupont Circle.  He lived less than 1 block from the metro. 

The reason downtown living would/should be a little more expensive would be the location and being close to mass transit and night life... and being close to the place you work.  I am not 100% sure DT Tulsa is there yet.  It is far closer today versus 5 years ago, thanks to the folks who have made the investment and taken the risk.  I know it will become more of a destination and a location to live, but I can't grasp that type of financial investment on a portion of a building.

But I do believe in homeownership.  I enjoy having a space that is my own.  I enjoy improving something.  I guess I have drank the Koolaid (Ohhh-yeah) 

[DowntownDan]

For a large movement of residential downtown, it needs to be done through apartments with rents at around $1 per square foot.  It's clear the market for wide scale high price luxury living isn't there yet.  The Mayo and the Philtower lofts are the smaller scale.  I think young people are the key through apartment living.  Apartments get residents on the outskirts of town with nothing nearby.  I think downtown apartment living would be successful at the right price point.  Once they move in, then the amenities move in such as grocery stores, more restaurants and cafes.  And then I think the market for higher price living may come.  Until then, they should focus on apartments.  That is my opinion. 

[TheArtist]

   A mix of rent apartments and own condos/lofts/townhomeswould be great of course. And I think any of those can get rates better than most other parts of town even now, but as downtown continues to flesh out, it will become more desirable and be able to command higher prices.

I think Tulsa's downtown has a great amount of potential to be a desirable place to live and visit.  Though we have lost a lot of its older, pedestrian friendly fabric, there is still a fortuitous amount of that type of quality left in the core.  Boston Ave and 5th street are still great streets with the kind of stellar potential other cities could only dream of. If we continue to put in pedestrian friendly buildings, we can have a knock out downtown for a city our size.  

If we do high quality, pedestrian friendly infill, that imo can be our "edge" our calling card and ticket to put Tulsa on a more competitive growth trajectory.  Being a small city with a high quality urban core, would be a knockout combination.  It would make our quality of life very desirable and competitive.  We could have better urbanity than cities 2, 3, 5 times our size.  People want that quality and are moving to it.  We can place oursleves in the postition to capture a chunk of that growth if we are careful, thoughtful and intentional in our development approach.  Dallas is bigger for instance, but most of its urban core honestly sucks.  If someone could come here and see "Hey, you all have a great city here, it costs less, is beautiful, still has a quieter small town feel very near downtown, yet is so urban and pedestrian friendly in the core... whats not to love!".  That could give us one of those competitive edges we are working so hard to find and need.        

[dbacks fan]

I have to say that I have been trying to get back to Tulsa for a visit and was hoping to be there for my 30th reunion this summer, but with being pushed out of my job by management and their choice to go to contract employees, I have not been able to make it. I have found myself now in a position that I'm movong to Oregon to help my father who is having health issues. After disscusions with family members in Tulsa, we may be moving our father back to Tulsa for health better health care. I'm in the IT field so my work is faily flexible, and I would love to find an affordable rent option downtown. For me it would be me and my 2 pets (cats) and a place of ~800 sq/ft with a good cooking space would be great. I would enjoy living DT, and would not be one to go out to eat every night. It's too much fun to have freinds over and entertain, but I would visit down town establishments that are within walking distance, or if you could go down to the street and grab a cab or some other form of transportation. I guess that I got spoiled on public transportation in SF, LA, and areas around them, but I have also walked a lot of LA and SF. I hope with the new grocer DT, things continue to grow, and if I find myself moving back home, I will let you guys know.

[ZYX]

I have to say that I have been trying to get back to Tulsa for a visit and was hoping to be there for my 30th reunion this summer, but with being pushed out of my job by management and their choice to go to contract employees, I have not been able to make it. I have found myself now in a position that I'm movong to Oregon to help my father who is having health issues. After disscusions with family members in Tulsa, we may be moving our father back to Tulsa for health better health care. I'm in the IT field so my work is faily flexible, and I would love to find an affordable rent option downtown. For me it would be me and my 2 pets (cats) and a place of ~800 sq/ft with a good cooking space would be great. I would enjoy living DT, and would not be one to go out to eat every night. It's too much fun to have freinds over and entertain, but I would visit down town establishments that are within walking distance, or if you could go down to the street and grab a cab or some other
form of transportation. I guess that I got spoiled on public transportation in SF, LA, and areas around them, but I have also walked a lot of LA and SF. I hope with the new grocer DT, things continue to grow, and if I find myself moving back home, I will let you guys know.

I am sorry for your circumstances but am glad that you might be moving back to Tulsa. FYI a 735 sq ft, 1 bedroom apt in the Tribune II is $850 a month. They should be opening in December 2011.

[dbacks fan]

Thanks ZYX, as I said there is no time frame, but this native may be returning. I would love to live DT and be able to walk to a ball game, an Oiler game, Tulsa Shock, or a place to have a pint,grab some pizza, bowl a few frames ( thanks Joe Walsh) I will continue to follow things.

[TheArtist]

  Was just listening to the radio and they said something to the effect that though housing building permits were still down, most of what is being built is apartments and condos as the trend for the shift from suburban growth to urban continues. There are probably close to 100 new homes under construction right now in downtown (and there have been a lot recently finished in the last few years) with more on the way. What other area of Tulsa, or the suburbs, has as many homes going in? 

An interesting story I ran accross talking about more families with children starting to move into downtown/urban areas.  Which goes to my theory that if you want downtown to really do well, keep children in mind as you zone, put in your infrastructure, and develop. 

http://www.startribune.com/local/minneapolis/125692778.html

some exerpts...


  " The number of kids under age 5 living in downtown neighborhoods has tripled since 2000, according to newly released U.S. census figures.   ....The rapid growth, coupled with increases in older children as well, is the most telling evidence to date that downtown's swelling population is much more than young professionals and empty nesters.   ....The growth, which has converted some condo hallways into the downtown equivalent of suburban cul-de-sacs, promises to reshape the area as developers, businesses and even the city cater to urban tots, urban studies experts say.

Showing downtown's appeal as a place to raise children will attract the talent that is essential for developing industries that offer high-paying jobs, he said. "You can attract the kinds of people who are necessary to run the businesses of the new economy," he said.

Developing a critical mass of children is the first step toward creating more options for parents concerned about schools, he said. That's already happening in the North Loop, where a parent convinced the public school system to establish a neighborhood bus stop for kids attending a nearby elementary school, Frank said.

Condo cul-de-sac in the hall

Across the country, young urban professionals and growing numbers of empty nesters and baby boomers are opting for high-density vertical neighborhoods. .... " 

[Red Arrow]

    " The number of kids under age 5 living in downtown neighborhoods has tripled since 2000, (444 in 2010) according to newly released U.S. census figures.   ....

Added a reference point for you from the article.  Tripled could have been from 1 to 3 as an extreme example.