New townhouses and condos possible at The Village at Central Park

[Tulsasaurus Rex]

Demand for urban living spaces has prompted plans for the possible construction of new townhouses and condos at The Village at Central Park, located west of Peoria Avenue between Seventh and Eighth streets in the Pearl District.

"We're in the final stage to purchase the land, and the land deal should be done and closed by the end of March. As a Realtor and part investor, I'm letting people know that it is coming because there is a demand for the product," said Stephen Meltzer, sales executive Realtor with CB Urban City Real Estate / Coldwell Banker Select.

Jamie Jamieson, a developer of The Village at Central Park and a potential seller of the property, emphasized that no contract has been signed yet, so the "story is premature."

"We're just mainly in dialogue with people we know and like about it," said Jamieson, managing partner of The Village Builders LLC.
An email about the potential units points to simple and open floor plans for first-floor units that would measure approximately 850 square feet and second-floor units measuring approximately 1,350 square feet. The floor plans would feature 10-foot ceilings and hardwood or concrete floors.
Each unit would have one enclosed bathroom-laundry area. The remaining space would remain open with no interior walls. Kitchens would be flush against one wall, according to an email about the prospective units.

Having worked downtown for 12 years on more urban properties, Meltzer said people have continued to contact him for a couple of years, asking when more living spaces would be available.

These newer 50 to 60 units, if completed, would be for purchase as opposed to lease. Prices for the units could be available in approximately six to eight weeks.

The larger 2,400-square-foot single family townhouses also would follow the simple guidelines of the smaller units with minimal decorative amenities and clean lines, according to an email.

Meltzer points to a market demand and growing awareness in Tulsa to the benefits of urban living, especially with the development of the Pearl District and everything happening downtown.

"There have been a coalescing of elements ... The time is right in terms of demand and increasing awareness on the part of a lot of buyers of all ages to the advantage of living in an urban environment," Meltzer said.

As people have started downsizing and maybe testing out downtown by moving into some of the nicer rental downtown units, they've adapted to downtown and realize they can live in an urban environment and now are looking for places to buy, Meltzer said.

http://www.tulsaworld.com/business/new-townhouses-and-condos-planned-at-the-village-at-central/article_c5435efa-2c96-592c-8020-206eb47ca746.html

[cannon_fodder]

Would be great if it happened. The more people downtown and int he Pearl (surrounding areas all together), the better.

I tell anyone that will listen - we can't compete with Owasso, Collinsville, Jenks, Glennpool or Broken Arrow for cheap land, sprawling subdivisions, and strip malls. Tulsa needs to concentrate on being an urban core. Value added!

[DTowner]

There are a lot of empty lots available in this development ready for construction.  The original development was ahead of the demand in this area, but the Pearl's recent growth indicates the time is now to finish out this project. 

[LandArchPoke]

http://www.tulsaworld.com/business/new-townhouses-and-condos-planned-at-the-village-at-central/article_c5435efa-2c96-592c-8020-206eb47ca746.html

Jamie Jamieson, a developer of The Village at Central Park and a potential seller of the property, emphasized that no contract has been signed yet, so the "story is premature."

I found that quote interesting... hopefully this happens and isn't just another developer announcing plans that never happens.

Also, the units are still rather large for urban housing. 1,350 sq. ft. for a 1-bedroom is HUGE! The "small" 850 sq. ft. is still large. Funny that they're trying to attract people who have "adapted" to living downtown. Most of the units at the Mayo Hotel, Mayo 420, and Metro at Brady - the nicer rentals I assume they are talking about - are all around 650 sq. ft. to 900 sq. ft.

[sgrizzle]

It sounds like the developer wasn't ready to announce, so don't blame him.

[Tulsasaurus Rex]

The latest phase of construction set to begin near downtown Tulsa will offer housing options that aren't "the norm" for the area.
The property sits just beyond the downtown Tulsa limits. It's been a development project 15 years in the making, with 110 lots in total steadily developed since the early 2000s.

Some still sit empty, but the Village At Central Park is expanding to capacity - with 50 to 60 new condo and townhouse units slated for construction to begin in February, many of them are already purchased.

"With all the discussion of the resurgence of downtown we are now seeing that development happening, and it's happening beautifully and a way everyone wanted it to," said Stephen Meltzer, with Village At Central Park.

But what makes these different is they aren't downtown; instead, they are just outside - near the Pearl District - for those who aren't ready to jump into downtown living just yet.

Meltzer said, "As those people feel more comfortable downtown they like it and they decide to buy, and right now there's not a lot on the market at any price to purchase."

The units will range from the high $100,000 to $400,000 apiece - gearing mainly towards empty nesters who don't want the size of a south Tulsa home but still that neighborhood feel.

"Beginning to realize they can live simply - lower maintenance, less taxes," Meltzer said.

It also puts them just feet from one of the fastest growing districts in Tulsa. After all, there is only so much room inside the parameters of what is referred to as downtown, so, many developers predict new options like this will most likely be the next trend in housing.

"Every city is going to run out of room, it's just new to Tulsa," said Meltzer.

There are also a number of commercial lots for lease or sale in the area, providing the potential for commercial development in the area.

http://www.newson6.com/story/30858051/new-housing-options-coming-to-budding-tulsa-district

[cannon_fodder]

Great news. But lol at the concept that Tulsa is out of space. Our highest population density is still very marginal compared to many, many cities in North America.  Of course there are major cities that dwarf Tulsa, but even our peers have better density in many areas.

For fun, this is what 200,000 people per square mile looks like:
https://www.google.com/maps/@40.7834701,-73.9474417,3a,75y,272.39h,102.61t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1ssis7KI3-3xWwM3iFSQbzVA!2e0!7i13312!8i6656!6m1!1e1

I am not meaning to mocking the developer, I'm sure they mean run out of room to easily develop. With demand up, I'm sure it is harder putting deals together downtown.  But we are far from out of room as a finite statement.

[carltonplace]

You're right, there is lots of room to develop in this town. But we are almost out of room in areas where people are willing to live thanks to ignorance, unacknowledged bigotry and the practice of local realtors to sell south.

[saintnicster]

You're right, there is lots of room to develop in this town. But we are almost out of room in areas where people are willing to live thanks to ignorance, unacknowledged bigotry and the practice of local realtors to sell south.

But WHERE WILL THEY PARK?!

[SXSW]

Is Jamie Jamieson no longer the developer?  He was the original developer of Central Park in a time when that area was pretty much deserted/unsafe.  It's stock has risen significantly with everything around it and the nice park next door.  I'd like to eventually see more mixed use developments on Peoria from 6th to 11th but the overall trend is positive.