but that’s just me and my limited knowledge and experience in these matters… i do realize i’m not a sparticuss or slackmeister.

As for running behind in projections there could be multiple explanations but in the end they are excuses. The first is that during this period we’ve focused on getting higher-end units in downtown because they won’t come as easily once we inundate downtown with a good stock of more moderately priced options and the study might not have taken that into account.

I actually thought that the study was being conservative, due to the repressed demand for downtown living, and especially the fact that OKC is a fairly large rising city that desperately wants to edge out towns like Austin and KC–cities where classy downtown living is already a way of life. Another reason that I am certain has knocked projections down a lot is that national lenders are skeptic of the market for downtown housing in Oklahoma. Perhaps that we haven’t had a single flop, every high-end downtown unit sold, will help ease that a lot. I think some of the slowdown is also attributable to the fact that the processes in place to get a development approved are just a pain in the ass. I would prefer a laxer process as long as it has a way of vetting projects that don’t belong, like Houston’s process for example, which the city seriously needs to examine and adapt to fit our city better.

So, Mr. Cynic, you’re being kinder than I would be. You are correct – we’re running behind projections…. so now, and I ask this of everybody …. why?????

Park Harvey: 178
Legacy at Arts Quarter: 303
Harvey Lofts: 13
Sieber Hotel: 38
Central Avenue Villas: 30 (and I understand McDermid’s frustrations with this one)
Block 42: 40
The Centennial: 30
The Hill: 157 (then it was reduced)
Brownstones at Maywood Park: 15 (hundreds were planned)
Lofts at Maywood Park: 55
The Montgomery: 50
Littlepage Bldg: 12
The Classen: 88
222 E Main: 4

And I’ll be generous and include everything that -should- break ground before 2010:

Overholser Green: 80
Cotton Exchange: 66
Carnegie Center: 15 (this still on?)
The Guardian Lofts: 5
Hadden Hall: 12
Candy Factory: like 2
The Flatiron: 19
Heritage Building: 10

So that’s 1008 new units that should actually exist, be livable, by 2010. 1242-3242 less than actually projected. Including all of the ones that will be livable or should be well underway by 2010, the total is now 1217.

Units added since 2005:
Park Harvey
Legacy at Arts Quarter
Harvey Lofts
Sieber Hotel
Central Avenue Villas
Block 42
The Centennial
The Hill
Brownstones at Maywood Park
Lofts at Maywood Park
NE 1 and Central apartments (old Littlepage building and adjoining building)
The Montgomery

I’m doing this from memory, so if I’ve forgotten anything just make whatever alterations needed.

The way I see it, the 2005 Housing Study said we should expect between 2,250 and 4,250 new units in between 2005 and 2010. And then went on to say we’ll see around 7,750 units between 2005 and 2015. It is now almost the end of this decade, we’re rapidly approaching 2010. We’re well over that 2,250 (just under 3,000 by my count) if you include speculation, but unfortunately, that’s all there is, and the speculated units won’t be a reality until 2015 if we’re lucky, but we were supposed to have seen 7,750 units by then.

Then you add to the fact that the Triangle was supposed to offer almost 1,000 units alone, plus tons of office and a bunch of this retail we desperately need in order to keep our downtown alive. That was supposed to be nearly finished already. What’s happened so far? 6 parcels are u/c or starting. That’s not even a dent. We don’t even have 100 units finished in the Triangle right now, or even standing up yet. I guess they’ve taken the website down in recognition that the timeline of the Triangle has been a massive letdown.

My way of seeing this is that long range plans are nothing to get excited over. They’re tedious. I especially don’t want to be ostracized for getting anxious over the planned ‘changes’ that were supposed to make OKC a decently trendy place to be for a nice change.

I can’t help but be skeptical, either, but I think The Triangle group is one of the most credible right now.