Comments on: Urban Renewal: Design and Reality http://blog.newsok.com/okccentral/2008/12/04/urban-renewal-design-and-reality/ The Oklahoman's Steve Lackmeyer covers downtown brick by brick Sat, 20 Mar 2010 23:16:07 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: Keith http://blog.newsok.com/okccentral/2008/12/04/urban-renewal-design-and-reality/comment-page-1/#comment-1444 Keith Wed, 10 Dec 2008 02:44:00 +0000 http://blog.newsok.com/okccentral/2008/12/04/urban-renewal-design-and-reality/#comment-1444 In many ways I'd rather still have a field there. There just aren't many contiguous pieces of land like that to go around and we'd still have the opportunity for something great. In many ways I’d rather still have a field there. There just aren’t many contiguous pieces of land like that to go around and we’d still have the opportunity for something great.

]]> By: Jan http://blog.newsok.com/okccentral/2008/12/04/urban-renewal-design-and-reality/comment-page-1/#comment-1443 Jan Tue, 09 Dec 2008 00:56:07 +0000 http://blog.newsok.com/okccentral/2008/12/04/urban-renewal-design-and-reality/#comment-1443 I think we can all agree with Jeffrey that this building looks better than the urban blight that exists in the area. I'm very excited to see so much developing in midtown and downtown. The trouble, though, is that the vision is excellence...and place with character and charm that sets the area apart from the suburbs. An area that draws people out to the sidewalks and into the city. Something urban. We realize there is a little selling involved in creating the drawings, but we trust the board to hold the builder to the expectations that are created by the drawings. Not doing so is unfair to those who did not get the bid. I think we can all agree with Jeffrey that this building looks better than the urban blight that exists in the area. I’m very excited to see so much developing in midtown and downtown. The trouble, though, is that the vision is excellence…and place with character and charm that sets the area apart from the suburbs. An area that draws people out to the sidewalks and into the city. Something urban.

We realize there is a little selling involved in creating the drawings, but we trust the board to hold the builder to the expectations that are created by the drawings. Not doing so is unfair to those who did not get the bid.

]]> By: slackmeyer http://blog.newsok.com/okccentral/2008/12/04/urban-renewal-design-and-reality/comment-page-1/#comment-1442 slackmeyer Tue, 09 Dec 2008 00:37:00 +0000 http://blog.newsok.com/okccentral/2008/12/04/urban-renewal-design-and-reality/#comment-1442 The Sieber is completed. The developer, Marva Ellard, is awaiting the lobby to be finished and perfect before showing off and there were delays on pieces needed for the lobby's fireplace. A story is coming soon. The Sieber is completed. The developer, Marva Ellard, is awaiting the lobby to be finished and perfect before showing off and there were delays on pieces needed for the lobby’s fireplace. A story is coming soon.

]]> By: Jason http://blog.newsok.com/okccentral/2008/12/04/urban-renewal-design-and-reality/comment-page-1/#comment-1441 Jason Mon, 08 Dec 2008 22:30:13 +0000 http://blog.newsok.com/okccentral/2008/12/04/urban-renewal-design-and-reality/#comment-1441 "Nicer than the Sieber (STILL not completed -whats the story there Steve?), Nicer than Block 42, Nicer than the Brownstones, Nicer than the Hill, Nicer than Harvey Place." If by that last one you mean Park Harvey, I will give you that. The rest are by far nicer, especially the Brownstones. I will say though that the Legacy is much more attractive and upscale on the inside than the outside. I agree I'd rather have it than an empty lot, but I wish Henderson could have matched the quality of the interior with the exterior. At least it is mixed use and is urban in design with the concealed parking garage. It could have been worse. “Nicer than the Sieber (STILL not completed -whats the story there Steve?), Nicer than Block 42, Nicer than the Brownstones, Nicer than the Hill, Nicer than Harvey Place.”

If by that last one you mean Park Harvey, I will give you that. The rest are by far nicer, especially the Brownstones.

I will say though that the Legacy is much more attractive and upscale on the inside than the outside. I agree I’d rather have it than an empty lot, but I wish Henderson could have matched the quality of the interior with the exterior.

At least it is mixed use and is urban in design with the concealed parking garage. It could have been worse.

]]> By: Skye http://blog.newsok.com/okccentral/2008/12/04/urban-renewal-design-and-reality/comment-page-1/#comment-1440 Skye Mon, 08 Dec 2008 20:09:43 +0000 http://blog.newsok.com/okccentral/2008/12/04/urban-renewal-design-and-reality/#comment-1440 The Legacy looks like many URBAN apartment complexes I have seen in the Seattle area. It may not look exactly like the original designs, but that is often what happens. I like the limited amount of brick on them, Okies seem to be ugly red brick happy. The Legacy looks like many URBAN apartment complexes I have seen in the Seattle area.

It may not look exactly like the original designs, but that is often what happens.

I like the limited amount of brick on them, Okies seem to be ugly red brick happy.

]]> By: mike http://blog.newsok.com/okccentral/2008/12/04/urban-renewal-design-and-reality/comment-page-1/#comment-1439 mike Mon, 08 Dec 2008 19:28:03 +0000 http://blog.newsok.com/okccentral/2008/12/04/urban-renewal-design-and-reality/#comment-1439 Steven, Jeffrey's point is that while LEgacy is not perfect, it is better than what was there before, which was nothing. Sure legacy isn't the best constructed apartment complex, but the interiors are very good and they have a beautiful courtyard. I live here and love it, and so do many other residents. Block 42 I think looks futuristic and ugly, something that will be out of style in short order. Steven,

Jeffrey’s point is that while LEgacy is not perfect, it is better than what was there before, which was nothing. Sure legacy isn’t the best constructed apartment complex, but the interiors are very good and they have a beautiful courtyard. I live here and love it, and so do many other residents. Block 42 I think looks futuristic and ugly, something that will be out of style in short order.

]]> By: Steven http://blog.newsok.com/okccentral/2008/12/04/urban-renewal-design-and-reality/comment-page-1/#comment-1438 Steven Mon, 08 Dec 2008 17:28:12 +0000 http://blog.newsok.com/okccentral/2008/12/04/urban-renewal-design-and-reality/#comment-1438 Jeffrey, personal preference or not, Legacy Arts doesn't even hold a candle to the luxury of Block 42, Central Ave. Villas, Brownstones, Montgomery, or even the Hill. Now, had you done your homework and visited these properties, we'd be willing to listen, even though the majority of us have been to them and disagree. The Legacy Arts is no different than any other normal boring apartments you'd visit on Memorial Rd, with the exception of the retail spaces (which most are vacant as you noted) and the awnings are hideous looking. It is mostly stucco and will look very old and run down in a decade or so while the others will look just as great. The quality of construction already shows this early on compared to the others mentioned. Not even in the same league of construction. I'm glad your not on any downtown design committees, or maybe you are on Urban Renewal? Jeffrey, personal preference or not, Legacy Arts doesn’t even hold a candle to the luxury of Block 42, Central Ave. Villas, Brownstones, Montgomery, or even the Hill. Now, had you done your homework and visited these properties, we’d be willing to listen, even though the majority of us have been to them and disagree. The Legacy Arts is no different than any other normal boring apartments you’d visit on Memorial Rd, with the exception of the retail spaces (which most are vacant as you noted) and the awnings are hideous looking. It is mostly stucco and will look very old and run down in a decade or so while the others will look just as great. The quality of construction already shows this early on compared to the others mentioned. Not even in the same league of construction. I’m glad your not on any downtown design committees, or maybe you are on Urban Renewal?

]]> By: Jeffrey http://blog.newsok.com/okccentral/2008/12/04/urban-renewal-design-and-reality/comment-page-1/#comment-1437 Jeffrey Sat, 06 Dec 2008 22:54:01 +0000 http://blog.newsok.com/okccentral/2008/12/04/urban-renewal-design-and-reality/#comment-1437 Like I said, I haven't seen them all. I'm only going on the comments on my parents who went to the "condo open house Saturday" a few months back. "Leagacy interior great - others not so much." It could certainly be a taste thing. They don't want to do all the stairs of the brownstones. Who knows. It however certainly isn't drastically substandard compared to other developments. Negate my post if you want. Some things are true whether you believe them or not. Like I said, I haven’t seen them all. I’m only going on the comments on my parents who went to the “condo open house Saturday” a few months back. “Leagacy interior great – others not so much.” It could certainly be a taste thing. They don’t want to do all the stairs of the brownstones. Who knows. It however certainly isn’t drastically substandard compared to other developments.

Negate my post if you want. Some things are true whether you believe them or not.

]]> By: Mike http://blog.newsok.com/okccentral/2008/12/04/urban-renewal-design-and-reality/comment-page-1/#comment-1425 Mike Sat, 06 Dec 2008 16:59:28 +0000 http://blog.newsok.com/okccentral/2008/12/04/urban-renewal-design-and-reality/#comment-1425 Keith, I second that opinion. Keith,
I second that opinion.

]]> By: Keith http://blog.newsok.com/okccentral/2008/12/04/urban-renewal-design-and-reality/comment-page-1/#comment-1426 Keith Sat, 06 Dec 2008 14:57:03 +0000 http://blog.newsok.com/okccentral/2008/12/04/urban-renewal-design-and-reality/#comment-1426 Jeffrey, it isn't even close to as nice as any of those developments you mentioned, except maybe Harvey, which I've never seen. Therefore, just mentioning them in the same sentence negates your whole point. Jeffrey, it isn’t even close to as nice as any of those developments you mentioned, except maybe Harvey, which I’ve never seen. Therefore, just mentioning them in the same sentence negates your whole point.

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