Housing crisis

No, this is not a rant on the nation's housing crisis yet is primarily focused on the fact that starting June 1 I will officially be homeless...kind of. 

I move out of my apartment on May 31 and did not renew, primarily because I will be gone the entire month of June and do not want to pay for rent and bills when I absolutely will not be here for 29 days. That said...I don't know where I will live starting July 1. Kinda scary. I was really hoping to nail down some big decisions on downtown housing for purchase before heading to Europe but I kept noticing a trend, I am not rich enough to afford 95% of the downtown housing and I'm not ashamed to say that.

How can I be ashamed of the fact that I'm 26 and can't afford a $250,000 condo? I'm not saying that the prices are too high or even implying that the facilities are sub-par...because I really like them. I would move into any of them tomorrow if I could. What I am saying is...."Why do developers in OKC not want to have people in their 20's living downtown?"

Sure, I know about as well as any that there are three or four condos that around $150,000 but that's it. There may be even one or two that reach the $130,000 mark...but with something near 100+ condos coming online in the downtown area how are there less than 10 condos for under $165,000?

Is that space really that expensive? Is $190+ per sf the lowest a developer can go? I understand the basic business model of supply and demand, but right now the demand is being yelled by many young professionals...the supply is where? 

I am actually thinking I won't get to buy a downtown condo and find myself begrudingly living a few miles outside downtown. My generation cares about the environment surrounding them ...not baseboards or high ceilings...they care about walking to the grocery store or park, not about chandeliers and fancy rugs...The surrounding environment is already there AND growing. Please oh please don't force my generation into the suburbs too.

This blog is to hopefully to get the word out that yes, there are plenty of downtown housing options...but almost none for the generation that thrives to live there. All this talk on prices and development is not meant to knock all the develments themselves yet merely to point out the fact that there are way tooooo many developments for the upper class and not nearly enough for (cough cough) young professionals.

I have looked into The Leslie at Maywood and applaud their efforts of offering 8 of their 24 units at $99,000. Pretty interesting although it won't be developed for another couple years I am interested to see the finished product. (the other 16 units are no cheaper than $230,000)http://theleslieatmaywoodpark.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=7&Itemid=8

Here are links to the Web sites of many downtown housing option developments. Enjoy.

http://www.theloftsatmaywoodpark.com/

http://www.reinventokc.com/floorplans.asp

http://www.centralavenuevillas.com/floorplans.html

http://www.thehillokc.com/floorplans-overview.html

http://www.okctalk.com/okc-metro-area-talk/11759-old-downtown-library-proposal-finally-here-carnegie-centre.html

Planning out Summer 09

Yesterday, I sat down and started detailing my trip this summer with my friend who is traveling with me for part of the trip (June 7-16, my entire trip is from June 1-29). We laid out museums and historic landmarks that we want to make sure we see and purchased a few tickets to museums...The Louvre in Paris and Anne Frank House Museum in Amsterdam. But as we planned out many of these "must-see" attractions I started thinking about wanting to be apart of something...as in not just viewing something but actually witnessing something happening. 

While living in Madrid (August 2006- April 2007) I never got to see a bullfight. That became priority number one when I get to Madrid, my starting point and final destination on my trip. Then I looked into soccer (futbol) matches because I've always heard of the excitment and importance all around the world of soccer and want to witness an 80,000 crowd for a regular soccer game, yelling in a language I barely understand...kinda sounds exciting. 

I will miss running with the bulls by 1 week. I'm very bummed at that. I also barely miss the Tour de France and the British Open just barely. It is hard to complain, however, considering all the great historic sites and museums I will get to see along with beaches like Barcelona but I still feel like there are events that I'll be missing out on. Events that only locals usually witness. Can anyone think of any events or games I could attend? I racked my brain and I'm falling short. Euorpe in June...there has to be more going on.

Couchsurfing host

I just completed my first couchsurfing as a host experience. 

I received an e-mail from couchsurfing.com on Sunday night while I was watching the Wolverine movie with my brothers at AMC. I waited til I got home to view the persons profile to see what they were like before I would accept.

The arrival time was set for the following night, Monday night, and since everything (references, friends, personality, age) all seemed to work out and so I accepted. She, Stephanie, did mention, that she would not be able to arrive until late...9ish. I replied telling her that I was playing tennis from 8:30-10 and because I wouldn't be home and showered unyil 10:45 I told her I would be unavailable until 10:45 and she agreed and said she would just go grab something to eat until I returned...

The next morning I received an e-mail from her telling me that her plans of staying in Cali for the summer just got canceled because of a living situation that ended up not being available.She also said that she still might go in a few days depending on if she can find alternative housing. Bummer. I said no problem and if she needs to come through in a few days let me know.

2 hours later...I get an e-mail telling me that she found extra housing and that if I was still willing that she would still like to stay here that night but because she left a few hours later than planned her arrival time would be more like midnight. (oh the stresses of traveling never stop...and I know that as well as most.) "Sure thing, see you tonight."

The next day it rained like crazy and was merely impossible to do anything during the day/lunch hour so she just stayed at my apt working on some internship forms for the summer while I was at work. She had mentioned to me the night before about her plan on staying in OKC that night and the next day driving to Amarillo for a day then to Albuquerque (she had 5 days to get to Cali). I told her Amarillo would be boring. So, when I got home from work (Cinco de Mayo) I told her of plans I had to go out with my friends and how bummed I was that she never got to really see any of OKC. She, very shyly, asked if she could stay another night. 

"Of course you can. Now let's go to Bricktown."

Walking all around Bricktown and "pitching" OKC as the wonderful place that it is I get a text form my friends that they are now headed over to Iguana Grill, perfect timing as we were ending our walk around Bricktown. So, at 9:15 p.m. we show up to meet about 10 of my friends and had food and drinks til midnight. Then walked over to the Memorial where we all walked around sharing stories and enjoying company.

After lunch the next day she packed up and left for Albuquerque. Have a safe rest of the trip, Stephanie, and we'll see you in August when you head back home to Tennessee.

Her facebook status: "in love with oklahoma city and is sad to leave. SOOOO very thankful for how the nights in oklahoma city turned out... i had a blast with casey and his friends :0)"

Stay classy  Oklahoma City.

The OKC Marathon is more than just a 26.2 mile run

I don’t know how many Oklahoma City citizens know this (roughly 20,000) but the noisiest cross streets in North America on Sunday, April 26, 2009 happened to be in Oklahoma City…at N.W. 6^th and Harvey to be exact. I know this because I live one block away on 5^th street. I was awake against my will at 6:00 a.m., but this time I was ok with it.

I have been awaken numerous times living downtown (mostly by the train because it feels the need to blow its horn for 3-4 minutes straight at 4:30 a.m.) but never have I been more…um…fulfilled to be awake so early to the sound of loud speakers and dedicated runners; dedicated to running at the remembrance of the 168 that lost their lives due of the tragedy striking Oklahoma City in 1995.

Everyone has a story of that morning. Mine happens to be one of sitting in Miss Mayer’s 6^th grade English class feeling the building shake and later on at lunch hearing the announcement over the intercom of a bomb in the downtown area. I also remember seeing nothing on TV for that entire week except half of a downtown building I had never seen before yet would change my life and millions of others’ forever.

I see that site every day walking to work; walking back from work. I meet tourists all the time coming here to remember; coming here to witness. They remember that day. I remember that day. On April 26, 2009 we all remembered it together.

I’m a little embarrassed to say that I have never participated in the marathon. I think we all should. On Tuesday at lunch I talked with a friend, Nancy Redinger, who participated in the 5-person relay.  I thought to myself, “I want to do that…There are five people in my family…we should all participate.” I immediately sent out a text to my mom, my dad, my younger brother Tristan and my older brother Mike with the idea. Within minutes I got response from all of them. “Yes!” “Wow…cool” “Sounds good.” Responses I had hoped and for responses I expected.

Marathon participants pray under the Survivor Tree during a service at the Oklahoma City Bombing Memorial before the start of the ninth annual Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon, Sunday, April 26, 2009, in Oklahoma City. Photo by Sarah Phipps.

Next year team Cornett is looking to run the course. We’re looking to join those in waking those sleeping in downtown. I figure if enough join us in the cause than hopefully there will be nobody left to “wake up.” Where were you on April 19, 1995 and will you join with your neighbors and participate in someway next year?

“You must be the change you wish to see in the world.” -Gandhi

Having 20/20 for OKC in 2020

When I finally decide to purchase a condo in downtown I want somewhere to go on a Saturday/evening walk. Somewhere to take guests from out of town where noise isn't abundant and is still in walking distance. Somewhere that takes my mind off of wishing I was back in Madrid's Retiro Park (http://tinyurl.com/ctn6r4) or NYC's Central Park and focus on being proud to be in OKC. I love being here now, but when I picture the time when all the previously stated comes true I hope it's not because the 1 block at 4th and Gaylord remains but that Core to Shore and Maps 3 come to full fruition.  

I think Blair and I are on the same side when it comes to seeing OKC become more walkable and pedestrian friendly. I hope to join in Blair's efforts to keep OKC's decision makers on track (as they have been stepping up mightily with bringing Speck and pushing for the Core to Shore plan).  

The one thing I hoped to accomplish with my last blog posting was to ensure hope into all those protesting the block at 4th and Gaylord that there is another project worth your time and efforts. I'm just hoping that enthusiasm for OKC's future isn't hanging on the fate of that block that has already been approved for change. I need all those wishing to keep OKC going in the right direction to not get discouraged yet to shift focus to what could/should be a project for OKC's next generation(s).  

Am I against those protesting for the block at 4th and Gaylord? Absolutely not. I just know that those opposing the change on that block are the ones that should also be proponents of Core to Shore. I just hope the same energy and effort spent trying to save that block will still be available as it will be needed come the vote for Core to Shore.  

Steve Lackmeyer - Thanks for the blog love, but let's see your comments too and not just snippets of Blair and I's...  

For Blair Humphreys blog - http://imaginativeamerica.com/ 

For Steve Lackmeyer's blog - http://blog.newsok.com/okccentral/ 

Blair- Don't you have a thesis to write? :)

Walkability and the Core-to-Shore

After listening to Jeff Speck's "Walkability" presentation at the city council meeting I started to get...giddy. Yup, I admit the butterflies were floating just thinking about the great direction this city that I live in is going. One of the MAJOR things I miss about living abroad was the opportunity to just leave my apartment and get "lost" in all the shops and pubs and entertainment readily available in Madrid...without ever getting in a car. I thought Speck's presentation ideas were spot on in so many ways. Sure you can find things to argue about in the presentation, I mean, the information was made to be a 3-hour presentation so there were plenty of suggestions that can be debated.

One of the great things about being at that presentation was that I was there as a pedestrian, an urbanite, a downtown worker, a downtown walker (even though at times it seems i'm the only one) and also a downtown dreamer. I get excited about our future plans as a city and I get even more excited reading about core-to-shore.

For those that have been living in a cave you find more extensive insights into Core-to-Shore here http://www.okc.gov/planning/coretoshore/index.html. 

The Core-to-Shore project will add so much more greenspace to our already-lacking-green image. The sad thing i'm starting to notice is that all the people who are strongly for greenspace are still focusing their efforts towards the 1 square block of privately owned and privately funded Chamber building going in at 4th and EK Gaylord. Hasn't that already been approved and moved on? Sure, there is still another (I believe just 1) date set on the beautification aspect of that space...but the building is still going there, let's move on. The core-to-shore project will be bring roughly 20-square blocks of greenspace. Why can't greenspace lovers and journalists focus on what has yet not been decided on instead of still arguing over the 1-square block to argue over. That block is done, it was a good fight to keep it. But now let's join together and make sure we don't miss the boat on another big greensapce opportunity.

"Blow your mind"

Going over to Dear's house last night (Dear is my grandma, it's the name we've called her my whole life - and it fits her quite well) at 9:15 p.m. is a testament to how great she is because unlike most grandmas (in bed by 8:00 p.m.) I can call her late at night and swing by and hangout.

When I got there Dear was in her kitchen cooking a meal to bring to some church function (Crossings Community Church - shamless plug) and not only that, she has her kitchen TV on as well as her laptop on the counter set up to the internet just browsing stuff. 

Recap- my grandma invites me over to hangout at 9:15 p.m. I arrive and see her more technologically plugged-in than numerous teenagers i know.

Ok, so I decide to show her the Google Maps street view. We cruise around OKC and then head down to Houston to look at a house she lived in back in 1970. It was a blast. After that I told her I was going to "Blow your mind" and took her overseas to Madrid to show her my old apartment and all my favorite places to walk around be with friends. 

I thought all of this was so much fun, not because I'm one of the lucky people that still has the opportunity to spend time with grandparents (two grandmas within 15 miles of my apartment) but also very proud that I have a grandma that is still very active and loves to learn about new things. From her style of living, I am continually pushed to always learn new things and to never allow myself to sit and be content. 

Thank you, Dear. Next time, don't keep ME up to late.