Hey there! Get ready for some exciting news in the world of real estate. The Oklahoma City Council has recently passed two resolutions addressing the urgent issues of homelessness and affordable housing. With concerns about the growing unhoused population and potential criminalization of homelessness, city leaders and realtors are pushing for change. The approved Alley’s End Affordable Housing Project will transform an empty field in downtown Oklahoma City into a remarkable 200-unit apartment complex. Additionally, an emergency shelter resolution for St. Paul’s Episcopal Cathedral has been approved to provide support during cold weather. To learn more about these important developments and how realtors are advocating for increased accessibility and diverse housing options, click here.
Top of the Town! Lone Oak! Slab Holler! Who knew? Plus OKC CRE!
Hey, y’all. Once again I was reminded this week that unless you’re from around here, you just ain’t from ’round here. It took me nearly 25 years of living around here to stumble across Oklahoma City’s Top of the Town residential neighborhood, just 3 miles south of downtown.
If you click on that address, the map that pops up shows it just to the west, between the Oklahoma River and SE 25 hugging the west side of Interstate 35: “Top of the Town.”
First, the listing: 9,800 square-feet, updated, new LED lighting, four overhead doors, 14-foot clear height, I-35 frontage, $7.75 per square foot per year, triple-net basis.
Now, with a fun name like “Top of the Town,” I had to look it up, and Homes.com didn’t disappoint.
“While not the tallest point in Oklahoma City, or OKC to locals, Top of the Town feels like it, perched on the crest of a hill. … Houses in Top of the Town are older ranch and bungalows sporting siding and carports on properties averaging around 7,000 square feet.”
Says Realtor Christy Hawkins with Keller Williams Green Meadow: “It’s a lovely hilltop area with tiny houses that look like your grandma just moved out. But not many homes are updated or renovated.”
The neighborhood lacks sidewalks, but Homes.com says “residents often see neighbors sitting on their front stoops or puttering about on gently sloping front lawns on nice days.”
Homes range from $75,000 to $125,000, with the median at around $100,000, below the average for the city, making it a “very affordable” option so close to downtown, according to Homes.com.
And there’s a city park: Top O’ Town Park, carved out in 1954, the same time as the addition.
Who knew? I didn’t. I did notice that Top of the Town is in the Crooked Oak Public School District. I knew that one of my colleagues at The Oklahoman went to Crooked Oak schools, so I asked her if she knew about Top of the Town. She said she grew up in the neighborhood.
Funny. You don’t know what you don’t know. She may or may not know that I went to Muldrow public schools, about 170 miles to the east. But she wouldn’t know that I grew up east of Muldrow between Slab Holler and Lone Oak, unless she had reason to ask.
Lone Oak is findable online. It’s at the intersection of Cottonwood Road and Old U.S. Highway 64. Mama went to school there. There used to be a broom factory. A county barn was there once, and could still be. My old, long-lost pal Gene Williams, guitar player and singer of “Red Dirt Rock with hints of psychedelia,” grew up there.
But Slab Holler? It’s not even a “census designated place,” let alone a town − or even a ghost town. Shoot, I may have personally saved Slab Holler from disappearing from the public record by getting it on the internet. Something I wrote in 2001 is about the only hit I get on Google.
Who knew about Top of the Town in Oklahoma City? Not me. Now I do! Who knew about Lone Oak and Slab Holler? Probably not you. Now you do! And now the news. Let’s get to it.
Oklahoma City Council approves affordable housing project and emergency shelter
The Oklahoma City Council passed two resolutions on Tuesday addressing an emergency homeless shelter and a new affordable housing complex. Area realtors joined city leaders to push for change, expressing concerns about homelessness, affordable housing, and zoning issues. The approved Alley’s End Affordable Housing Project will replace an empty field in downtown Oklahoma City with a more than 200-unit apartment complex. The council also approved an emergency shelter resolution for St. Paul’s Episcopal Cathedral during cold weather. Realtors suggest increasing accessibility by adopting ordinances to allow accessory dwelling units (ADUs) and diversifying housing options. This Realtor Day at City Hall has brought more awareness to the housing crisis.
Oklahoma to get US’ tallest building standing at 1,907 feet
Plans are underway to build the Legends Tower in Oklahoma City, which would surpass One World Trade Center as the tallest building in the US. The proposed tower would reach a height of 1,907 feet, exceeding the current record by over 200 feet. The Legends Tower is part of a larger mixed-use development called Boardwalk at Bricktown and is primarily planned to be residential, with 1,750 apartments and a Hyatt hotel. While there are concerns about feasibility and the city’s susceptibility to tornadoes, developers assure that the structure will be reinforced for stability and designed to withstand tornado-force winds. With full funding secured, construction could begin as early as June.
America’s tallest building gets approval from Oklahoma City
New York City will no longer hold the title of the tallest building in North America if the plan for the Legends Tower in Oklahoma City stays on course. The proposed 1,907-foot structure has received approval from Oklahoma City officials, surpassing the height of One World Trade Center. The Legends Tower is part of a mixed-use project called The Boardwalk at Bricktown, featuring residential units, a hotel, a sports arena, and retail spaces. While concerns have been raised about signage and the city’s susceptibility to disasters, the architecture firm assures that the skyscraper will be structurally sound and capable of withstanding tornadoes. Construction is set to begin later this year.
Gov. Stitt Signs Emergency Rules For $215 Million Oklahoma Housing Stability Program
Emergency rules for the Housing Stability Program in Oklahoma were approved by Gov. Kevin Stitt, providing $215 million to fund the construction of single-family homes and rental properties. The program, administered by the Oklahoma Housing Finance Agency, offers down payment and closing cost assistance for homebuyers. Gov. Stitt’s commitment to addressing the housing shortage in rural and urban communities is evident in his approval of these emergency rules. For application details, click here.
Oklahoma Is the 2nd Best State to Find a Starter Home
The American dream of homeownership often begins with a starter home, but finding an affordable one has become increasingly challenging. Changes in home prices have outpaced income growth, and there has been a decline in the construction of starter-size homes. However, Oklahoma ranks as the 2nd best state to find a starter home, offering more affordable options compared to other regions. With a lower proportion of larger homes and mortgage costs that account for a smaller share of income, Oklahoma provides buying opportunities for first-time homebuyers. For more information and complete results, click here.
A New Tallest Building in America Has Been Proposed — and It Isn’t in New York or Chicago
A building has been proposed in Oklahoma City that, if completed, would become the tallest in America, surpassing New York City’s One World Trade Center. The skyscraper, called Legends Tower, is planned to stand at 1,907 feet tall, honoring the year Oklahoma became a state. The development, known as The Boardwalk at Bricktown, will feature additional structures and offer residential units, a hotel, retail spaces, and more. If realized, Legends Tower would become the fifth tallest building in the world. For more details, click here.