tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2322888506754167532011-07-28T17:34:41.453-05:00Build homes that fit the neighborhoodPreserve Midtownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00785039562705869211noreply@blogger.comBlogger281100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-232288850675416753.post-37117927312411146322009-11-06T08:48:00.003-06:002009-11-06T08:51:36.196-06:00

This is the old, archived version of our site, but it still might be reachable through old links or web searches. A lot has happened since 2007! Please go directly to http://preservemidtown.com for the latest.

Chris Halliwellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16527547774920835146noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-232288850675416753.post-66192942619853228572007-10-01T21:36:00.001-05:002007-10-02T02:45:14.419-05:00

Preserve Midtown, in association with the Coalition of Historic Neighborhoods of Tulsa, is pleased to announce our first forum and panel discussion, "Taming the Teardown: A Moratorium to Save our Heritage". The forum will be Tuesday, October 16 at 7:00 pm, at All Souls Unitarian Church, 2952 S. Peoria in Tulsa. Guest presenters Amanda De Cort, Guy De Verges and Steve Novick will speak on the

Preserve Midtownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00785039562705869211noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-232288850675416753.post-34233838240608215062007-08-24T17:54:00.000-05:002007-10-01T21:52:48.629-05:00

By Phil Marshall, Longtime Tulsa Builder and Current TMAPC Board Member 1. The number one challenge is "Getting Along With The Neighbors." Ask your workers to: * Be courteous to the neighbors of your project. * Bring all problems to you. * Keep on-site music low. * Park trucks and cars on one side of the street. * Keep work site reasonably quiet. * Keep the building site clean and

Preserve Midtownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00785039562705869211noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-232288850675416753.post-53614068459013998922007-08-05T23:20:00.000-05:002007-08-06T17:51:56.057-05:00

NewsChannel 8 reporter Jerry Giordano interviewed Preserve Midtown founder Barbara VanHanken on the campaign, which is growing in momentum. Over 200 people have so far signed the petition. Click to play.

Preserve Midtownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00785039562705869211noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-232288850675416753.post-57152532587247015272007-07-28T12:00:00.000-05:002007-08-02T01:25:48.035-05:00

Preserve Midtown founders Patty Southmayd, Barbara VanHanken and Melissa Waller discussed the campaign with the Tulsa World today. Click here to read the full article.

Preserve Midtownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00785039562705869211noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-232288850675416753.post-54762189127828648212007-07-25T22:31:00.001-05:002007-07-25T22:37:32.766-05:00

Don't get caught by surprise. Some things to look out for: 1. A home is put up for sale. 2. A builder buys the home. 3. A home is needing some maintenance or looks unkept. 4. There is an empty lot. 5. After a builder buys a home, he puts it up for rent. All of these events can lead to teardowns and inappropriate infill. Sometimes, it will include a lot split: two homes are built

Preserve Midtownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00785039562705869211noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-232288850675416753.post-40443313335515928502007-07-14T14:57:00.000-05:002007-10-02T11:40:55.913-05:00

TulsaNow's website is hosting a robust discussion about the Preserve Midtown campaign. We encourage you to join the debate and comment on our efforts here.

Chris Halliwellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16527547774920835146noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-232288850675416753.post-87614723750794050022007-07-02T14:34:00.000-05:002007-08-06T17:34:48.052-05:00

The News on 6 at 9 on CW 12/19's anchor Jennifer Loren reported on the controversy in the Peaceful Terwilleger Acres neighborhood.

Preserve Midtownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00785039562705869211noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-232288850675416753.post-71532126641813856752007-06-22T14:00:00.000-05:002007-06-22T14:30:43.516-05:00

Tulsa will be the site of the National Trust for Historic Preservation's annual conference, October 21-25, 2008. Tulsa realtor Martin L. J. Newman has served on the National Trust's Board of Advisors for the last nine years, and he will be Co-chair of the 2008 conference. To get a sense of what to expect in 2008, you can visit the website for the 2007 conference in Minneapolis at

Chris Halliwellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16527547774920835146noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-232288850675416753.post-17521526287493881102007-06-20T04:40:00.000-05:002007-06-20T05:09:09.940-05:00

Lortondale neighbors are working to get their neighborhood of midcentury modern homes placed on the National Register of Historic Places. The futurist homes were created in the 1950s by Tulsa architect Donald Honn and builder Howard Grubb. The neighborhood is between Yale and Hudson avenues and 26th Street to 27th Place. The neighborhood was the first in the nation where every home featured

Chris Halliwellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16527547774920835146noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-232288850675416753.post-52391943878631144272007-06-15T05:00:00.000-05:002007-08-06T17:49:48.053-05:00

Until recently, Historic Preservation zoning was the only way to preserve a neighborhood's buildings and character. It comes with big responsibilities, and is rarely appropriate. But there are other ways to maintain a neighborhood's buildings and character. In Conservation Districts, mass and scale (not architectural style) is at issue, and guidelines are created by the neighborhood itself,

Chris Halliwellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16527547774920835146noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-232288850675416753.post-21913824920933799442007-06-14T03:03:00.000-05:002007-06-19T07:24:31.789-05:00

The most restrictive protection that the City can grant a neighborhood is a Historic Preservation overlay. For the vast majority of Midtown, this is overkill. But what does it actually involve? Are residents required to paint their houses an approved color, get permission for remodeling, or keep satellite dishes off their roofs? No. An HP overlay codifies a list of common-sense guidelines

Chris Halliwellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16527547774920835146noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-232288850675416753.post-474568648396158852007-06-13T17:23:00.000-05:002007-08-03T20:11:55.187-05:00

Instead of settling for a hit-or-miss stencil job every other year, show your support with a curb number that will last decades. For residents who donate $25 $125 or more to Preserve Midtown, Tulsa contractor Prime Painting will professionally apply Clearview style numbers, in retroreflective 3M road paint, as pictured, with sharp edges and no stencil lines. The special paint, designed to shine

Chris Halliwellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16527547774920835146noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-232288850675416753.post-39416166988612052392007-06-12T02:58:00.000-05:002007-08-12T00:39:36.286-05:00

PreserveMidtown.com is an effort to encourage appropriate infill in Tulsa. Donations are needed for website maintenance, printing yard signs, bumper stickers, and more. To donate, please make check to: Preserve Midtown 1611 S Utica Ave PMB 274 Tulsa, OK 74104-4909 Or, you can donate with your credit card:

Chris Halliwellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16527547774920835146noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-232288850675416753.post-59308022253458391762007-06-11T16:25:00.000-05:002007-07-04T22:34:52.327-05:00

This quiet street, basically a long cul-de-sac, is populated with houses that have 50-foot setbacks, wide front yards, and distinctive homes that merit historic preservation or conservation. Fifty years ago, in response to a lot split, area neighbors joined in a covenant agreement to preserve the neighborhood's character by providing that only single family homes would be permitted on the

Chris Halliwellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16527547774920835146noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-232288850675416753.post-22040459469733310882007-06-08T20:52:00.000-05:002007-06-19T07:34:17.625-05:00

When everything south of 41st Street was still farmland, and Tulsa was growing fast in the post-war baby boom, Ranch Acres was born. Created in 1950 by I.A. “Jake” Jacobson, the innovative developer of Southland and Northland shopping malls, Ranch Acres was one of the first suburban tract developments in the United States. It initially stretched from Harvard to Florence, but by 1958, the

Chris Halliwellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16527547774920835146noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-232288850675416753.post-67674150881818324792007-06-08T08:11:00.000-05:002007-06-19T07:33:19.140-05:00

Here, at 3129 E 27th St, a modest 50s/60s ranch-style house was leveled and replaced. The new house dwarfs its neighbors: the roofline is more than twice as high as any of its neighbors. All the landscaping, except one single tree, was sacrificed to make room. Despite their grand appearance, homes like this are typically constructed with surprisingly fragile materials. Masonite siding is

Preserve Midtownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00785039562705869211noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-232288850675416753.post-69563324243651569632007-06-07T23:02:00.000-05:002007-07-10T00:54:14.591-05:00

Preserve Midtown is a community based effort to provide information and advocacy for midtown homeowners concerning the issues of infill, teardowns and inappropriate existing zoning. This site contains previously copyrighted material and other intellectual property, the use of which may not have been specifically authorized. We believe the manner in which we use it constitutes a 'fair use' as

Chris Halliwellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16527547774920835146noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-232288850675416753.post-74558539555818488492007-06-04T22:06:00.000-05:002007-06-28T17:21:39.208-05:00

The small veterinary clinic at 3550 S Peoria Ave has lost the word 'City' from its sign. Not a big deal by itself, but this is an indication that ownership may have changed hands. If so, we hope the new owners keep it the way it is. It's a Joseph Koberling, Jr. design from 1942, adjacent to a residential neighborhood. There was not a lot of construction during WWII, making the Streamline

Chris Halliwellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16527547774920835146noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-232288850675416753.post-65715400908888247772007-06-04T00:35:00.000-05:002007-06-15T08:53:09.025-05:00

At 3704 S Birming- ham Ave, architect Frank Lloyd Wright built his 'Westhope' home for cousin Richard Lloyd Jones in 1929. (Click link for an outside link to its fascinating history.) The house is one of many of Tulsa's Art Deco treasures, but nestled in a residential neighborhood, it is often overlooked. Although the house is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, Tulsa has not

Chris Halliwellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16527547774920835146noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-232288850675416753.post-56263127870059147302007-05-29T17:13:00.000-05:002007-06-21T15:19:32.221-05:00

Low risk of inappropriate development. Zoning properly reflects residential density, and the neighbors have likely joined in a covenant to further protect the neighborhood's character. Historic preservation zoning or conservation districting will also make a neighborhood 'green'. Property values are preserved and will continue to grow as the housing market recognizes that this is a healthy

Chris Halliwellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16527547774920835146noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-232288850675416753.post-77552616198957533702007-05-29T17:04:00.000-05:002007-06-21T15:19:54.162-05:00

Guarded risk of inappropriate development. Although properly zoned, and lot splits are unlikely, more needs to be done to protect the neighborhood. Original houses may be replaced with oversized, unattractive, or lesser-quality construction. Even when houses are not torn down, budget remodeling jobs can add out-of-character touches like unpainted aluminum window frames and vinyl siding. In some

Chris Halliwellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16527547774920835146noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-232288850675416753.post-2500869621155100022007-05-29T17:01:00.000-05:002007-06-21T15:20:16.005-05:00

Elevated risk of inappropriate development. The neighborhood may be zoned inappropriately, allowing developers to split lots in half and build oversized structures over the objections of the community. INCOG and the City Council both have mechanisms to prevent this, but neighbors must be organized, and the best chance to fix the problem is BEFORE a developer moves in.

Chris Halliwellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16527547774920835146noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-232288850675416753.post-21313485195786418562007-05-29T16:57:00.000-05:002007-06-21T15:20:51.301-05:00

High risk of inappropriate development. In addition to the yellow alert conditions, a house may be up for sale. Often, midtown houses are actively marketed as good candidates to be torn down and re-developed.

Chris Halliwellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16527547774920835146noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-232288850675416753.post-22689403794541331762007-05-29T16:50:00.000-05:002007-06-21T15:21:29.744-05:00

Severe risk of inappropriate development. Usually, a home in the neighborhood has been sold to a teardown artist, a developer, a profiteer, or anyone who intends to exploit the zoning problem, tear the house down, split the lot in half, and build too densely for the neighborhood. Neighbors need to organize, contact INCOG or their city councilor, and consider hiring an attorney in order to

Chris Halliwellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16527547774920835146noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-232288850675416753.post-4117963073550418642007-05-28T23:00:00.000-05:002007-06-21T15:21:57.202-05:00

"The damage caused by teardowns in historic neighborhoods only begins with the demolition of historic houses. What comes next can be even more destructive: the construction of new, oversized structures that disrupt architectural character, diminish livability, and reduce economic and social diversity throughout the neighborhood. "A teardown is the demolition of an

Chris Halliwellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16527547774920835146noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-232288850675416753.post-35019965234831342472007-05-28T08:51:00.000-05:002007-06-21T15:22:31.286-05:00

INCOG describes itself as "a voluntary association of local governments serving Creek, Osage, Tulsa, Rogers, and Wagoner counties." Why is it needed? "Today’s communities face problems whose solutions often exceed the reach of a single local government." So, to fill the gap between our City Councilors' stubby limbs in City Hall and the neighborhood plats across the plaza, INCOG "provides local

Preserve Midtownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00785039562705869211noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-232288850675416753.post-87771129652587830802007-05-28T03:29:00.000-05:002007-06-21T15:22:58.202-05:00

Infill is new construction that 'fills in' empty lots in areas that are already established. Good infill should "develop seamlessly within an existing urban fabric, balancing, completing, and/or repairing the surrounding sectors." Key considerations are: "Setback is the distance from the front facade of the house to the steet and should be the same distance as other houses on

Chris Halliwellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16527547774920835146noreply@blogger.com