Midtown????? (for sale, apartments, rent)

[Blackgold]

I have a job interview in OKC in four days. After my interview on Friday, I will be in OKC for half a day on Saturday before my flight back home, which I want to use as time to drive around the city and take a look at some apartments/townhomes for rent.

As a disclaimer, I know nothing about OKC or OK in general, only what I have read on this site and others on the internet.

My fiancee and I are currently looking at a few different places including some "Midtown Renaissance" properties, and the Sieber, both of which are located in Midtown. In addition, we are considering Founders Tower which appears to be in a slightly safer/highly desired location.

These properties include the amenities we want and can afford. What I am concerned about, is the safety of these properties.

Is Midtown a place to live, or is it a place where crime continues to be an issue? Should we focus our efforts on the slightly more expensive property at Founders Tower?

Above all else, I do not want to put my fiancee in a potentially dangerous situation.

Thanks for your time!

[flintysooner]

I really like Founders Tower. Buy my clothes at Covenant Brothers there so I've been there quite a bit during the rather extensive remodeling. Back at the beginning of the project the units were only for sale but that was changed by the recession. That area is pretty convenient since it is close to I-44 and Northwest Highway provides good access to Penn Square and the downtown area isn't bad either.

That area around Classen and Northwest Highway has several interesting places, too.

I think Founders is kind of a cool opportunity actually made possible by the recession.

Midtown is an area I also very much appreciate. It has truly undergone a tremendous remake thanks to several great projects. There are a number of cool restaurants there and it is close to downtown and even Bricktown is not so far.

Both areas are near hospitals.

I consider the areas to be rather different though and feel they would appeal to different tastes. My guess is that Midtown would not be as safe as Founders but that is entirely a guess. Either area though I think would be plenty safe to make a home.

it is actually kind of cool to me that you're looking at both areas.

Best wishes on what you do.

[Emery'sMommy]

I think both areas would be very safe. Midtown is an up and coming area that I think you'd really enjoy living in. I looked up the Sieber and it's surrounding by law offices, hospitals and dr's. It's a beautiful building and in a prime location.

[ou_norman]

Yeah, both areas are fairly safe but Midtown is a little more gritty. It depends on whether you want the Midtown lifestyle- living in a renovated historic building and being able to walk to the nearby bars/restaurants/galleries, or the NW Expressway lifestyle, where you live in a cool shiny tower but still have to drive everywhere. I'd love the views of the Lake and downtown from Founders Tower!

[flintysooner]

There is significant need to drive from either area. Arguably driving to any place other than downtown is easier from Founders and downtown is pretty quickly reached as well. Both places have a lot of stuff right around them but Founders location definitely has more retail, grocery, and so on.

I agree with ou_norman though that both areas are just distinctly different and it is going to end up being a matter of your personal choice.

I still think the Founders deal is a real bargain now especially compared to what the intent was when the remodel job began.