In conclusion to my last post of my childhood home, this is a house that was built right across the street. Replacing a single house/lot split into two, this addition really added a modern touch to the neighborhood. Although many other houses have been renovated and kept up, this house definitely took to the modern big house, small yard status quo. Most others still hide draped behind half an acre of front yard and an abundance of shrubbery and trees. It was an interesting experience to watch the house being built from the foundation up from mid-2014 to late 2015. You can see the second lot to its left being worked on currently. To give some perspective, the original lot was valued around 265k. Split into two, sold to individual owner/builders, there was a mound of profit made on such a hot commodity plot that the Utica area is known for. Not apparent in the picture resolution, the exterior is a nice brick pattern and the high slope roof and large dining/living room window panes are very appealing in my opinion. There also appears to be copper (or some kind of ore) awnings above the front door and windows, and around the chimney openings. A 6 car garage and isolated patio area shows there were definitely specific tastes and desires that went into the construction of this structure.

For my first post I think it best to do the one structure that has been static throughout my childhood and early adulthood. Located in midtown Tulsa just south of 36th Street between Lewis and Utica, not 2 miles from the Philbrook Museum among other historic landmarks, this structure was the first on its block, built in 1955. My late grandfather, a Reverand, Pianist in the U.S. Navy in the 40s, and ultimately a retired Piano Teacher, and late grandmother settled here to raise my dad and uncle in 1965. The structure is unique for its area, considering most homes have been renovated or torn down in the immediate area (as mentioned in one of my following posts), with the original white brick, single story landscape, and dated shutters. Not necessarily “big” for its location/value, the house still has a homey touch with wood flooring, dated black and white tile, among other nuances. The 2007 ice storm also left it needing a new roof, 2 80 foot high oak trees needing to be cut down, and new flooring/carpet/ceilings in the bedroom, dining room, and big club room. I myself have hosted many band practices and used it as a recording studio from 2014 until moving to Norman this past summer and it definitely insulated sound surprisingly well.