Downtown Tulsa development

Downtown Tulsa has many big projects on the drawing board, but most of them have not begun. <br><br>News on 6 reporter Rick Wells has found a much smaller project well under way in downtown, and the young

Monday, March 29th 2004, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

Downtown Tulsa has many big projects on the drawing board, but most of them have not begun.

News on 6 reporter Rick Wells has found a much smaller project well under way in downtown, and the young entrepreneur who's the force behind it. "It's just fun to get in and do stuff with your hands." Much more fun when the project turns out as well as this one has. Micha Alexander bought an old building at the corner of 3rd and Lansing last March and has turned it into a nice combination of retail and living space.

"Initially we thought it was way too big of a project for just me and my dad." But they got the building and relocated his machine shop business he started when he was at TU. That gave this project some income. The next order of business, a place to live. "I read countless books on loft living and urban living."

That gave him ideas, and he's tried to incorporate those into the project. The principal theme in all the apartments is space. "Just knock down all the walls and keep it as open and free flowing as possible." It took more time to complete than he thought. And cost more money than he thought to get the job done. "The toughest thing was probably looking at the bills when it was all over."

But the best part of the project is, he's living in it. He's developed a love for these old buildings. "You get in 'em and each one has its own cool unique space." He's bought the building across the street and has begun another re-do project over there.

He has a birthday coming up this summer he'll be 24. What were you doing when you were 23?