FROM LEFT TO RIGHT : A before and after of 162 S . Kings renovated by Steve Pebsworth and a before and after of 112 S . Melrose renovated by David Luetkemeyer .
Damaged . Derelict . Disrepair .
These words were used to describe two houses at 112 S . Melrose and 164 S . Kings earlier this year . These structures were in such bad condition that the Stillwater City Council had declared them public nuisances and ordered them to be demolished
21 and removed .
Then something happened . Enter David
Luetkemeyer and Steve Pebsworth , who acquired each property separately . They then renovated and restored the houses to their former glory .
According to Assistant City Manager Paula Dennison , “ David and Steve could have demolished these structures and built new ones ; instead they preserved the rich and unique personalities of homes found in College Gardens .”
College Gardens is a neighborhood located at the west end of the Oklahoma State University campus that was originally developed as homes for college professors . The house on Melrose is one-and-a-half stories and was originally built in 1929 . Prior to Luetkemeyer purchasing the property , the City had cited it for numerous code enforcement violations . The house on Kings has almost 4,000 square
feet of living space and was built in 1975 . It fell into such neglect that the property could not be seen from the street .
Both Luetkemeyer and Pebsworth were recognized by city council for their efforts in neighborhood beautification .
Dennison explained that rehabilitation and reinvestment of existing buildings should be a priority for the following reasons :
• Infrastructure is already in place ( waterlines , sewerlines , electric lines , streets , sidewalks )
• Actions are sustainable with a more cost-effective approach
• Provides affordable and varied housing options
• Builds character-rich neighborhoods offering walkability and easier access
• Creates identity for a neighborhood and for a community
“ Our community , our neighborhoods and individual families benefit when structures like these are given a second chance ,” she said . “ We all should give David and Steve a round of applause for jobs well done .”
Story by City of Stillwater
Photo courtesy City of Stillwater Photo Collection
“… instead they preserved the rich and unique personalities of homes found in College Gardens .” — PAULA DENNISON , ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER
COMMERCE | 2021 Profile Magazine of the Stillwater Chamber of Commerce