The Grand Old Post Office has a lot of history in Downtown Okmulgee.
After a couple years of planning and construction, it will be a new home for several Oklahoma State University Institute of Technology (OSUIT) students.
Instead of building a new dorm on campus, Dr. Bill Path found a way to make Okmuglee a true college town.
“There's been an unusual disconnect between the town and the campus itself and this building really represents a change and the separation is really going away. we're actually going to be moving students into Downtown Okmulgee and they're going to become part of this community," said Path.
the grand old post office got a complete restoration--everything is new including the latest safety features and creature comforts.
“These students need Okmulgee and the community of Okmulgee needs our students as well, so I’m very proud that we've got this true partnership working," said Path.
Okmulgee is going through a revival and the new student lofts are part of bringing new life into the historic downtown.
“We'll take down all the walls, this was an old parts department here," said Dean West, owner of West Construction.
West’s construction company worked on the post office project.
He plans to build student lofts of his own.
West already claimed the old Harlan Ford building for 32 student apartments.
“Seeing OSU and their project and seeing the students coming to downtown and the redevelopment going on I thought that was a great opportunity for us to get started," said West.
OSUIT will have 75 students moving into its loft-style apartments starting in January.
“There's a lot of people that have been buzzing with anticipation to live here. they've been waiting for the chance to apply and get in over here," said Will Johnson, an OSUIT Student and Residential Assistant.
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