The WADE: A Street Reimagined

Imagine taking a hobby—something you truly love to do— and turning into a career. Luckily for Oklahoma City’s real estate, remodeling and construction industry, Charli Bullard did just that.

While working at Oklahoma City-based Chesapeake Energy, Bullard began to explore her love of remodeling and flipping houses. Fast forward four years, Bullard is now a successful real estate agent. And while flipping and remodeling is still at the heart of what she loves, she knew there was a next step. “I realized the one thing I hadn’t done is brand new construction so that’s where I decided to focus.”

Bullard spent six months searching for the perfect place to build, concentrating on Oklahoma City’s urban core, and settled on NW 44th Street between Western and Francis—what she is affectionately calling The WADE (Western Avenue District East). “I bought two houses and took them down, built my house on one lot and sold the other lot which is now under construction. I love the area, the restaurants, it’s walkable and family-friendly plus there’s easy access to anywhere in the city.”

The vision Bullard created for The WADE was quickly embraced by others and things began moving faster than she could have imagined. The house across the street from Bullard was purchased, torn down and rebuilt, and six more houses on the block were acquired with plans to take down and rebuild. “The vibe that we’re going for on the street is fun and unexpected—Modern, Tudor or a combination of both,” she said.

When it came to her own home and its aesthetic, Bullard was ready to go over the top. “My previous flips always had a very strict budget but with this house, while I was financially responsible regarding what I was spending, I didn’t want to do basic things—everything is custom.” Bullard’s home was originally 2200 square feet but is now 2700 since turning the walk-in attic into a theater room, complete with a bar and arcade games.

Bullard shared that there are other homeowners in the surrounding Douglas-Edgemere area are following suit—reimagining their space and what a new home in an established neighborhood can be. “I love that my street is setting the precedent.”

PHOTOGRAPHY BY JUSTIN MIERS