"It's super strong," he said of that housing market. "We have a generation that's returning back to the campus area." He said many people want to live near OU to take occasional classes or just participate in community events put on at OU.

"People are looking for that proximity," Swift said. "It's not just OU football."

Younger people also are interested in more than just the traditional fare of housing, he said.

So he's stocked the four lofts he leases downtown with high-tech amenities to appeal to these residents, to give the lofts that "modern look and feel."

Loft 401 also is going for a modern look with top-of-the-line amenities. Prices for the one-bedroom loft condos start in the $150,000s.

This won't be the last project for Risser in Norman. Risser said he hopes to diversify the residential offerings in Norman, providing alternatives to traditional apartments or houses.

"I've been waiting for Norman to be ready for this project, and I feel like it's really now ready to accept this type of diversification," Risser said.

Lofts and mixed-use buildings are becoming more popular nationally, and they'll soon come to Norman, too, he said.

"I think you're going to see more of it in Norman, and I think that's a good thing, and I will definitely do my part to make that a good thing in Norman," Risser said.