Previous poster is correct that the faux stucco on the level isn't the CAUSE of the stain, but it is stained none the less. And, stained faux stucco will continue to be a problem. It is hard to paint over without the stains continuing to show through. And, as long as the cheaper windows, railings, etc are there, there will be more staining. THIS kind of corner cutting is why filling up downtown with cheaply constructed apartments and motels/hotels is a bad idea. If you really want a sustaining urban downtown, you have to insist on quality construction. Looking "cool" and being up to the street isn't all there is to being a real urban center.

In this case I think that the design committee should hold their ground and not approve the use of the EIFS or stucco, outside the scope of what was originally approved. Here is why, you set a precedent to all of the developers, that you need a really nice and material rich design to wow the design committee to win approval and then you can go in and change to whatever is the cheapest so that you can minimize your costs and then you flip the building as soon as you can before the materials break down so it is not your problem to deal with. You are on to the next grand plan...If the developer had approval for Granite...granite it shall be. When they get to the point of beginning construction you already have a fix on the material costs and usually you the contractor has sourced and locked in pricing from that source for the materials, so it is not a factor of, "the material availability/cost skyrocketed and we are no longer able to afford it" rather is we do not need to have to afford it because the community will just roll over and take what we give them. OKC needs to turn over a new leaf and along with the renaissance send the message that our standards have matured and solidified as well, time to raise the bar.

Steve gave the reason today in his chat for the change & the reasoning for the switch up is actually very different than what we all assumed.

I think this is where we need to have an okctalk meet up when its open for business!

I think this is where we need to have an okctalk meet up when its open for business!

why not in the convention center...

why not in the convention center...

Because the last meet-up was at a small location in Automobile Alley and there's no need for a convention center meeting. Need to have it at one of our newly constructed thread sites ;-)

I wasn't being serious about that. I was just trying to stir the pot a little, but clearly I am not that funny.

I thought it was funny.

I thought it was funny.

Maybe my irreverent brand of development humor is generational then, no?

I'm most excited about the mix of retail and hospitality uses with this project. I cannot for the life of me figure out why Level wasn't designed with more retail in mind, let alone why The Hill hasn't moved to add retail to the mix in their more recent phases. Deep Deuce is really missing the point, and I hope the developers get the picture soon. If not, then Midtown stands to be the biggest winner going forward.

In the late 1800’s French poet Alcanter de Brahmrahm invented the irony/sarcasm punctuation mark. I suggest maybe we start using it. Since sarcasm is my native tongue it would help me a lot. The symbol is a backwards question mark. ؟

This should help solve world hunger؟

why not in the convention center...

if only this was 1970 eh? haha.

Planning staff recommended the approval of the materials change to be formally reviewed at the next Downtown Design Review Committee, 3/21/13.

Photo from yesterday:

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/aloft31613.jpg

This should look really good overlooking Bricktown.

It will get a bit taller, with the funky, wavy structure that goes over the rooftop equipment.

Can't wait for this to open... The bar in particular is sure to be a big hit.

It will get a bit taller, with the funky, wavy structure that goes over the rooftop equipment.

Visually speaking, this is one of my favorite aspects of this design. With Level being a basic "box" and some of the other DD developments also not having interesting roofs, this will be a good contrast and provide some much needed "creativity" in visual designs. That's why I like that this is overlooking Bricktown.

Agree about the roof... It will be very colorful as well.

Also, the restaurant on the far west end should be another great dining space to the district, especially with the planned patio.

And their will be a coffee place as well.

When you add in the new Level restaurant and Native Roots, that one little area will have a lot to offer.

It really is developing as a "neighborhood" quickly now.

Agree about the roof... It will be very colorful as well.

Also, the restaurant on the far west end should be another great dining space to the district, especially with the planned patio.

And their will be a coffee place as well.

When you add in the new Level restaurant and Native Roots, that one little area will have a lot to offer.

Sweet action - any idea what type of restaurant? Never stayed at an Aloft so I'm unfamiliar with their offering. And the coffee shop - Starbucks-esque or something different? Either way I'm looking forward to checking them out!

I believe the coffee shop will be operated by Aloft and the restaurant will be an independent operator -- haven't heard who it might be or what kind of concept. But the patio and setting should be very nice.

I believe the coffee shop will be operated by Aloft and the restaurant will be an independent operator -- haven't heard who it might be or what kind of concept. But the patio and setting should be very nice.

Interesting. Most of Jim Thompson's restaurants are internally operated. At least Avanti and the restaurant at the Hilton Garden Inn are. Not sure if the La Quinta on Memorial or the Holiday Inn Express on may have restaurants or not.

I believe the coffee shop will be operated by Aloft and the restaurant will be an independent operator -- haven't heard who it might be or what kind of concept. But the patio and setting should be very nice.

If I recall correctly there will be a sports bar operated by the hotel. And there will be a restaurant space for lease on the west end

From today...

You can see the columns for the parking garage starting to take shape.

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/aloft32913.jpg

This hotel is going to look incredible when finished! Wish something exciting like this was going
in at Lincoln and Reno!

Funny how the massing doesn't look significantly different than LEVEL despite a 50% difference in height.

I really wanna be the dj for their bar...

I have friends that can walk into any bar, chat up the manager, and walk out a new weekly there.

I wish I possessed those skills.

From from today courtesy BoulderSooner.

Shows the ornamental blue roof being added to the structure (refer to post at top of the page for a rendering):

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/aloft4813.jpg

Ah, I was hoping someone would post a picture. You can't tell from the picture, but the underside of the roof is striped in different shades of blue. And it is BLUE - almost like swimming pool blue.

Did we ever determine if they were granted an exception for the granite?

Did we ever determine if they were granted an exception for the granite?

They were.

The new material is already going up.

Did we ever determine if they were granted an exception for the granite?

I'm thinking I saw it going on before they were granted an exception. Or at least the underpinnings were. They must have been quite sure it would be granted.

From okc.biz:


two other sports grills will be located inside the new aLoft Hotel at the corner of N.E. Second and Walnut Avenue. WXYZ and 2nd on 2nd will focus on healthy comfort food, burgers, soups and salads.

Owner Jim Thompson says aLoft will have a 7,500-square-foot meeting and banquet space for catering, as well. In addition, a 3,750-square-foot, ground-floor space is available for lease to an independent restaurateur. The hotel is scheduled to be open in late August or September.

From okc.biz:

just a note but WXYZ is the Aloft brand lobby bar ... 2nd on 2nd is listed on the newcenturyhotels.com website as a VIP lounge ...

and they have plans to have a hotel owned 809 sports grill ..

A few days old

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8520/8637843625_97b1974c88_b.jpg

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8395/8638947656_d126eb0ed6_b.jpg

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8124/8637843131_c6ea895240_b.jpg

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8535/8638947154_206cf43db0_b.jpg

just a note but WXYZ is the Aloft brand lobby bar ... 2nd on 2nd is listed on the newcenturyhotels.com website as a VIP lounge ...

and they have plans to have a hotel owned 809 sports grill ..

Isn't 809 going to be an independently operated establishment? The same 809 that is in the Hilton Garden Inn on NW Expressway and May.

Isn't 809 going to be an independently operated establishment? The same 809 that is in the Hilton Garden Inn on NW Expressway and May.

new century hotels (Aloft developer) owns both that hotel and that restaurant Restaurants « New Century Investments (http://newcenturyhotels.com/restaurants) this will be the second 809 location

809 is excellent.

Here are some photos of the NW Expressway 809 Sports Grill (from their Facebook page):


https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/643912_497242860288669_1246298430_n.jpg

https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-frc1/384282_497242670288688_936570990_n.jpg

https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/283047_497242630288692_888189291_n.jpg

https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/62527_497242613622027_1268595813_n.jpg

I Love 809 and think it will be a great addition, especially with the similar style as the aloft.... but if somebody wants to hit the Jackpot with a sports bar imho in either DD or Midtown it's The Varsity! Bring it back! PLEASE!

Drove by at lunch today, and they had the blue top on the east side up. I hadn't noticed before, just didn't look close I guess, but the blue tops are all glassed in. Guess the clubs or bars are up there.....

Drove by at lunch today, and they had the blue top on the east side up. I hadn't noticed before, just didn't look close I guess, but the blue tops are all glassed in. Guess the clubs or bars are up there.....

Actually, it's just mechanical stuff directly under the wavy blue roof.

There will be a terrace on the west end of the top floor which should provide fantastic downtown views.

Pete, can we get a recent pic from the cam you have on the Aloft (or however you get the pics)?

I'll make a request to my intrepid photographer.

Here are some from today, courtesy of Sid:

https://fbcdn-sphotos-h-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/v/907283_374565152660589_376377945_n.jpg?oh=94d3ffa4 9c1597717eda19f8c699a917&oe=516A4FA7&__gda__=1365968470_4738c5a0412760bcfb64beba48cdf7f 2

https://fbcdn-sphotos-h-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-frc1/v/912320_374565219327249_873761968_n.jpg?oh=a03b592d 5f5d0543b5ac9c8911c118bb&oe=5169FF2C&__gda__=1365933876_54219ad5a3b4a8259bb022367c58463 5

View from Sunday evening:

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8113/8653417335_fa4156dfb5_b.jpg

Stayed at the Aloft in Irving Friday night after the Diana Krall concert in Grand Prairie. Interesting concept. Kind of industrial chic. Lots of stained concrete in the common areas. Room was small, but kind of cool. Lots of hip amenities like a connection box for just about anything to watch on the TV. No closet or tub, just some hanging space behind a curtain and a shower. All in all, it was a nice room for the money. If you just need a room for the night, it's pretty good. Not exactly luxurious or romantic, but a nice funky place to stay. The WXYZ bar in the lobby was kind of fun, but the drinks were expensive.

I'll go back.

Stayed at the Aloft in Irving Friday night after the Diana Krall concert in Grand Prairie. Interesting concept. Kind of industrial chic. Lots of stained concrete in the common areas. Room was small, but kind of cool. Lots of hip amenities like a connection box for just about anything to watch on the TV. No closet or tub, just some hanging space behind a curtain and a shower. All in all, it was a nice room for the money. If you just need a room for the night, it's pretty good. Not exactly luxurious or romantic, but a nice funky place to stay. The WXYZ bar in the lobby was kind of fun, but the drinks were expensive.

I'll go back.

I've stayed there. It's pretty cool. Enjoyed the bar and pool area. Hope OKC's is cooler, though.

I've noticed Aloft has very few urban and/or walkable locations. I think that fact alone will give this one a bit of a "cool" factor.

I've noticed Aloft has very few urban and/or walkable locations. I think that fact alone will give this one a bit of a "cool" factor.

We have two here in Jax and they are about as suburban as you can get.

The one in Charlotte is/was next to an open field. I'm not sure if they've built anything in the field, it's been awhile since I saw it.

From yesterday
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8402/8712185418_6810c337fd_b.jpg

We have two here in Jax and they are about as suburban as you can get.The building design or the location?

Quote Originally Posted by Just the facts View Post

We have two here in Jax and they are about as suburban as you can get.

The building design or the location?

Both. The one on the northside is located in a sprawling shopping center and the one on the southside is located on a corner lot but it can't even be seen from the corner due to thick landscaping. Both are surrounded by vast surface parking lots, which are adjacent to even more vast parking lots.

Both. The one on the northside is located in a sprawling shopping center and the one on the southside is located on a corner lot but it can't even be seen from the corner due to thick landscaping. Both are surrounded by vast surface parking lots, which are adjacent to even more vast parking lots.Wow, that sucks

Both. The one on the northside is located in a sprawling shopping center and the one on the southside is located on a corner lot but it can't even be seen from the corner due to thick landscaping. Both are surrounded by vast surface parking lots, which are adjacent to even more vast parking lots.

We stayed at an Aloft in suburban Denver. It was in some sort of half finished "new town" type development. Mind you this was in 2010, so it was probably snake bitten by the real estate crash. It was very surreal, actually.

This will be a welcome change in that area, but I hope residents of DD don't mind Aloft's overly bright light scheme.

Thanks for the update. This summer I will be in OKC visiting and taking ALOT of pictures as well. Also the 809 sports grill sounds awesome will have to check that out when I'm up there. :-)

It looks so good on the horizon when you're in Bricktown.

Fouind some neat pics at the Aloft facebook page.

These are old actually (from February). But I hadn't seen them before -- I think they're pretty interesting.

https://fbcdn-sphotos-h-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/270854_241332362668023_1580862202_n.jpg

https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/66434_241332372668022_592507624_n.jpg

https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/184728_241335769334349_721874845_n.jpg


View from 2nd floor of the Presidential Suite

https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/563463_255365174598075_193855379_o.jpg


Panoramic view from the future Outdoor Rooftop Bar & Lounge

https://fbcdn-sphotos-g-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-frc1/859151_258868427581083_1177560595_o.jpg

Curious that in the last shot, Devon Tower is hidden. Not too many places downtown where that's the case.

Source: https://www.facebook.com/AloftOKC

Must be in the exact perfect place to mask the tower. Even more reason to get the mystery tower cranking.

Must be in the exact perfect place to mask the tower. Even more reason to get the mystery tower cranking.

I swear I said the same exact thing earlier in this thread. Must have said it in another...

wow, hard to imagine any tower big enough to mast Devon while still having a full skyline view, but I guess Chase is just enough from that angle and distance.