http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/aloftwiki1.jpg
Information & Latest News
128 NE 2nd (http://goo.gl/maps/2Hyhc)
status=opened April 17, 2014
owner=Jim Thompson
cost=$18,000,000
architect=TAP Architecture (http://www.taparchitecture.com/)
start=2011
finish=2014
height=7 story; 85 feet
sq. feet=118,200
130 suites, 3 restaurants, 12,000 sf street-level retail + coffee shop

5/27/11: $16 million Building Permit Issued: BLDC-2011-03047
6/7/10: $18 million Aloft hotel planned for Deep Deuce (http://newsok.com/18-million-aloft-hotel-planned-for-oklahoma-citys-deep-deuce/article/3469112?custom_click=pod_headline_business)
Tenants

WXYZ Bar
Aloft Dining
Coffee Shop
Sundries Shop
Restaurant for lease

Links
Downtown Hotel Summary
Urban Project Summary
County Assessor Record (http://www.oklahomacounty.org/assessor/Searches/AN-R.asp?ACCOUNTNO=R020024650)
Gallery

Anyone notice a trend.


At a glance
New Century Properties:

• Hilton Garden Inn, Northwest Expressway and May Avenue (set to open in August).

• 809 Sports Grill, Northwest Expressway and May Avenue (set to open in August).

• Avanti Bar & Grill, Memorial Road and May Avenue (opened 2009).

• Courtyard Marriott Hotel, Memorial Road and May Avenue (opened 2008).

• La Quinta Inn and Suites Quail Springs, Memorial Road and May Avenue (opened 2004).

• Holiday Inn Express, Northwest Expressway and May Avenue (opened 1999).

Read more: $18 million Aloft hotel planned for Oklahoma City's Deep Deuce | NewsOK.com (http://www.newsok.com/developer-has-lofty-plans-for-new-hotel-in-deep-deuce/article/3469112?custom_click=lead_story_title#ixzz0r6yvvPq c)

...and this new hotel is going to be in Maywood Park

Notice how it has 12,000 sq feet of retail and is being located right next to where people live. Retail in Bricktown needs to pay attention.

Before I jump around all crazy like in excitement, is this legit?

For the price-point, Aloft is way cool. I always try and stay in one when I travel.

Much cooler looking than the standard cookie cutter shoebox hotel as well. Sweet!

I bet this completely kills any chance of the Embassy over in the OMRF area.

Before I jump around all crazy like in excitement, is this legit?

For the price-point, Aloft is way cool. I always try and stay in one when I travel.

The only thing that gives me hope this will actually be built is that the same company is the developer, owner, and operator.

Before I jump around all crazy like in excitement, is this legit?

For the price-point, Aloft is way cool. I always try and stay in one when I travel. Why would it not be legit?

Why would it not be legit?

Maybe I should rephrase: I hope this project has legs and is more than just a pretty picture and press release.

Why would it not be legit?

If just a 1/3 of the hotels announced for the downtown area had been built downtown OKC would have more hotels than you can shake a stick at.

If just a 1/3 of the hotels announced for the downtown area had been built downtown OKC would have more hotels than you can shake a stick at. I have faith that this one will be built. Looking at the developers reputation and his current/past hotel developments, he seems quite "legit". In addition, the VP of development for Starwood Hotels was on hand so I don't feel he would be wasting his valuable time coming to OKC if he did not think it was not a viable development. The only thing that I could forsee it not being a done deal if economic conditions change drastically for the worse, or financing does not come through for the project. Again, I feel quite confident it is a done deal!

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/misc/aloft.jpg

Cuatrode, I have every reason to believe this is legit. For what it's worth, the Holiday Inn project was also very legit - but in that case the project lost its financing with the crash whereas this is a developer who is continuing to get financing after the crash. The Candlewood Inn had and still has financing - but some questionable judgment was used in site selection that appears to have doomed that project. I've tried to limit reporting to projects that appear to be legit. There are three or four other deals out there possible and I'm waiting to see if they are real.

Is there a magical number of total rooms in the OKC area that OKC can have before it becomes oversaturated?

I just hope it gets built as proposed. Hopefully, the proposal wasn't just the typical concept submitted to get OCURA approval, only to be built however they want because developers seem to know OCURA has no authority, or at least won't excercise it.

It will be interesting to see how retail pans out up there and how connected they can make it to bricktown. 12,000 isn't a whole lot of space, but good enough for a few nice boutiques, which is what they say they are going for. It will be interesting to see if Maywood ends up getting finished out with more of a mixed use strategy than what was originally proposed. If so, maybe one day those brownstones will actually be worth their asking price.... ok, maybe not. : )

I am super excited at the prospect of this great brand of hotel brininging its unique flavor to Deep Duce and its positive effect that will go a long way in supporting the developments taking place there as well as supporting bricktown!

I hope that the exterior materials are brick, metal and stone rather than EIFS. I am always dubious of designs that show a great deal of beige in the design renderings because they all too often get value engineered to be the cheapest exterior system and all to often it is EIFS or one of its evil twin systems. I wouldn't mind if there was some of it at higher levels in areas where guests and patrons could not touch or interact with it. Anywhere where they can should be more substantial and tactile material. Gives the building a feeling of permanence and quality rather than throwaway cheap and dirty construction and design.

I have very high hopes for this and like the massing and attention to the forms of the building. Should fit nicely on that corner adjacent to the Bridge. This is awesome!

Thats awesome! I stayed at an Aloft when I went to Denver last month. It was like staying inside an IKEA store. Its good to see the Deep Deuce/Maywood park area finally fill in.

One question though. Is the illustration shown the approved design of the hotel? And if not, whats its chances of getting approved without any major alterations from the review board?

Saw this in today's DO. This "brand" of hotel would be a great fit for BT and the Downtown area. This would add to the urban density and experience since they will be building on land that has a "partial" surface lot! This will raise the bar for hotel accomodations. Their sister hotels are known as the "W" Hotel another upscale hotel with the closest one being in Downtown Dallas.




$18 million Aloft hotel planned for Oklahoma City's Deep Deuce | NewsOK.com (http://www.newsok.com/18-million-aloft-hotel-planned-for-oklahoma-citys-deep-deuce/article/3469112?custom_click=pod_headline_business)

Nice. This news definitely brightens my stressful day. Deep Deuce will be a nice location too. Glad to see this brand finally enter OKC.

This will happen. Anybody that knows Jim Thompson knows that whatever the guy sets his mind to happens. Super nice guy and is a great architect by the way. Jim is no spring chicken but you wouldn't know it by his work pace, attitude, etc. As a young man he designed and built the first high-rise on Northwest Expressway years ago with the old "Executive Terrace" building. He nursed it along for years and years. It was quite the "thing" at the time with balconies for every office and a snack bar in the lobby, it was pretty special. He tore his baby down to build the Hilton Garden Inn next to his Holiday Inn Express. BTW, Jim is also a novelist and a damn good one at that! He never had the literary succerss as the "other" Jim Thompson, but he's actually very good. I'm glad to see him bring the ALOFT brand to OKC. I can't help but wish nothing but the best of luck to Jim in his latest endeavour.

Is there a magical number of total rooms in the OKC area that OKC can have before it becomes oversaturated?

I can say for certain that there is need for hotels downtown... last month was one of the best months for hotels downtown EVER.

Just last night last night EVERY hotel downtown was sold out... tonight as well... oh and Friday too (nearly).

It's become a challenge to find a downtown room on Tuesday, Wednesdays, and Thursdays lately.... and that is mainly regular business travel.

Based on how well the Hampton Inn has done in Bricktown, I'm sure there is plenty of capacity for this place.

This is great news! Also adds something a little more stylish and trendy to the area which is needed.

You gotta love that, difficulty in room availability is the kind of indicator that there is much more demand and a market for additional quality hotels in the Downtown area! Good Times!

Cuatrode, I have every reason to believe this is legit. For what it's worth, the Holiday Inn project was also very legit - but in that case the project lost its financing with the crash whereas this is a developer who is continuing to get financing after the crash. The Candlewood Inn had and still has financing - but some questionable judgment was used in site selection that appears to have doomed that project. I've tried to limit reporting to projects that appear to be legit. There are three or four other deals out there possible and I'm waiting to see if they are real.

I'm thrilled then. I'm a big fan of Aloft. And if it gets built somewhat like the rendering, I'll be doublely thrilled. It's quite attractive.

That's a good looking project

I didn't realize how tight the Hotel space was downtown. Thats great news. Hopefully we will see some more development in that regard.

This is awesome! I love aloft hotels! I have stayed at many different ones, and they are all nice and trendy. The bar area is really cool in most of them. It will be nice to have a different type of nightlife in DD.

This will happen. Anybody that knows Jim Thompson knows that whatever the guy sets his mind to happens. Super nice guy and is a great architect by the way. Jim is no spring chicken but you wouldn't know it by his work pace, attitude, etc. As a young man he designed and built the first high-rise on Northwest Expressway years ago with the old "Executive Terrace" building. He nursed it along for years and years. It was quite the "thing" at the time with balconies for every office and a snack bar in the lobby, it was pretty special. He tore his baby down to build the Hilton Garden Inn next to his Holiday Inn Express. BTW, Jim is also a novelist and a damn good one at that! He never had the literary succerss as the "other" Jim Thompson, but he's actually very good. I'm glad to see him bring the ALOFT brand to OKC. I can't help but wish nothing but the best of luck to Jim in his latest endeavour.

Sounds like a reputable man. Glad he has a track record. My only question to him would be why he designed those two hotels on the old Executive Terrace building side by side the way he did, it's very odd. Would have made more sense to build a midrise with the combined level of floors of the two different hotels. Would have been nicer for OKC at least.

Considering the U.S. economy as a whole, the attractions and building prospects for Oklahoma City looks good!

Many of these hotel firms are looks at what the Marriott is doing in OKC and they want to be apart of this up and coming city. There is room for diversity. This is a good move for OKC!

Would be nice if they had a roof-top (or at least upper level) bar, as it could be a great gathering place with a fantastic view of downtown.

At least OKC's Aloft hotel is going to be built downtown. Tulsa's was built at 71st and Hwy 169. . . a long ways from downtown :(

I'm not gonna grip.... but I did always like the Finley Building.

Why would it not be legit?

Have you been welcomed to Oklahoma City yet? :tiphat:

I didn't realize how tight the Hotel space was downtown. Thats great news. Hopefully we will see some more development in that regard.

OKC has actually lost out on an amazing amount of big deals because of the dearth of hotels available downtown. It's almost become synonymous with OKC in the convention industry.

Would be nice if they had a roof-top (or at least upper level) bar, as it could be a great gathering place with a fantastic view of downtown.

Absolutely

That hotel will have awesome views on all four sides.

Projected opening date is ???

This Aloft and the Maywood Lofts just on the northwest side of the street should compliment each other nicely.

I am super excited about this. NE 2nd, when that huge grass lot on the northside is developed, should turn out to be a great street for the Deep Deuce, Maywood Area. I love how this development is right on the entrance into DD/MP and Btown.

Before I jump around all crazy like in excitement, is this legit?

I would say so. This guy gets it done. And I'm impressed that even in the restaurant-heavy Memorial corridor, he put a full-service restaurant in a Courtyard by Marriott! The downtown Courtyard doesn't even have one. I kind of scoffed at the idea at first, but he's actually got live music at Avanti--this week he's advertising Edgar Cruz.

I'm sure the Sandridge apologists will cry fowl that no one is fighting the demolition of the Finley Bldg, but I'll just remind them that this is taking a somewhat historic but dilapidated building and replacing it with something extremely urban. That's the difference.


I didn't realize how tight the Hotel space was downtown. Thats great news.

Yeah, I'll get calls for reservations and tell people we're sold out and they (especially the Texans) are always like "what in the world is going on in OKC!?" I tell them it's just business as usual. Suck it, Texas.
:ou2

I'm not aware of any reason why the Finley Bldg is important other than its name. It's facade certainly does not fit in a style of historic architecture. I'm pretty sure it's post war.

I'm not aware of any reason why the Finley Bldg is important other than its name. It's facade certainly does not fit in a style of historic architecture. I'm pretty sure it's post war.

It was built in the 1950s, but I don't care if it was built in the 1850s as long as it is being replaced with something more structurally significant. This is what the Sandridge apologists don't seem to understand.

Well the fact that it was G.E. Finley's office/hospital during segregation.

Is there a magical number of total rooms in the OKC area that OKC can have before it becomes oversaturated?

I wouldn't say that there is a magical number for oversaturation.

We are not quite a Tier II Convention City; therefore, the preliminary feasibility marketing does indicate that OKC could use a lot more hotel rooms which would allow us to host a variety of larger conventions.

I wouldn't think that this would be a concern right now.

We have been passed over because of the lack of adequate hotels rooms.

As I said in the other thread, great news. If I were a Deep Deuce resident, I would like it if a small grocery/amenity shop opened up on the ground floor of this. Similar to what you see in New York City, where they have a small section of "necessity food" (eggs, milk, bread, fruit, veggies, etc.) and a small amenities section (TP, toothpaste, medicine, etc.) Wouldn't have to be big, but I think would be nice so you could walk to the store for what you need, and maybe just have to drive to a wal-mart once a week or once every two-weeks for your variety type items. Just a thought.

Not to mention, hotel traffic sometimes needs to go to the store for basic stuff too, besides the overpriced hotel "store".

I think this looks like an awesome project. Nothing like having choices for those romantic downtown getaway weekends.

Anyone notice a trend.


At a glance
New Century Properties:

• Hilton Garden Inn, Northwest Expressway and May Avenue (set to open in August).

• 809 Sports Grill, Northwest Expressway and May Avenue (set to open in August).

• Avanti Bar & Grill, Memorial Road and May Avenue (opened 2009).

• Courtyard Marriott Hotel, Memorial Road and May Avenue (opened 2008).

• La Quinta Inn and Suites Quail Springs, Memorial Road and May Avenue (opened 2004).

• Holiday Inn Express, Northwest Expressway and May Avenue (opened 1999).

Read more: $18 million Aloft hotel planned for Oklahoma City's Deep Deuce | NewsOK.com

...and this new hotel is going to be in Maywood Park
We have told my wife that May Avenue is the center of the known universe.

Maywood is not on May Avenue.

But it has May in the name.

Come to think of it I'm very surprised that there isn't a Maywood neighborhood. May goes through (every)wood neighborhood imaginable..Linwood, Crestwood, Gatewood, etc. There are also hoods named after May..like Mayfair.

As I said in the other thread, great news. If I were a Deep Deuce resident, I would like it if a small grocery/amenity shop opened up on the ground floor of this. Similar to what you see in New York City, where they have a small section of "necessity food" (eggs, milk, bread, fruit, veggies, etc.) and a small amenities section (TP, toothpaste, medicine, etc.) Wouldn't have to be big, but I think would be nice so you could walk to the store for what you need, and maybe just have to drive to a wal-mart once a week or once every two-weeks for your variety type items. Just a thought.

Not to mention, hotel traffic sometimes needs to go to the store for basic stuff too, besides the overpriced hotel "store".

You mean like "The Store" in Bricktown which is also within walking distance from Deep Deuce apartments?

Never heard of it? Shows how much I am in downtown anymore.

This is wonderful news! I really like the look of the rendering. Very cool for that part of town. Undoubtedly this will make the unsold Maywood Park units more attractive, as there will be walkable dining and mixed use in the area and more density. Smart design!

Would be nice if they had a roof-top (or at least upper level) bar, as it could be a great gathering place with a fantastic view of downtown.

Pete, I'm wondering what the glassed in portions on the top level are. (Link back to picture (http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/misc/aloft.jpg)) Maybe some kind of rooftop/top level restaurant? Awesome views if that's the case. Most Aloft bars are basically, as weird as this sounds, in the lobby. I posted about this back in July of last year. I guess it's one of those "Ask and it shall be granted," (http://www.okctalk.com/238166-post6.html) kind of deals. My Magic Lamp wish is used up for the year. I'm really happy about this and SO glad it's Jim Thompson doing it. He does things right.

I think the upper floor appears to be suites.

The Journal Record article mentioned that the top floor is for meeting rooms. A bar/restaurant up there would be cool though.

The JR article also had a great quote from Ron Bradshaw saying this development should allow them to build more lower-cost residential in Maywood Park.

Can we see the JR article as well? I typically don't read them anymore..

As for meeting rooms, yeah. Forgot it was a full-service hotel. The meeting room square footage looks pretty significant, at least more than the ample boutique retail on the street level.

Any plot plans/maps as to it's exact footprint and location...err at least location?

One thing not mentioned in the NewsOK article is that there will be a sidewalk café in the front. That's very cool.....very urban. I read that here. (http://okc.biz/article/06-17-2010/aLoft_hotel_proposed_for_Oklahoma_City_area.aspx)

Very cool! I love sidewalk cafes. When you consider that, with their weather, cities like New York and Chicago have them all over, there's no reason we can't as well. This is going to be a great addition to the neighborhood. And I'd wondered/worried where the parking would be. I'm happy to read that it would be on the back of the hotel, so thanks for posting the above article.

awesome points, betts

Really happy to hear that the detox center is going away, and am also really happy to hear that an under-utilized area of downtown is going to see some new quality development.

This is a very exciting development ... couldn't have come at a better time.

Thanks for posting the graphic, Pete ...

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/misc/aloft.jpg

I hope that the final version is that or better. I do see in the OkcBiz.com article (http://www.okc.biz/article/06-17-2010/aLoft_hotel_proposed_for_Oklahoma_City_area.aspx) that MikeOkc linked, however, these statements:


Still in the design stage, Thompson says the proposed $18 million project comprises a seven-story, 130-room hotel featuring three restaurants (one operated by the owner and the other two to be leased out) and approximately 12,000 square feet of boutique retail space on the hotel’s first floor. Hotel rooms will be on floors two through six. Amenities will include meeting and banquet space on the top floor and an outdoor swimming pool with a hot tub/sauna area, as well as a “WXYZ” bar. The facility will also feature 220 parking spaces toward the back in order to place café sidewalk dining at the front of the hotel.

Although Thompson drew up original conceptual façade drawings for the project, ArcTech Inc. of Tulsa has been charged with its design.

Construction on the project could start as early as next March
I see that Emporis.com (http://www.emporis.com/application/?nav=building&lng=3&id=1178790) already list the building but with no particular detail except a map showing location as yet.