Why does the fire station still have a rendering display?

Lazy contractor forgot to take it down...

Hmm. It would make a cool quirky bedpost...I wonder if I could buy it for cheap

Hmm. It would make a cool quirky bedpost...I wonder if I could buy it for cheap

I like the way you think.

I think it only costs a saw and a pickup truck.

My try at a panoramic image today. (http://oi41.tinypic.com/2howoiu.jpg)

My try at a panoramic image today. (http://oi41.tinypic.com/2howoiu.jpg)

Great shot!

oops, full size image here (http://oi41.tinypic.com/2howoiu.jpg)

Nice! Thanks.

oops, full size image here (http://oi41.tinypic.com/2howoiu.jpg)

http://i41.tinypic.com/2howoiu.jpg

Shots I took today:

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7394/9235855720_775f5d6a80_b.jpg
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7397/9233079717_d25aed53a8_b.jpg
Working hard today to finish those bricks
http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3788/9233124857_4f04cd163c_h.jpg

I had never noticed until seeing your last picture how much it mimics the Hampton Inn.

From a distance it almost looks like the second phase of one big complex.

Working hard today to finish those bricks
http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3788/9233124857_4f04cd163c_h.jpg


I had never noticed until seeing your last picture how much it mimics the Hampton Inn.

Yep, they're like twins, except baby bro has a height advantage...

Bland, phase 2. While I appreciate the development, these are two very, very ordinary buildings with virtually no character or distinction. Yes they use brick, but in a most elementary way. It would fit in nicely in any area featuring nondescript manufacturing or warehouse buildings. If that is the effect they were going for, they are very good at it.

I had never noticed until seeing your last picture how much it mimics the Hampton Inn.

I agree, they should have went with a different design, to add some diversity and character to the area, but oh well, its nothing special to me, just a larger version of the Hampton Inn.

Bland, phase 2. While I appreciate the development, these are two very, very ordinary buildings with virtually no character or distinction. Yes they use brick, but in a most elementary way. It would fit in nicely in any area featuring nondescript manufacturing or warehouse buildings. If that is the effect they were going for, they are very good at it.

Well, they're in a warehouse district so I'm guessing that's what they were going for. But I do wish that the two designs weren't so similar.

...It would fit in nicely in any area featuring nondescript manufacturing or warehouse buildings. If that is the effect they were going for, they are very good at it.
I think that is precisely what they were aspiring to. It is a very literal interpretation of Bricktown design ordinances that encourage mimicry of the historic warehouse construction elsewhere in the district. I personally think there could be more pushing of that envelope, while still remaining sensitive to the surrounding neighborhood. The Holiday Inn Express takes some steps in that direction. I know the Karchmer-proposed garage/housing on Main lot is reviled by rail advocates on here, but from purely a design standpoint it is/was an even more bold attempt at a modern take on Bricktown's brick warehouse design ethic.

Ill need to see it again in person because I haven't seen it in a while, but I'm okay with the look from the pictures. Looks like a phase 2 to a two part development. Similar to what is seen in other cities. Will need to see in person though.

Isn't there going to be a multi-story hotel caddy-corner to it in a couple years?

Isn't there going to be a multi-story hotel caddy-corner to it in a couple years?

Supposed to be about 8 floors.

Sheridan Ave will be quite a corridor in the coming years. With the East bricktown project, these hotels, north bricktown, myriad gardens, Devon, the mystery tower, and the Elementary School....

It's hard to tell the difference in these pictures, I do like the actual brick on this one better. It has a richer, more authentic look to it. It's a very slight difference and it's certainly not enough to set it off from the Hampton, possibly even makes them clash a bit, but if I had to choose a "winner" of these, I'd pick this one.

Hilton Garden Inn & Homewood Suites (July 5 2013) - a set on Flickr (http://www.flickr.com/photos/williamhider/sets/72157634555191061/)

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3743/9243692533_4589ce7726_b.jpg

http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2869/9243689979_07ee3c42bc_b.jpg

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3771/9246471860_f58c24b2de_b.jpg

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3698/9246468534_2355c0d8d7_b.jpg

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3754/9243681663_138d29ffcd_b.jpg

http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5347/9243677811_37ab82ca9a_b.jpg

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3811/9243668591_1cfa112cb1_b.jpg

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3714/9246444506_2cbb8ed333_b.jpg

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7390/9246442780_07c0ded38f_b.jpg

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7376/9243656869_51750fbbcf_b.jpg

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7306/9255571384_65a43e008c_h.jpg

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7382/9252789301_81d28ebf19_b.jpg

http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5517/9252791741_1b3fb5ec4a_h.jpg

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7397/9255574046_18eef51cd7_o.jpg

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3696/9255574494_80c9854893_o.jpg

Hilton Garden Inn & Homewood Suites (July 8 2013) - a set on Flickr (http://www.flickr.com/photos/williamhider/sets/72157634593167323/)

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7306/9264504476_60f859a1c6_b.jpg

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3759/9264483470_e49f526c27_b.jpg

http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5502/9264477512_c1a9582e85_b.jpg

http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2875/9264476462_89a4281b74_b.jpg

http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2836/9261700493_45d1f388d0_b.jpg

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7418/9261693959_45d124edd2_b.jpg

http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2809/9264467138_e8e24a2138_b.jpg

http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2826/9261688669_7044c6de8d_b.jpg

http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2887/9264462432_c392914c09_b.jpg

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3710/9264451766_0b2ee68d8d_b.jpg

http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5511/9261671339_953dd49954_b.jpg

http://youtu.be/FK5D21i_yIQ

Well, I was initially afraid that this and the Hampton Inn would look too similar. And that proved to be right. The difference was when the brick got cleaned up and now it looks exactly the same as its neighbor. I had thought a different coloration was being used or maybe some rustication etc...

http://youtu.be/qDgXVKEBPEE

Hilton Garden Inn & Homewood Suites (July 8 2013) - YouTube (http://youtu.be/qDgXVKEBPEE)

I had never noticed until seeing your last picture how much it mimics the Hampton Inn.

With advent of 3D printing technology and how much the price has dropped the City should do a scale model of downtown OKC and downtown adjacent neighborhoods and then everyone wanting to build something should have to provide a model in that scale so we can get an idea of what the final product will look like (or we can get the guy from Russia to do it in paper for us).

MPZya4L2NjE

From today:

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/homewood71913.jpg

This has turned out well. I do wish these two hotels didn't have such similar layouts, but this new one looks nice. I hope it does well.

This has turned out well. I do wish these two hotels didn't have such similar layouts, but this new one looks nice. I hope it does well.

Agreed. My only fear with this is that someone coming from out of town to visit will mistakenly think they are the same hotel.

Agreed. My only fear with this is that someone coming from out of town to visit will mistakenly think they are the same hotel.

I can see that happening. I think I would have preferred if this new hotel had been pushed to the street with the L going south toward the ballpark instead of north, but I don't know that would've worked for valet and dropoff and such. But it is what it is at this point.

I would actually like this hotel more if they just named it Hampton Inn 2 or just attached it to the Hampton Inn and pushed it to the street. It's nice for what it is though, it will also compliment the skyline well.

http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2809/9274582910_554a89ae35_b.jpg

http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2853/9274636328_9b9e224fc2_b.jpg

From today:

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/homewood71913.jpg

What is going to be in the street frontage space closest to the Hampton? Is it just general retail space?

What is going to be in the street frontage space closest to the Hampton? Is it just general retail space?

Conference/meeting rooms.

Sign is up! (Photo credit Downtown Development on Twitter):

http://www.okctalk.com/images/wikiphotos/gardeninn72513.jpg

From Today 9/5/2013

http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5510/9681415001_a22c57f1a8_c.jpg

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7414/9681413177_2854a6e797_c.jpg

http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2811/9681410749_0c67159678_c.jpg

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7304/9684647364_9e48d576b1_c.jpg

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3813/9684644472_2f7a6cdb6b_c.jpg

its baffling how fast this project moved. especially compared to aloft

its baffling how fast this project moved. especially compared to aloft

Again, considering these floors are poured on site concrete vs. Aloft with prefabricated concrete sections provided by a company that went bankrupt and probably had to have another similar company make new prefab concrete pieces.

its baffling how fast this project moved. especially compared to aloft

And how relatively little fanfare it has received, considering its scope.

It's been overshadowed by so many projects, especially with the Mystery Tower at the height of speculation during almost the entire construction process.

Hilton Garden Inn & Homewood Suites (September 16 2013) - a set on Flickr (http://www.flickr.com/photos/williamhider/sets/72157635589882151/)

Thanks Will.

From today:

https://scontent-b-dfw.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn2/1477952_10151725087511761_2136845791_n.jpg

And how relatively little fanfare it has received, considering its scope.

It's been overshadowed by so many projects, especially with the Mystery Tower at the height of speculation during almost the entire construction process.

Really, that's how it has been for most Bricktown projects on this board over the past few years. The few projects that have received much attention have been mostly because of controversy, at least initially (Rock Island Plow, Karchmer garage by train tracks, House of Bedlam). Even board darling Skinny Slim's started out here with as much controversy as fanfare. The massive housing on Sheridan has gotten far less play here than other housing projects, the project in the Mideke Building has been mentioned mostly in passing (it would have been a show-stopper a few years ago and is larger than a number of more-talked-about smallish housing projects in other parts of town). A number of businesses have opened with barely a mention on here while similar businesses in other parts of town get dedicated (and heavily interacted-with) threads.

The district is no longer as uber-trendy or attention-consuming as it once was to downtown fanboys (and girls). And I count myself among the downtown fanboys group for sure; I'm not using it as a derogatory term. But Bricktown for better or worse isn't under the hot spotlight it once was, and the incredible progress in some other districts is (understandably) drawing that attention.

Personally, I think that the lack of primary focus is good for the district. It is not under as much pressure for everything to be BIG, and I think that allows for more organic growth. It also allows for members of the public to re-engage after being absent from the district for a time and be surprised at some of the neat things they come across, rather than feeling a constant state of frustration at the seeming lack of progress they saw when the district was the ONLY thing to pay attention to. I talk to a number of returning people who for whatever reason haven't been in the district and are pleased to find new buildings and new businesses that they didn't even know about.

Personally, I am pleased with a lot of the progress I see, both real and expected (and rumored).

It seems that the district spent a lot of years noisily accomplishing very little, and today it is quietly accomplishing quite a bit. I'm good with that.

The Rock Island Plow building and subsequent project had received a lot of attention here, as did this project when it was first announced and then under construction.

Human nature is such that everyone is always looking for what's next, especially when it comes to commercial development.

I agree with that. And still maintain that the spotlight has shifted. And also maintain that is in many ways actually a good/healthy thing for Bricktown.

Really, that's how it has been for most Bricktown projects on this board over the past few years. The few projects that have received much attention have been mostly because of controversy, at least initially (Rock Island Plow, Karchmer garage by train tracks, House of Bedlam). Even board darling Skinny Slim's started out here with as much controversy as fanfare. The massive housing on Sheridan has gotten far less play here than other housing projects, the project in the Mideke Building has been mentioned mostly in passing (it would have been a show-stopper a few years ago and is larger than a number of more-talked-about smallish housing projects in other parts of town). A number of businesses have opened with barely a mention on here while similar businesses in other parts of town get dedicated (and heavily interacted-with) threads.

The district is no longer as uber-trendy or attention-consuming as it once was to downtown fanboys (and girls). And I count myself among the downtown fanboys group for sure; I'm not using it as a derogatory term. But Bricktown for better or worse isn't under the hot spotlight it once was, and the incredible progress in some other districts is (understandably) drawing that attention.

Personally, I think that the lack of primary focus is good for the district. It is not under as much pressure for everything to be BIG, and I think that allows for more organic growth. It also allows for members of the public to re-engage after being absent from the district for a time and be surprised at some of the neat things they come across, rather than feeling a constant state of frustration at the seeming lack of progress they saw when the district was the ONLY thing to pay attention to. I talk to a number of returning people who for whatever reason haven't been in the district and are pleased to find new buildings and new businesses that they didn't even know about.

Personally, I am pleased with a lot of the progress I see, both real and expected (and rumored).

It seems that the district spent a lot of years noisily accomplishing very little, and today it is quietly accomplishing quite a bit. I'm good with that.

I'd like to see Bricktown do a better job of marketing itself. Perhaps the new staff addition from DTOKC.inc will help with this?

I believe they will. I am personally very supportive of that change to the district's structure.

As to the Steelyard: I think it receives less fanfare not because of where it is, but how little it brings to the district relative to what other major projects bring to their districts. With it being so close to DD, the housing isn't some major boon to the area as the Metropolitan is, 10th/Shartel, or even The Edge. The non-residential elements…well, Bricktown is already a successful entertainment district, so it's not so exciting that the area is going to have more space for such projects.

Also, there are projects all over downtown that are starting with controversy first. Many were worried The Edge could end up like Legacy and even recently the retail portion was put under scrutiny for not being done quite right, many were displeased with Maywood Apts. Phase I, and the Mystery Tower has enjoyed plenty of bashing over the last half year.

On the flip-side, most have been overwhelmingly positive about the Holiday Inn Express on Main, even backing up the development when it came under design scrutiny. And while it has received little fanfare, the response to the Steelyard has been almost entirely positive.

Again, I don't disagree with any of that.

Pics that were posted to Facebook on Monday by someone who got a tour...

510651075108510951105111

Pics that were posted to Facebook on Monday by someone who got a tour...

510651075108510951105111
Enlarged it for you:

http://www.okctalk.com/attachments/development-buildings/5106d1385450127-hilton-garden-inn-1456686_793256936607_1724497901_n.jpg

http://www.okctalk.com/attachments/development-buildings/5107d1385450127-hilton-garden-inn-1467476_793256881717_1221489383_n.jpg

http://www.okctalk.com/attachments/development-buildings/5108d1385450128-hilton-garden-inn-1471097_793256741997_421668481_n.jpg

http://www.okctalk.com/attachments/development-buildings/5109d1385450128-hilton-garden-inn-1459136_793256697087_1201135679_n.jpg

http://www.okctalk.com/attachments/development-buildings/5110d1385450128-hilton-garden-inn-1461453_793256657167_424057312_n.jpg

http://www.okctalk.com/attachments/development-buildings/5111d1385450129-hilton-garden-inn-1471994_793256632217_1835082789_n.jpg

BTW, I still think this not having balconies was a huge fail and opportunity wasted. There was a chance to truly create a special scene here with a nice feature for the guest to have an option to relax and watch the ballgame at the comfort of their own hotel room and now it won't ever happen. I'm sure they have a pretty good reason though; they always seem to.

BTW, I still think this not having balconies was a huge fail and opportunity wasted. There was a chance to truly create a special scene here with a nice feature for the guest to have an option to relax and watch the ballgame at the comfort of their own hotel room and now it won't ever happen. I'm sure they have a pretty good reason though; they always seem to.

Agreed.

Money is the only reason I can think of. Of course, money is also a pretty good reason...

Money is the only reason I can think of. Of course, money is also a pretty good reason...

And or drunk people falling over.

And or drunk people falling over.

Which comes down to money. :) I'd be willing to bet it's an insurance-related cost that weighs heavily on the ROI calculations before doing such a development.

So in other terms, it's just them being cheap. I'm sure other cities have it in one form or another.