I saw Midwest Wrecking trucks there 10 days ago. I believe everything is on track.

I'll be concerned if you say the same thing 2 or 3 weeks from now.

I'd put it out just slightly longer than that, so still no reason for concern.

I'd put it out just slightly longer than that, so still no reason for concern.

What information would you have that makes you think that?

They have fence permits and stormwater quality land disturbance permits. Don't you all worry - it'll happen soon enough.


06/07/2012

FENC-2012-00361

Fence Permit

Hilton Garden Inn & Homewood Suites

Issued

328 E SHERIDAN AVE, OKLAHOMA CITY, OK 73104


05/21/2012

BLDC-2012-04213

Building - Commercial


In Review

328 E SHERIDAN AVE, OKLAHOMA CITY, OK 73104


05/18/2012

SWL-2012-00371

Storm Water Quality - Land Disturbing

HILTON INN HOMEWOODS SUITES

Issued 365 Days

328 E SHERIDAN AVE, OKLAHOMA CITY, OK 73104


04/30/2012

REVO-2012-00090

Revocable

Hilton Garden Inn

Issued

328 E SHERIDAN AVE, OKLAHOMA CITY, OK 73104"

I saw two surveyors at this site this morning. Hopefully things are beginning to ramp up.

July 5. Still no movement on this.

July 5. Still no movement on this.

Holy cow. Give it a rest. It'll happen soon enough.

July 5. Still no movement on this.

last i had heard was that we wouldn't see any real work here till middle or the end of august

Guys, they're waiting on utility relocation. This project is definitely a go.

last i had heard was that we wouldn't see any real work here till middle or the end of august

That is accurate.

They were unloading concrete barricades into the eastern-most lot this morning.

Looks like they are getting very close, as this one small design revision was submitted for next week's BT Design Review Committee meeting.



http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/homewood8312.jpg

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/homewood8312a.jpg

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/homewood8312b.jpg

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/homewood8312c.jpg

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/homewood8312d.jpg

Utility brick will have a more "immediately historic" look to it. I call that an improvement. This will look fantastic.

Hilton Brands will soon be dominating the downtown hotel market. Marriott, are you listening?

It will be a nice hotel option. I just wish they all would quit putting through the wall air conditioners in the projects downtown. Those are basically "motel" quality systems which are noisy inside the room and when multiple ones are running at the same time, especially like now when 80% of the units are likely to be on at the same time, it can be quite noisy at street level with all the condenser fans running. It is the franchiser's option and is usually the cheapest option they have. It also creates hundreds of holes in the building which can become problematic over the life of the building and cause leakage of both air and moisture. Condensate removal can also become an issue and if not maintained properly can create runs and stains on buildings. Again, this is just one of the mechanical issues that take a building from a sub-standard or minimally acceptable building to a quality sustaining structure.

Marriott has 3 brands downtown (Renaissance, Courtyard, Residence Inn), Hilton will have 4 brands (Hilton, Hamptin Inn, Hilton Garden Inn/Homewood Suites by Hilton).

Fairly even right now, but it would be nice for Marriott to build a true Marriott hotel downtown (and maybe a few of their off-brands) to stay ahead. Hilton might have 5 brands in the City core area if they build the Embassy Suites.

Personally, I think the shout out needs to go to Starwood, Intercontinental, and Hyatt. .....

Marriott has 3 brands downtown (Renaissance, Courtyard, Residence Inn), Hilton will have 4 brands (Hilton, Hamptin Inn, Hilton Garden Inn/Homewood Suites by Hilton).

Fairly even right now, but it would be nice for Marriott to build a true Marriott hotel downtown (and maybe a few of their off-brands) to stay ahead. Hilton might have 5 brands in the City core area if they build the Embassy Suites.

Personally, I think the shout out needs to go to Starwood, Intercontinental, and Hyatt. .....

I'm not opposed to any brand that wants to enter the market but I was thinking more in terms of a JW when I mentioned Marriott.

that would work! :)

Hilton/Marriott/Hyatt don't really look for places to build hotels. Its the developers and hotel franchise owners that pursue them to have a certain brand of hotel. They decide what kind of quality and services to provide.... not the hotel chains.

Is there another Hotel project in Bricktown? A couple months ago I was talking to Chris Johnson about a property he owns in Bricktown and he kept saying that two hotels were going to be built BT. What is the other hotel?

Is there another Hotel project in Bricktown? A couple months ago I was talking to Chris Johnson about a property he owns in Bricktown and he kept saying that two hotels were going to be built BT. What is the other hotel?

There are actually two different hotels within this project (see the thread title) and that's probably what he meant.

The House of Bedlam guy? Riiiiiiight....

The House of Bedlam guy? Riiiiiiight....

yessir

There are actually two different hotels within this project (see the thread title) and that's probably what he meant.

Oh, I didn't realize there were 2 different concepts together.

Hilton/Marriott/Hyatt don't really look for places to build hotels. Its the developers and hotel franchise owners that pursue them to have a certain brand of hotel. They decide what kind of quality and services to provide.... not the hotel chains.

True, but the hotel chains have to be willing to listen to the developers. It's not like a developer just calls up a hotel chain and says "I chose you". And the hotel chains absolutely have standards that have to be met in quality and services. That's not totally up to the developer.

There are actually two different hotels within this project (see the thread title) and that's probably what he meant.

Could also be talking about the Meinders/Gary Brooks project (East Bricktown Apartments and Hotel (http://www.okctalk.com/showwiki.php?title=East+Bricktown+Apartments+and+H otel))

Could also be talking about the Meinders/Gary Brooks project (East Bricktown Apartments and Hotel (http://www.okctalk.com/showwiki.php?title=East+Bricktown+Apartments+and+H otel))

That would also be my guess. This project and the hotel part of the East BT project (8 story?) will add quite a few rooms to the mix.

Let's back up just a moment. Ed, what did Chris Johnson tell you about Bricktown? I'm wondering if that marks the end of hope for the guys working with Johnson to try and bring his site to a higher and better use than a canal-front parking lot...

I'm hearing that construction could be starting on this project next week.

This, with the East Bricktown development, are really going to draw lots more people in that direction and make a big difference in the district.

I stayed in a Hilton Garden Inn a month ago in Katy, TX. The hotel was nice enough but the bed was as hard as a rock, it felt like a pillow top concrete slab. I found the dial adjustment for softness and was relieved for half of a second until I realized that it was already set to the softest setting. I hope they don't use those horrible mattresses in OKC.

I stayed in a Hilton Garden Inn a month ago in Katy, TX. The hotel was nice enough but the bed was as hard as a rock, it felt like a pillow top concrete slab. I found the dial adjustment for softness and was relieved for half of a second until I realized that it was already set to the softest setting. I hope they don't use those horrible mattresses in OKC.

MAPs 4 = softer mattresses.

MAPs 4 = softer mattresses.

Maps 4 Mattresses. Genius.

HGI is probably my least favorite of the Hilton collection. Basically a tiny step up from Hampton in room quality, but then you have to pay for breakfast and other things. Homewood Suites is among my favorite Hilton brand though - huge rooms, good free breakfast and usually comparable to Hampton in price; I've found quite a few that were actually cheaper than Hampton.

I'm hearing that construction could be starting on this project next week.

This, with the East Bricktown development, are really going to draw lots more people in that direction and make a big difference in the district.

I saw that they had brought in concrete jersey barriers last week, likely to protect the street when they begin the demolition and site prep, so I'm sure you're right on with the project starting very soon.

I saw that they had brought in concrete jersey barriers last week, likely to protect the street when they begin the demolition and site prep, so I'm sure you're right on with the project starting very soon.

Or are they just stocking up on mattresses?

I noticed that the streets around this site was blocked off today with orange traffic cones.

Yeah, They did that Thur. or Fri.. They also repainted the street in front of the cones. Construction must be starting this week... I sure hope so!!

Work is starting. The porta potties were arriving as I went by this morning. There were trucks all down the alley.

work is starting. The porta potties were arriving as i went by this morning. There were trucks all down the alley.

yes!!!!

If the CC gets relocated to this area (which is the rumor) then the addition of 3 new hotels at this intersection will be pure genius.

Looking forward to another crane on the skyline.

This will be the tallest building east of the RR tracks.

If the CC gets relocated to this area (which is the rumor) then the addition of 3 new hotels at this intersection will be pure genius.

Huh?

Check Steve's Friday QA transcipt. The rumor is the land cost for MBG site came in as too expensive so they are going back to option 2 and 3. It is just a rumor for now.

If the CC gets relocated to this area (which is the rumor) then the addition of 3 new hotels at this intersection will be pure genius.

if it gets moved at all .. i would bet a bunch that it goes east of the new park ...


more likely is that if the price of land is to much a land swap happens with the owners ..

Saw Flintco on site today, good deal!

I suppose they still need to demolish all the buildings on this site first?

I suppose they still need to demolish all the buildings on this site first?

Correct. Bricktown Motorworks, Shasta Enterprises and maybe The Mango Salsa Co.??

Correct. Bricktown Motorworks, Shasta Enterprises and maybe The Mango Salsa Co.??

everything east of the other hotel to the corner ..

Right. I was down there running this afternoon. The two buildings closest to the east are in bad shape.

Photos from today courtesy of Sid:



http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/bricktown1.jpg

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/bricktown2.jpg

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/bricktown3.jpg

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/bricktown4.jpg

the site prep is really coming along .. i would be the demo start very soon .

Photo from today's newsok.com... All these buildings will be demolished:

http://cdn2.newsok.biz/cache/r960-1f23c819de62905bfd417f6d765b3e2c.jpg

""Photo from today's newsok.com... All these buildings will be demolished""

...and replaced by an 11 story brick building. Nice trade.

noticed on my lunch break that demolition is well underway for the buildings at this site, looks like they only have one more to raze, good deal.

""Photo from today's newsok.com... All these buildings will be demolished""

...and replaced by an 11 story brick building. Nice trade.

Yup. How rare.

All those steel structures in the background will be replaced by taller buildings as well.

Yeah, someone should save this photo for reference in 5 years. May be even more dramatic than the East California before-after that we all know and love.

Yeah, someone should save this photo for reference in 5 years. May be even more dramatic than the East California before-after that we all know and love.

I'm not familiar with this...could you provide a link?

I'm not familiar with this...could you provide a link?

Probably referring to this:

http://photos.metrojacksonville.com/photos/739043397_GBXAA-M.jpg

This is cool too:

http://media.kansas.com/smedia/2010/06/04/14/060110bricktown_3.slideshow_main.prod_affiliate.80 .JPG

Who knows why the first link mentions Jacksonville, lol.

Probably referring to this:

http://photos.metrojacksonville.com/photos/739043397_GBXAA-M.jpg

This is cool too:

http://media.kansas.com/smedia/2010/06/04/14/060110bricktown_3.slideshow_main.prod_affiliate.80 .JPG

Who knows why the first link mentions Jacksonville, lol.

There was a story a few years back how Jacksonville was using OKC and Maps as a reference point to develop and rehabilitate their city. They used that picture and a current picture of the same street (California) to show how it progressed with city and private investments working together.

All 4 buildings are down now. They have been drilling into the ground and pouring concrete piers-at least that is what I think they are doing.

I sent pics from today to Pete, hopefully he'll post soon, they are making rapid progress.