So the old fire escape on the back will be completely taken out?

So the old fire escape on the back will be completely taken out?

Yes, and filled in as shown in the plans.

Is it the basement and then three levels?

Is it the basement and then three levels?

Yes.

This is going to be great. :)

Do we have any idea of a potential completion date for this project?

Yes.

IDK why, but when looking at the plans above, I was only seeing basement and floor one and two. Guess that 13 hours of sleep I got last night was too much, lol.

Wow, I love the floor plans of the upper levels. They look pretty spacious compared to everything else I have seen in the area. I would probably only be able to afford the efficiencies in the basement however. I would love to live in these since I work only a block away and I could probably just leave my car at the office and not have to worry about the lack of parking.

Did they contemplate restoring it as an actual hotel again?

Did they contemplate restoring it as an actual hotel again?

No, it's going to be 10 apartments.

Sweet. Everytime I am in Midtown, I see this building and think about what potential it has. So glad that its up for redevelopment. When is the work supposed to start?

Did they contemplate restoring it as an actual hotel again?

I doubt the financials would work on that.

Steve's update.

http://www.oklahoman.com/article/3907156?embargo=1


Architect David Kraszewski presented plans Thursday on its renovation into 10 upscale apartments to the Downtown Design Review Committee. Those plans were applauded and won unanimous approval.
“It's been dilapidated for decades,” Kraszewski said. “We're leaving the three facades visible. We'll bring it to pristine historical conditions, while inside we're leaving the grand stairway. We'll be taking it apart and putting it together. So the corridors and public space will be as it was in 1908.”

He said the building's fading white paint was not part of the original facade, but was added in the 1960s. He said the original facade will be restored, which will consist of red and beige brick.

Downtown Oklahoma City survivor getting new lease on life | NewsOK.com (http://m.newsok.com/downtown-oklahoma-city-survivor-getting-new-lease-on-life/article/3907156)
(Mobile)

Sweet. Everytime I am in Midtown, I see this building and think about what potential it has. So glad that its up for redevelopment. When is the work supposed to start?

The beginning of the year, according to this:

Apartments planned for Marion Hotel | The Journal Record (http://journalrecord.com/2013/11/18/mf-marion-real-estate/)



Construction will start at the first of the year on the renovation of the former Marion Hotel, which sits on NW 10th Street near N. Broadway Avenue in Oklahoma City.
Project Architect David Kraszewski said the building will be converted into 10 apartments.


(that snippet above is all I can read, as I don't have a subscription)

Pretty excited to see that construction barricades (10th St down to one lane east bound) went up early in the week and workers have been there everyday but Christmas. I would imagine this project would be the last to finish of the projects, but they seem to be hitting it hard. The other projects looked shutdown for the last few days due to the holidays but not this one. They must be eager to tackle some of the challenges of the Marion project.

It's a good thing that we're doing this and the garage project now before 10th Street is busy, because there are construction fences on both sides of the street. With "Midtown rising" I'd expect 10th Street to get very busy in the next few years.

I wonder if it's the same construction crew doing the garage across the street, in which case, it would've made sense to put them up at the same time.

It's a good thing that we're doing this and the garage project now before 10th Street is busy, because there are construction fences on both sides of the street. With "Midtown rising" I'd expect 10th Street to get very busy in the next few years.

I wonder if it's the same construction crew doing the garage across the street, in which case, it would've made sense to put them up at the same time.

Yes, the same construction company doing Marion, 123 Garage, 1100 and 1101 N Broadway.

Lingo?

Lingo?

Yep

I wonder why they won't open up the bricked up windows on the south side of the building.

When I see the Marion, it reminds me of Philadelphia, and I see it being re-developed into an exclusive upscale club, similar to the Union League in Philadelphia.

http://christopherwink.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/The-Inn-at-the-Union-League-of-Philadelphia-exterior-by-The-Inn-at-the-Union-League-of-Philadelphia_1.jpg

The Union League of Philadelphia (http://www.unionleague.org/)

Some brand new photos showing the progress at the Marion:

http://www.okctalk.com/attachments/development-buildings/5917d1389551089-marion-marion011214a.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/attachments/development-buildings/5918d1389551090-marion-marion011214b.jpg

Awesome to see it starting. Empty and rotting since 1985. More than SEVEN TIMES as long as Stage Center.

http://www.okctalk.com/attachments/development-buildings/6155d1389877837-marion-marion11314a.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/attachments/development-buildings/6156d1389877837-marion-marion11314b.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/attachments/development-buildings/6157d1389877838-marion-marion11314c.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/attachments/development-buildings/6158d1389877839-marion-marion11314d.jpg

Great to see this structure being preserved! Much more historical and history than the Stage Center!!

You can clearly see the terrible condition of this poor building.

God bless Midtown Renaissance because I'm sure this is a labor of love, and not profit.


Can't wait to see them work their magic here.

I wonder if they opened up the boards just to let the smell out. From all the pictures I have seen of the inside, I can't imagine it smelling pretty...

I wouldn't even know where to begin on remodeling/restoring this.

I noticed that Lingo is the general contractor on this project. I am glad to see them continue to get great projects since they do a fantastic job.

This is incredible, and I have to credit MR for their dedication, because I can't imagine how the finances can work in their favor on this particular project. This is a very busy corner and it'll be great to see this brought up to the quality design we generally get from them.

k3hyVWMEGGc

This is incredible, and I have to credit MR for their dedication, because I can't imagine how the finances can work in their favor on this particular project. This is a very busy corner and it'll be great to see this brought up to the quality design we generally get from them.

The finances might work in their favor, MR is so invested in the area that if they manage to break even on the Marion, it could raise the value of the other MR properties in the area enough to put them well into the Black.

I won't pretend that I can predict the effect that the Marion will have on surrounding properties, but MidtownR has a vested interest in seeing midtown done right. Luckily they have the ability and the determination to make sure it is done right!

Also, keep in mind they received TIF funds for the new garage, 1101 & 1100 N. Broadway and the Marion as part of one package.

I'm sure they won't make much money off the Marion but including it probably helped them get that financial assistance.

^^^
Hammer, meet nail.

From today courtesy catch22:

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/marion020514a.jpg



http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/marion020514b.jpg



http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/marion020514c.jpg

Man that's great to see. I fretted over that building when I was working with Automobile Alley and ever since, and was for the most part helplessly afraid that it would eventually meet its demise. That's been nearly 20 years now.

Hey! Why did my old signature just show up?

^

Because I activated your Gold membership. For some reason, a bunch of subscriptions had been disabled.

Cool. I will come up with a good one. That one was a little bit dated.

The guys over at Nichols Energy Services are definitely excited about this. They had some major concerns about the Marion collapsing on them. Only about 8 feet, if that, separate the two buildings. They are doing some additional renovations to part of their building as well, converting warehouse space into more offices.

To shore up the outside walls during renovation, they have been using a large crane to place long steel supports all along the exterior.

Photo credit to Urban Pioneer:

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/marion021414a.jpg

Drove by there yesterday. Seems that the crane and beams drew a bit of a crowd. I was just hoping that they did not drop one on me as I waited in traffic.

Shouldn't they just tear this down? It's been empty for more than 3 years!

Anybody have any history on this building?? I do remember driving by it when it looked like a flop house. Also west of it on the other side of the street there used to be a huge wooden building that had "rooms for rent" ie flop house. It was torn down a few years ago and is now a parking lot. Anyone have any info on that one?

From today:


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/marion021514a.jpg



http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/marion021514b.jpg



http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/marion021514c.jpg



http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/marion021514d.jpg



http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/marion021514e.jpg



http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/marion021514f.jpg



http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/marion021514g.jpg

I always loved the Marion and I'm so happy that it's being renovated. It got to a point when I thought it was gonna get torn down because of how much money it would take to redevelop it.

The roof is gone now. Pete will post photos later today perhaps.

Was by there this morning. I am no longer concerned about it being torn down, but it looks like it might fall down. LOL. Not much left of the building but the bricks, it looks like.

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/marion022214a.jpg



http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/marion022214b.jpg



http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/marion022214c.jpg

Wow! This is amazing. Looks like they are being very delicate and thorough. It's such a fragile structure.

Author finds history, controversy researching new book (http://www.okcfox.com/story/24796218/author-finds-history-controversy-researching-new-book)

Based upon accepted modern day district boundaries, the Marion is in Automobile Alley, not Midtown.

6832

They are really getting busy now (from Urban Pioneer):


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/marion022714.jpg

Look almost like they're tearing it down lol

It's crazy the amount of shoring they are having to do. Just shows in what delicate shape the building was in. Another few years and it likely would have fallen in on itself. Much like the houses Steve Mason rehabbed on 9th, it really drives a stake into the idea that most buildings are "beyond saving," except in very rare/extreme cases. And if you understand the difference between wood frame construction and reinforced concrete, it SERIOUSLY renders ridiculous the "beyond repair" arguments pertaining to a couple of buildings downtown currently facing destruction. There is a massive disparity between "can't" and "don't wish to."

Will just took these:


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/marion031014a.jpg



http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/marion031014b.jpg



http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/marion031014c.jpg



http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/marion031014d.jpg

So are they basically going to have to build a structure within the structure to keep it from falling down?

It's pretty incredible that it didn't collapse with the state it is in.

How far are they going to have to take the structure down?