The owners of the existing Clarion Inn at the southwest corner of I-40 and Meridian are planning to tear down the hotel structure, leave the existing convention center and attach it to a new 9-story Hilton Hotel.

Interestingly, the property due east of the convention center is a 6-story Hilton Garden Inn:



http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/meridianhilton1.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/meridianhilton2.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/meridianhilton3.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/meridianhilton4.jpg


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

good for OKC overall .. but what a terrible place to stay in a hotel ..

There are now 3 large hotels completed at Meridian and the Oklahoma River with two more well under construction.

Will post a graphic and photos soon.

For all the news the downtown hotels receive, you almost never hear anything about these projects and there will be more new rooms in this area than downtown.

Glad more hotels down there are starting to go more vertical. Now if we can just get a few more of the taller ones lining the Oklahoma River, it would look a lot cooler. I would love to see one right next to where the river boat cruises go out and have convention space overlooking the water larger than 30,000 that the exisitng convention center currently has. I would think they could make a descent amount of money with a smaller wedding reception area with a deck or something that overlooks the river.

I've stayed at the current Clarion and its an embarrassment. Won't miss it one bit.

I love downtown. But outside of that, this area still remains the city's premier "hospitality" corridor, so it needs to look spiffy as well.

Wonder how many rooms will be here ?

There are now 3 large hotels completed at Meridian and the Oklahoma River with two more well under construction.

Will post a graphic and photos soon.

For all the news the downtown hotels receive, you almost never hear anything about these projects and there will be more new rooms in this area than downtown.

Where are the two under construction? On the west or east side of Meridian?

I wish Jim Thompson (Aloft in DD, Holiday Inn Express and Hilton Garden Inn on Expressway and May, Courtyard by Marriott and the La Quinta on Memorial) would build a hotel over here with a restaurant and bar with a patio on the river. It would definitely raise the bar for hotels in the area.

Wonder how many rooms will be here ?

Looks like about 325-350

Where are the two under construction? On the west or east side of Meridian?

I wish Jim Thompson (Aloft in DD, Holiday Inn Express and Hilton Garden Inn on Expressway and May, Courtyard by Marriott and the La Quinta on Memorial) would build a hotel over here with a restaurant and bar with a patio on the river. It would definitely raise the bar for hotels in the area.
Both. One on the east one on the west. Both at the far extremes from each other.

this area still remains the city's premier "hospitality" corridor, so it needs to look spiffy as well.

And it never has looked spiffy. It looks better than it did 20 years ago but that's not saying much. It still looks disorganized with several junky looking properties around. And I don't have any idea how a hotel like Biltmore stays in business. that thing was an embarrassment 2 decades ago. It's gotta be worse now.

Not sure when it happened, but noticed the last time I went to Sam's, that the signage was gone form the hotel and apparently closed/abandoned. Thought it was odd for what seems like a prime location to have gone belly up. This explains it.

Here is everything that is going on at SW 15th & Meridian (south bank of OK River).

The City is in the process of doing $1.5 million worth of improvements to the river bank to the east of Meridian all the way to Meridian Landing, where the River Cruise docks. You can see some of that work in the last image (curved outcroppings and landscaping).

Also, all three hotels and the convention center east of Meridian are owned by an OKC physician, Dr. Naresh Patel.

I'll post more renderings of the Hampton Inn, as it's pretty elaborate with a large enclosed pool facing the river. In fact, all three of those hotels are quite nice compared to the relatively low standards of the other hotels in the area.



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

TownePlace by Marriott (5 stories, extended stay):
http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/meridianriver1.jpg

Marriott Fairfield Inn:
http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/meridianriver2.jpg

Staybridge Suites:
http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/meridianriver3.jpg

Holiday Inn:
http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/meridianriver4.jpg

Hampton Inn:
http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/meridianriver5.jpg

Convention Center:
http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/meridianriver6.jpg

More on the under construction Hampton Inn, a $7.5 million, 129 room project.



http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/riverhampton1.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/riverhampton2.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/riverhampton3.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/riverhampton4.jpg

I like that the hotels are along the river. The river looks nice and wild and woodsy over there.

I really wish there weren't as many industrial warehouse type buildings across the river, otherwise, that would be a great area for a string of restaurants and/or clubs/bars facing the river. All the hotels would look at them and think that is where to go to go out in the evening and on lunch.

I also wonder why the Hilton didn't locate along the river. The land availability seems to be lower though, so I assume that was a factor. It is nice to see that Clarion go, but that area right off the highway still feels like it is in the 1980s. Perhaps this will help spur some more updates.

good for OKC overall .. but what a terrible place to stay in a hotel ..

I agree. Considering a lot of people from out of state will be staying there, that part of OKC, in my opinion, is the part that most fits the stereotypes people have in their minds about this city. It feels very much like a truck stop out there, combined with all of the country-oriented bars and restaurants, it doesn't seem like a good spot for a project this large. Then again, this could be the beginning of gentrification of that area.

I agree. Considering a lot of people from out of state will be staying there, that part of OKC, in my opinion, is the part that most fits the stereotypes people have in their minds about this city. It feels very much like a truck stop out there, combined with all of the country-oriented bars and restaurants, it doesn't seem like a good spot for a project this large. Then again, this could be the beginning of gentrification of that area.

I think the people that tend to stay out here probably don't tend to have much of a negative perception of OKC...And if they do, most are likely at least smart enough to know that you can't judge a city by one area 5+ miles away from the city's core.

I wonder how close the City is to making back the MAPS investment in the OK River through increased sales tax, new jobs, etc?

We have these 5 going on 6 big new hotels, the Dell Facility and everything on Boathouse Row. Plus, of course, all the tax revenue generated by the river events.

As unlikely as it seemed at the time, the investment in the river has proven to be one of the best of all the MAPS projects.

I wonder how close the City is to making back the MAPS investment in the OK River through increased sales tax, new jobs, etc?

We have these 5 going on 6 big new hotels, the Dell Facility and everything on Boathouse Row. Plus, of course, all the tax revenue generated by the river events.

As unlikely as it seemed at the time, the investment in the river has proven to be one of the best of all the MAPS projects.

How that can have ever seemed unlikely when nearly every major world city has a major river going through it (or is on the ocean) is weird to me. People love water, even if it's nasty.

I loved what München did with the Isar river...they divert part of it to a lower area that then becomes a little rocked beach area in the middle of the city:

453545364537

I agree. Considering a lot of people from out of state will be staying there, that part of OKC, in my opinion, is the part that most fits the stereotypes people have in their minds about this city. It feels very much like a truck stop out there, combined with all of the country-oriented bars and restaurants, it doesn't seem like a good spot for a project this large. Then again, this could be the beginning of gentrification of that area.

For the most part, the people that stay in these hotels are in OKC on business and they arrived via Will Rogers. They don't care (for the most part) if the area near there looks like the Plaza or some other hipster strip, most just want a cozy bed and free breakfast.

A lot of those folks also have cars, or know plenty of people in the city too. One of my best friends works for a drilling fluid company in Houston and travels up here almost monthly. Flies into OKC, visits some rural areas, and winds up his stay at one of these hotels. He has a car, so I've been able to show him a lot of the city's shining star venues and areas.

We just need those speedboat shuttles from Meridian Landing to Bricktown Landing :)

The Chesapeake Arena is probably their biggest money generator. Keep in mind, absolutely no debt service on the facility, only upkeep. And at least 43 dates are sold out every year.

I stayed at Cambria Suites behind Charleston's on Meridian in late August and it was actually the best hotel experience I've had in a long time. The area was convenient, the hotel was clean, and the staff was exceptional. Glad to see improvements along Meridian.

I wonder how close the City is to making back the MAPS investment in the OK River through increased sales tax, new jobs, etc?

We have these 5 going on 6 big new hotels, the Dell Facility and everything on Boathouse Row. Plus, of course, all the tax revenue generated by the river events.

As unlikely as it seemed at the time, the investment in the river has proven to be one of the best of all the MAPS projects.


Excellent point, and where we are today is only the tip of the iceberg.

I bet all those hotels will help up the ridership on the Riverboats, especially since you can just walk over to Meridian Landing, take a boat to the Bricktown connection, then hop a water taxi to the heart of Bricktown.

I'm sure their numbers are still low but this development and the new connection will have to really help.

Hmmmmmmmmmmmm.... that Stay Bridge Suites design looks familiar!

I bet all those hotels will help up the ridership on the Riverboats, especially since you can just walk over to Meridian Landing, take a boat to the Bricktown connection, then hop a water taxi to the heart of Bricktown.

I'm sure their numbers are still low but this development and the new connection will have to really help.

how long is that boat ride? is it really an hour like someone posted in another thread?

how long is that boat ride? is it really an hour like someone posted in another thread?

The scheduled time for the full length is one hour and fifteen minutes. I've done that route and that's fairly accurate.

Is that round trip or one way?

Is that round trip or one way?

One way.

Wow, it takes over an hour to go five miles??

You could literally almost walk it that fast.

how much of that time is spent at the dams waiting (i'm assuming there is some sort of locks process along the way)

Wow, it takes over an hour to go five miles??

You could literally almost walk it that fast.

I think it's due to the fact that the 'Oklahoma' part of the North Canadian is a no wake zone.

how much of that time is spent at the dams waiting (i'm assuming there is some sort of locks process along the way)

There are two locks that the boats have to proceed through and they take at least 10 minutes for each process. I know because one day I was riding my bike along the river trail and there was a cruiser heading westbound. It slowed getting closer to the lock and I raced by (this was at the lock that's located between Penn & May). I continued riding toward the end of the north shore trail at Portland. When I got back, the boat was just gaining back up to its cruising speed--which is not fast at all.

The boats are not transit. They are fairly expensive too? We need a bus that starts downtown, takes I-40 to meridian. Has regular service along Meridian (normal stop schedule), and then south of the hotel area, resume express limited stop service to the airport. Could even terminate at the future rental car facility, since it will run a shuttle every few minutes to the terminal.

Coming back do the exact same. Express service from the airport to the meridian hotel district, then do regular stop service up to I-40, and express to the streetcar/transit hub.

From this we would have great feed downtown, and also make airport service viable since they plan on cutting airport service.

The meridian hotels would be a 15 minute ride downtown. That's essentially an extra thousand rooms with quick and easy access to downtown.

The Chesapeake Arena is probably their biggest money generator. Keep in mind, absolutely no debt service on the facility, only upkeep. And at least 43 dates are sold out every year.
probably right...last I read on it, the Arena has almost always turned an operating profit (not requiring any subsidies from the City like the Cox that runs an operational deficit), But to Pete's question, it would be interesting to see how close the City is to "breaking even" to the amount spent (on those projects that generate revenue, directly or indirectly). I am pretty sure that Pete isn't talking about the overall private investment spurred by MAPS vs. public investment (which is several-fold), but rather individual projects...in other words how many of them are self-sustaining (of those that were designed to be).

Good points catch22. Houston opened up an IAH Express bus service downtown, but it was eventually eliminated due to low ridership. Originally a $15 fare, even after reducing the fare to $4.50 they canned it.

Check out the ferry cruise schedule here: Ferry Schedule - Oklahoma River Cruises (http://okrivercruises.com/schedule)
Adult Passenger Fare
$6 per stop
$15 maximum
Special Patrons & Kids
$3 per stop
$7.50 maximum
Special Patron - ages 60+, persons with disabilities, medicare cardholders and kids ages 6-12.

Children under age 6 are free. All children must be accompanied by an adult at all times.

FWIW: Pretty sure I read in the last week that the City is/considering dropping the bus that goes to the airport and a couple of other routes??

FWIW: Pretty sure I read in the last week that the City is/considering dropping the bus that goes to the airport and a couple of other routes??

Until they can make the trip at the very least once every 1:30 there's no point in having that route.

Looks like they are getting ready to go forward with the convention center / hotel to be placed as shown on the graphic below (between the new Hampton Inn and Meridian Landing).

Application before the Board of Adjustment for a setback variance for this project:

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


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/meridianriver6.jpg

They closed off that portion of the river trails off to pedestrians cause they were doing something over there, I figure drainage for this new convention center.

Here are the renderings for the newest hotel, a Hilton Home2 (http://home2suites3.hilton.com/en/index.html)



http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/home2.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/home21.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/home22.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/home23.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/home24.jpg

Is this the one that will be connected to the new convention space on the map above?

That doesn't look 9-stories. And I am guessing Hilton Home is not a full-service Hilton...more like Marriott Courtyard or Sheraton Four Points?

Is this the one that will be connected to the new convention space on the map above?

I believe this is instead of the convention center.

That doesn't look 9-stories. And I am guessing Hilton Home is not a full-service Hilton...more like Marriott Courtyard or Sheraton Four Points?

This is a different hotel. Hilton Home2 is on 15th Street, east of the existing Holiday Inn & U/C Hampton Inn. The 9-story hotel is on I-40 & Meridian. You can see it in the very first post of this thread. :)

Wow, it takes over an hour to go five miles??

You could literally almost walk it that fast.

On foot would be faster...since a person would have to run through certain parts of the city to get downtown. :tongue::D

This is a different hotel. Hilton Home2 is on 15th Street, east of the existing Holiday Inn & U/C Hampton Inn. The 9-story hotel is on I-40 & Meridian. You can see it in the very first post of this thread. :)
Wherever it is, that is one ugly looking building.

Wherever it is, that is one ugly looking building.

No one will fight against it though cause we only care about the core.

Here are a couple completed Home2 hotels:

http://i.usatoday.net/communitymanager/_photos/hotel-checkin/2011/02/07/Home2Suitesx-large.jpg

http://matchbin-assets.s3.amazonaws.com/public/sites/574/assets/5RC8_29WEB__HOTEL.jpg

Are those in Baghdad?

It really looks like a small-town hospital or a college dorm. That is one of the ugliest hotels I've seen proposed. Even your seedy, one-story roadside motels have more character than that.

The old hotel has been demolished and work should start soon on the 9-story Hilton:



http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/mhilton1.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/mhilton2.jpg

I wondered what was up with this plot since it's been cleared off so long.

I wondered what was up with this plot since it's been cleared off so long.

Likewise! Glad to hear its moving along, cant wait to see it start to go up!

Just curious, was this in the works long before the downtown hotel boom or is it in response to it?

The plans were put forth in early 2013 and by that time lots of hotel deals were in the works for downtown.

Really, there has been a hotel boom all over OKC. There have been five hotels built along the river just off Meridian in just the last few years.

Tons out on Memorial, several along I-35 and I-240.

Thanks for the update, it's been demolished for a long time now (6+ months), was getting to wonder if this project was still a go.