http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/2a/WHotelAustin-Jun2010.JPG/640px-WHotelAustin-Jun2010.JPG

J.W. Marriott, Downtown Austin - Height: 478 feet - 37 stories, 1,012 rooms.

An anchor convention center hotel of this magnitude would certainly maintain and expand our growth in the convention industry.


http://www.thunderfans.com/vforum/images/smilies/okc.gif "Oklahoma City looks oh-so pretty... ...as I get my kicks on Route 66." --Nat King Cole.http://www.thunderfans.com/vforum/images/smilies/okc.gif

The Westin Charlotte is a very nice hotel. A JW Marriott is a step above though. Isn't OKC supposed to be getting a full-service Marriott downtown anyways? That seemed to be the indication from Steve's chat last week and then Pete confirmed.

Anyone have any info on this?

I never stayed at a JW Marriott, but had heard great reviews.

Very, very nice. The Essex (A JW Marriott) in NYC is incredible. The Staples Center in L.A. is anchored at L.A. Live by the Ritz-Carlton and JW Marriott - both Five-Star properties.

Awesome, will have to stay at one sometime.

spend the money on renovating the First Naitonal Building as a hotel. problem solved.

spend the money on renovating the First Naitonal Building as a hotel. problem solved.

Great idea for a hotel; however, we need something to anchor the new Oklahoma City Convention Center (with hotel complex).

How about this:

http://nbww.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/Diplomat-1b.jpg
... hotel mixed use resort retail south florida spa westin westin diplomat


http://www.thunderfans.com/vforum/images/smilies/okc.gif "Oklahoma City looks oh-so pretty... ...as I get my kicks on Route 66." --Nat King Cole.http://www.thunderfans.com/vforum/images/smilies/okc.gif

Maybe it's just my brains sneaking off with the hair that keeps fleeing from my forehead, but I'd be just fine if design stays down in Florida

Maybe it's just my brains sneaking off with the hair that keeps fleeing from my forehead, but I'd be just fine if design stays down in Florida

I;m with ya. .not exactly what i'd like to see down there

I like it, but the rendering and the scale model would probably take a huge chunk out of our $250 million dollar budget.:Smiley063

Oh wait, the C.C. Hotel isn't part of that budget...never mind...I still like it though

As long as it has a big name and is at least 25 stories tall I am all in. Don't give me a super 8 that's 10 stories. Gots to have a big name on the hotel.

As long as it has a big name and is at least 25 stories tall I am all in. Don't give me a super 8 that's 10 stories. Gots to have a big name on the hotel.Agreed

Agreed

Agreed with agreed. This thing needs to be done right. It needs to be, as MC Hammer would put it, 2 Legit 2 Quit...

Sent from my Inspiron 7537 using Tapatalk

Well I agree with your agreement of my agreement of OKCRT's comment.

I wold love to have something like that last hotel. It would give the appearance of 2 towers which I find to be very cool. It would be great if they could combine this hotel with some mixed residential on some of the top floors. Perhaps 25 floors for hotel and 5 floors of residential on both towers. This would be very impressive and can be done in a way that doesn't look quite as south beach, which a few of you don't seem to like. I personally like the trendy look and think it would give us a "cool factor".

http://nbww.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/Diplomat-1b.jpg

It doesn't have to be a carbon copy; we do need something in the iconic realm to help diversify and accentuate the skyline more so instead of the bland rectangular generic style buildings. Since we are to construct a convention center, let's get an anchor hotel development build something with character; a good 25-30 stories (700-900 rooms) with a least 400-450 ft. in height to balance out the skyline.

Oklahoma City is on the verge; therefore, we need a skyline that will become more distinct and recognizable from other cities.

Leadership Square and Devon Tower are examples along with the 'soon-to-be' OG&E Energy Headquarters which will be a nice addition downtown. Let's hope there is more within this category on the horizon...


http://www.thunderfans.com/vforum/images/smilies/okc.gif "Oklahoma City looks oh-so pretty... ...as I get my kicks on Route 66." --Nat King Cole.http://www.thunderfans.com/vforum/images/smilies/okc.gif

I like it

One of the ugliest buildings I've ever seen. :biggrin: I'd almost rather have Stage Center back.

Seriously, though...we can have something distinctive and eye-catching that's in keeping with Oklahoma's traditional style. A building like that would look out of place in this city. It's overwrought and pretentious – two things that we don't generally (and shouldn't ever!) associate with Oklahoma. Devon is an example of being recognizable and understated - a great combination. Great things (or cities) don't have to be over-the-top to convince everyone that they're great.

Let's pair cities with their iconic structures...

Seattle - Space Needle
New York - Empire State Building / Statue of Liberty / Et Cetra
St. Louis - Gateway Arch
San Fransisco - Golden Gate Bridge

Paris - Eiffel Tower
Sydney - Opera House
London - Big Ben / London Eye / Buckingham Palace

You get the idea... just to start some imagery.

Let's pair cities with their iconic structures...

Seattle - Space Needle
New York - Empire State Building / Statue of Liberty / Et Cetra
St. Louis - Gateway Arch
San Fransisco - Golden Gate Bridge

Paris - Eiffel Tower
Sydney - Opera House
London - Big Ben / London Eye / Buckingham Palace

You get the idea... just to start some imagery.

Yeah . . . That would have been close to my first impression . . . and actually was until I entered THIS Major League City's recollection of stuff like that.
Be forewarned. It's easy to Navigate once you get used to it.

Start at "Gateway" and wander around while.
Apparently they've been doing that up in a Major League City for Quite a While.

All Rights Reserved for the Great Writer Observer That Even Dave Barry Defended:

LILEKS (James) :: MPLS :: Long Gone (http://www.lileks.com/mpls/gone.html)

The Site is Easy to Navigate.
Once you get used to the point and click part.

Sorry . . . Let me try that again:
simply click around and learn and laugh and cry

http://lileks.com/mpls/gateway/

That hotel would be fine, if you just had one of the towers. Take out the middle section that makes it look like a giant "H" and just have one of the towers and it would be okay.

I wanna see a fighter jet blast through that hole.

That hotel would be fine, if you just had one of the towers. Take out the middle section that makes it look like a giant "H" and just have one of the towers and it would be okay.

You're two thirds of the way there. Get over any interest in that last ugly tower and you're home free.

One of the ugliest buildings I've ever seen. :biggrin: I'd almost rather have Stage Center back.

Seriously, though...we can have something distinctive and eye-catching that's in keeping with Oklahoma's traditional style. A building like that would look out of place in this city. It's overwrought and pretentious – two things that we don't generally (and shouldn't ever!) associate with Oklahoma. Devon is an example of being recognizable and understated - a great combination. Great things (or cities) don't have to be over-the-top to convince everyone that they're great.

What a minute. You say we shouldn't have something overwrought and pretentious but then you say Devon is a great example being recognizable and understated. I think that big phallic object in downtown is quite pretentious, out of place and hardly understated.

Imagine if it were the originally designed 1000 footer!

Reports of new downtown towers take hope sky-high:

By Steve Lackmeyer Published: August 19, 2014


http://i51.tinypic.com/1zqwzk6.jpg
https://encrypted-tbn1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQ92HryCXmMk4mb7ikzMxwmRUZeIvIIq eH9kdQ7fWqpkP8NRfHvow https://sp1.yimg.com/ib/th?id=HN.607997404623015057&pid=15.1&P=0 https://sp1.yimg.com/ib/th?id=HN.608039873260752381&pid=15.1&P=0

https://sp3.yimg.com/ib/th?id=HN.607988879114962859&pid=15.1&P=0Consider what is already public knowledge: Rainey Williams Jr. is preparing to build a mid-rise tower (though it may end up higher when built) for OGE Energy Corp...

Serious discussions, meanwhile, have been going on for months about another tower to be built at Hudson Avenue and Main Street. The block, acquired by Nick Preftakes over the past decade, has long been associated with potential expansion of Devon Energy, which has its own 50-story headquarters to the east.

...Count it all up and up to six new towers could be added to the downtown Oklahoma City skyline over the next few years — and this does not include the prospect of a 15- to 20-story conference hotel that civic leaders hope to see built next to the future convention center at Reno and Robinson Avenues.

http://oklahoman.com/reports-of-new-downtown-towers-take-hope-sky-high/article/5299202

Get ready to see some major changes in the Oklahoma City skyline over the next five years. Lackmeyer did not elaborate on the companies that need space in the OKC downtown market; however, if just three of these six towers are built you will see some major changes to the skyline. When they mentioned towers, it's understood to mean something in the range of 25 stories. Steve refers to the 16-18 story OG&E tower as a mid rise tower.

The article went on to mention that this does not include the prospect of a 15- to 20-story conference hotel that civic leaders hope to see built next to the future convention center at Reno and Robinson Avenues.


http://www.thunderfans.com/vforum/images/smilies/okc.gif "Oklahoma City looks oh-so pretty... ...as I get my kicks on Route 66." --Nat King Cole.http://www.thunderfans.com/vforum/images/smilies/okc.gif

I'm excited more towers are being built, just a little apprehensive as to what they will look like.

What a minute. You say we shouldn't have something overwrought and pretentious but then you say Devon is a great example being recognizable and understated. I think that big phallic object in downtown is quite pretentious, out of place and hardly understated.

That's interesting. How do you figure? The best I can deduce is that you think it's too tall ("phallic"), in particular for the lot it's on ("out of place"). But I'm not sure how that makes it pretentious. As for any phallic effect, do you see a phallus in any tower that's not rectangular? Would you rather Devon was shorter so that it didn't appear phallic to you?

I think Pickard Chilton designs some of the most elegant and dignified buildings using honest and simple forms, and Devon is no exception. Accuse pretentiousness, if you like, but at least Devon could never be called gaudy, as the Westin Diplomat is.

The Devon building has a classic appearance. It is simple and elegant. It may be much bigger than the surrounding buildings, but they needed the space. It's already full. They are going to have to build a second tower now.

Imagine if it were the originally designed 1000 footer!That would have amazing. Taller than anything in Houston!

It would be close, but no cigar. The tallest buildings in Houston as well as Texas is 1,002ft.

And Devon Tower was never supposed to be 1,000ft, it was supposed to be 925ft. It would've been taller than anything in Dallas by 4ft, but JPMorgan Chase Tower (1,002ft) and Wells Fargo Plaza (992ft) in Houston both would be taller.

It would be close, but no cigar. The tallest buildings in Houston as well as Texas is 1,002ft.Oh man that's awesome. Never realized H town had anything over a 1,000ft!

Baltimore Marriott Waterfront

https://sp2.yimg.com/ib/th?id=HN.608018780689662810&pid=15.1&P=0

32 stories, 315 feet high, 750 rooms


Five feet higher than our present Bank of Oklahoma Plaza at 310 feet.
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f7/BOKplaza59.jpg


http://www.thunderfans.com/vforum/images/smilies/okc.gif "Oklahoma City looks oh-so pretty... ...as I get my kicks on Route 66." --Nat King Cole.http://www.thunderfans.com/vforum/images/smilies/okc.gif

Is it just me or do the articles by Steve in the Oklahoman seem more like comments off of the Mystery Tower thread these days than actual facts? Preftakes, really? That's you're "solid" information lead for a tower? Something we've discussed here without absolutely zero factual indication that anything is in the works.

Back to the CC Hotel though, the thing really does need to be about the size of that Baltimore Marriott above. It's not HUGE, but it is sufficient to give plenty of block-room space for larger conventions while not over saturating the market for the surrounding hotels as well. I'm not sure if i'm going to say this in a way that it is clear but i'll try. The CC hotel is going to be busy with CC traffic and shouldn't DE-tract from the other hotel options downtown, even if it's a significantly large hotel, in comparison to current hotel traffic. Other, non-CC, events will continue to fill the other hotels as they are today. If CC traffic picks up like we all hope it will, then it would mean that the increased traffic simply flows to the attached hotel. Not everyone stays at the "convention hotel", but a large portion will. Often companies are willing to pay a little more for that rather than pay for another hotel. it's always seemed odd to me, but sometimes i used to have to argue to stay at a cheaper hotel down the street (i dont care for the Marriott model of charging for wifi/parking/etc). I'd usually request a Hampton/HIE/Best Western/etc...something cheap that had free "breakfast", if that's what you call it LOL, etc. But the problem came in from a large corporation like ours getting deals with companies like Marriott so a cheaper bill was resolved on the back-end that I didn't see. So i say that just to say that the price you see online, isn't always the price the company pays when all is said and done. With as many tradeshows and client visits as our employees made, it really worked out nicely. And i only say that because if Marriott is chosen (and i really feel like they will because it's the generic option and we dont exactly get creative here with CC stuff), then it would keep those corporate folks populating the CC Hotel, while the normal visitors would still go with the other options around. Sorry, i know it's clear as mud...just not really articulating it well....must be friday morning and i've already checked out for the day.

I hope it's taller than that

I hope it's taller than that

You hope it's taller than the Baltimore Marriott which is 430 feet tall? That would put it around the same height as the Oklahoma Tower and the City Place Tower and taller than Sandridge. I think that would be pretty awesome. I would rather it be shorter and take up the majority of the streetfront of Robinson than a really tall skinny tower.

Here's another Omni design (San Diego) that's similar to their Fort Worth CC hotel that I'd love to see for the OKC CC site:

Omni San Diego
Cost: $124M (2004)
Height: 32 stories, 385 feet
Rooms: 511
Sq ft: 600,000

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/47/OmniSanDiegoHotelatNight.jpeg

I love the Omni in San Diego, both the exterior and interior. That would be a major win for downtown to get something like that.

I love the Omni in San Diego, both the exterior and interior. That would be a major win for downtown to get something like that.

Yeah I try to stay there every time I'm in San Diego for business.

I think they should seriously look at doing something with a little bit of residential mix. They could build something like the Omni in San Diego or Ft. Worth that is about 28 floors designated for the hotel. It would be awesome and I would think high demand for approximately 6-8 floors on top of those with residential use. Could you imagine the views of the skyline and Peake in the next few years? That is a great location for some great views. It would also give more height to the tower and more additional residents to the DT area.

I could see this end up being a 450-500 tower in this case and it could look amazing. Does anyone else like this idea or is it not a good idea. I just know that several cities, even Little Rock have done this and its been quite successful and really cool. For that matter, residents could even buy for investment purposes and lease out a 2-3 bdr condo for those who are seeking more than a hotel room. Heck, I might even invest in something like that and rent that thing out. In fact, I think they should build about 10 stories of residential on top of that hotel because I think quite a few people would prefer that condo feel as opposed to a hotel room for several days. Just some food for thought.

You hope it's taller than the Baltimore Marriott which is 430 feet tall? That would put it around the same height as the Oklahoma Tower and the City Place Tower and taller than Sandridge. I think that would be pretty awesome. I would rather it be shorter and take up the majority of the streetfront of Robinson than a really tall skinny tower.My bad, I was thinking of a different tower

My bad, I was thinking of a different tower

No worries, when I read it, I immediately thought it said Biltmore and due to my age, I did not think about the one downtown that was removed during Urban Renewal, but the one on Meridian and thought, yeah I don't want that downtown...

Here's another Omni design (San Diego) that's similar to their Fort Worth CC hotel that I'd love to see for the OKC CC site:

Omni San Diego
Cost: $124M (2004)
Height: 32 stories, 385 feet
Rooms: 511
Sq ft: 600,000

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/47/OmniSanDiegoHotelatNight.jpeg


Looks great!

This would blend in with the Devon Tower and the proposed OG&E Tower. Glass façade with 700 - 715 rooms would shore up our needs as we approach 2020. Forty-42 stories of this model for 700+/- rooms; the height range 480-495 feet (sq.ft 800,000) comparable to our 2nd largest building--the Chase Tower.


I agree. I would really like to see OKC get a new second tallest. However, that is exciting to this of having all of those towers going up on Hudson at virtually the same time. Even though they are much shorter than the Devon tower, they will still help balance the skyline from the southwest angle, which is the angle it currently looks worst from.

Would settle for a third tallest building slightly smaller than Chase Tower. Could be developed for mixed-use (hotel, condo-residential top floors) as a part of the convention center complex in the neighborhood of 40 stories. This would also help balance the skyline.


http://www.thunderfans.com/vforum/images/smilies/okc.gif"Oklahoma City looks oh-so pretty... ...as I get my kicks on Route 66." --Nat King Cole.http://www.thunderfans.com/vforum/images/smilies/okc.gif

Is this rendering out-dated on City of Oklahoma City | Public Information & Marketing (http://www.okc.gov/maps3/conventioncenter.html) ?

^

Yes, that was a very early concept.

The exact design is still in process.

How about a 735-room version of Tulsa's Camelot Hotel?


https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=aBzQTD8iigo

Could OKC resurrect a 20-25 story convention center hotel with a modern theme design of the once historic 330 - room
Camelot Inn Hotel in Tulsa? (see center pic below...)


https://encrypted-tbn2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRy7FIYMXXQ_1aRAwPHQY3WvESjIIwpp NEHZkdAB1I-KMqeCnLm_A http://onewaystreet.typepad.com/.a/6a00d8341c86cc53ef0120a8a17f20970b-400wi https://encrypted-tbn1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSOlX5qGvsLVYuZhpI06g1_B_R9twROM zSrU6ac0kuLKuCJaDQ6


A mixture of glass & brick façade grand entrance would really look nice as an anchor to the new convention center; this would call for a new design of the convention center's façade. It would blend in with the Devon Tower & the proposed OG&E corporate headquarters. .

http://www.thunderfans.com/vforum/images/smilies/okc.gif "Oklahoma City looks oh-so pretty... ...as I get my kicks on Route 66." --Nat King Cole.http://www.thunderfans.com/vforum/images/smilies/okc.gif

I am not sure that something like the Camelot Inn Hotel could be created as new construction and pulled off well. To me, the hotel looks like it has that cheap, mid-century feel that would only be charming today because its retro. A modern replica would be..well..cheap. When I first saw it I thought of the Camelot Suites in Amarillo, which I've stayed at, and that place is a dive. Sorry to be negative here, I just don't think it would work for the convention center hotel.

Cathy O'Connor is making a presentation on the Convention Hotel at the City Council meeting next Tuesday, October 7th.

The presentation will also include a rep from Public Financial Management, a company hired by the City to explore financing options for the hotel.

That Omni in San Diego is beautiful.

http://www.oklahoman.com/article/5348334?embargo=1



Taxpayers could know within months whether a public subsidy will be needed to build a hotel adjacent to the MAPS 3 convention center.

The Oklahoma City Council is scheduled to get a hotel update Tuesday from Cathy O’Connor, president of the Alliance for Economic Development.


Council members said the first step would be to gauge developers’ interest. With options to select from, the city then could choose a proposal and negotiate a financial package, learning in the process how much the public would need to invest.

The NewsOK comments on this article are pretty much universally negative. Does anybody foresee a public backlash against MAPS over the convention center and hotel? Those who are informed understand why OKC needs a convention center, a new hotel, and what it all will bring to the city but most average joes don't understand why the Cox center isn't good enough. Unlike the Ford Center, the new convention center doesn't bring tangible benefits to OKC residents either which I think is a big deal. Thoughs?

The NewsOK comments on this article are pretty much universally negative. Does anybody foresee a public backlash against MAPS over the convention center and hotel? Those who are informed understand why OKC needs a convention center, a new hotel, and what it all will bring to the city but most average joes don't understand why the Cox center isn't good enough. Unlike the Ford Center, the new convention center doesn't bring tangible benefits to OKC residents either which I think is a big deal. Thoughs?

Don't read the comments section of the Oklahoman if you value your sanity. It is not representative of anything.

Any news on this?

Any news on this?

See post #349.

See post #349.ah, it is Tuesday, I thought it was going to be updated today.

nm

I am not sure anyone's opinion really matters if you are referring to whether we build them or not because they must be built or there will be a betrayal of the voter's trust. The people voted for the convention center and to not build it after taking their taxes to pay for it would be a crime in my book.

I think more of the backlash will come with the building of the hotel since that wasn't on the ballot but will be paid for by the taxpayers, somehow. I am absolutely for building the convention center hotel because we need it, but I could see this decision affecting future MAPS votes.

I don't understand how it will affect future MAPS votes if the hotel had absolutely nothing to do with the original MAPS3 vote. I knew there was going to be additional phases(expansions) as it was clearly written.

I think more of the backlash will come with the building of the hotel since that wasn't on the ballot but will be paid for by the taxpayers, somehow. I am absolutely for building the convention center hotel because we need it, but I could see this decision affecting future MAPS votes.

Right, the issue is that the funding for the hotel -- at best -- was handled in a less than straight-forward way.

Now, it's being presented as a must-have to make the Convention Center a success, yet many feel this wasn't properly communicated prior to the MAPS 3 vote.

Will be very interesting to see what Cathy O'Connor has to say about this in tomorrow's council meeting.

Just watched the video of today's meeting where Cathy O'Connor and the consultant presented on this subject.

They had conducted a series of interviews with downtown stakeholders to get their feedback. The consensus was that people wanted a name brand and something not currently in the market (Omni, etc.) and that there were great concerns about parking and some other issues.

They also took a look at how other cities have made such hotels happen and their research showed it was all over the map, between completely public and completely private, and everywhere in between.

They have created a pro forma to run through various scenarios based on construction and operating costs and revenues.

The next step is to issue an RFP late this year or early next year with a 90 to 120 day response time. The consultant said that he expected between 7 to 10 responses, from both developers (who would obtain a hotel franchise) or the hotel companies themselves. But of course, most of these would be seeking substantial public assistance.

Because there would be at least TIF dollars or other public funds, the City would also have to decide how much, if any, ownership they would want to retain in the project.

They said city-wide occupancy is still running at 77% but they would have to factor in lots of different occupancy scenarios when evaluating the proposals. Obviously, that's the biggest variable in any projection.

Once the RFP responses are received, then the Alliance and the paid consultant will run the numbers through the pro forma model and then have a better idea of what type of public investment is likely to be needed.

The RFP does not commit the City to do anything; it's more an attempt to gauge interest and come up with an approximate budget and plan that could then be presented to City Council for further action.

I suspect the responses would help them come up with a general plan (X in TIF, X in other public funds) then ask for final proposals based on that.



http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/cchotelpres1.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/cchotelpres2.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/cchotelpres3.jpg