You mean down Charlie Christian? I thought the Criterion bumped up against the back of the BEC?

If via CC, that does make sense, but it wouldn't be obvious at all to a visitor and serious signage would need to happen.

Even so I still don't see there being anything wrong with putting sidewalks and crossings on Lincoln and Reno to get you over the bridge and into the BHD. I'd be cool with a nicely signed route down CC in the interim.

Honestly the wayfinding signage is one of the key improvements that I hope we can find a solution to. Something that would fit the look of the neighborhood, but add extreme value to not only visitors, but businesses, would make a major impact.

At our hotel, we have guests check in each day that ask this question. "Are there any restaurants nearby or anything to do in the area?" Now of course we have maps and all the information they need, but they many times don't even know there is a Bricktown Canal. For locals, that seems crazy, but for visitors this is still very new to them.

I anyone else disappointed with the look of the Springhill Suites. I don't like the set back on the 3rd-5th floors.

I wish they would follow along with the Holiday Inn Express. Too much EIFS on those top levels here. Sorry, not a big fan of the look.

I anyone else disappointed with the look of the Springhill Suites. I don't like the set back on the 3rd-5th floors.

I wish they would follow along with the Holiday Inn Express. Too much EIFS on those top levels here. Sorry, not a big fan of the look.

Completely agree. The Holiday Inn Express is the perfect way to build these hotels. Having the entrance at the corner goes a long way and makes it very inviting. I wish other hoteliers would follow suit. In fact, I would even go as far as updating the design review guidelines to require it. This development in particular has such awesome potential being squandered on the corner facing the Steelyard.

The center entrance and setback is very suburban. Thing is, I don't think the developers realize it.

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/springhill111515a.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/springhill111515b.jpg

I was kinda shocked how far along this was when I drove by yesterday...

Maybe it's just me, but it looks so strange that they built the staircases first.

probably just getting all the steel work out of the way first...

Well, yeah, but building them before the steel work on the top two floors? Or are those floors not getting steel work for some reason?

Maybe the stairs help aid in construction by allowing workers to traverse to higher floors?

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/springhill121315.jpg

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/springhill012316.jpg

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/springhill020716.jpg

I don't like the design but that's some pretty impressive massing coming together down that stretch.

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/springhill121315.jpg

This illustrates the ultimate fail. The corner is the highest revenue grossing part of any commerce system - and they put the fire escape there.

This illustrates the ultimate fail. The corner is the highest revenue grossing part of any commerce system - and they put the fire escape there.

I would agree if this were a mixed use building or even a retail structure. But it's a hotel. People book most hotels online sight unseen days to months in advance. Moving the entrance to the corner wouldn't add or subtract from the profitability in any meaningful way.

This illustrates the ultimate fail. The corner is the highest revenue grossing part of any commerce system - and they put the fire escape there.

But that's a DAMN nice fire escape. You better thank God for the privilege of escaping this totally average suburban hotel through that fire escape, should you ever find yourself there during a fire anyway.

And if this place ever does come burning down in the future, there will be a pretty nice Staybridge with ample parking right down the street. Quite convenient really.

I would agree if this were a mixed use building or even a retail structure. But it's a hotel. People book most hotels online sight unseen days to months in advance. Moving the entrance to the corner wouldn't add or subtract from the profitability in any meaningful way.

If they helped participate in place-making they could charge more per room per night. Places don't become special by accident - they are planned to be special - and special places cost more to visit because....well...they're special.

I would agree if this were a mixed use building or even a retail structure. But it's a hotel. People book most hotels online sight unseen days to months in advance. Moving the entrance to the corner wouldn't add or subtract from the profitability in any meaningful way.

True, but it also wouldn't have costed the developer any extra and it would have went along way towards making this corner attractive.

The Holiday Inn Express nailed it and wish these other hotels could do the same.

This illustrates the ultimate fail. The corner is the highest revenue grossing part of any commerce system - and they put the fire escape there.
Wah.

This thing's gonna be so ugly. It looks like a suburban hospital.

Honestly, I really don't think it's ugly. I certainly don't think it's a home run, either, but we could have gotten something FAR worse here *cough*Staybridge Suites*cough*. I don't love this building, but I do like it, and I think the hotel will do very well - especially given that it's directly across from the Criterion.

I like the building. Its a little different but also fits in with the surrounding buildings. No reason to be nitpicky here, though I understand having honest discussion on what could have been better (helps me learn).

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/springhill050716.jpg

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/springhill053016.jpg

I know there were a lot of people that didn't like this thing, but honestly, I think this building is coming together rather nicely and it's reinforcing the urban canyon developing along that stretch of Sheridan. And once stuff is built up around it, you're not really going to see much of the plain south and east facades either. Not a home run - the hotel could be a bit more visually interesting - but definitely not a swing and a miss either.

From Sheridan, it's shaping up to be nicer than the renderings may indicate.

I agree - even from I-235, it looks like the front is shaping up quite nicely!

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/springhill060916.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/springhill060916b.jpg

Top photo is great.

Really like it, Will look great when the glass is installed.
Deep Duece/Bricktown looks amazing right now with all this construction.

Deep Duece/Bricktown looks amazing right now with all this construction.
Most of OKC looks amazing right now! It's incredible to drive around and see all of the construction! Hard to keep track of it all anymore! :)

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/springhill062616a.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/springhill062616b.jpg

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/springhill081016a.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/springhill081016b.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/springhill081016c.jpg

Street wall is gonna be awesome in that block. Really, all of the way down Sheridan.

One of the most rapid and stunning changes ever in urban OKC.

From nothingness to dense in just a couple of years.

The other day I was thinking that if not for historical precedent and the confusion/expense related to changing street names, Sheridan would actually be a far more appropriate street to be named "Main" than Main Street itself, which is now anything but.

The other day I was thinking that if not for historical precedent and the confusion/expense related to changing street names, Sheridan would actually be a far more appropriate street to be named "Main" than Main Street itself, which is now anything but.

Would be appropriate but what a nightmare for all the business. Besides expense of new business cards and stationary, changing business entries on the internet and everywhere else would be a nightmare.

Trust me...my own business address is on Sheridan, just like yours. I want no part of such a change. It was an abstract thought.

Depending on the night, the folks on staying on the West side of this complex may get a free concert :)

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/springhill082816.jpg

It's now on Marriott.com with an October opening.

http://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/okcsd-springhill-suites-oklahoma-city-downtown/

Looks like they're asking for $20 for parking! What's the parking price like at comparable area hotels like Hampton and Aloft?

looks to be more or less the standard website at this point as there was nothing OKC specific written yet.

Sign is up.

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/springhill090516.jpg

There's also a sign in the middle of the north facade that has been installed. Brickwork is mostly complete... the exterior should be finished quite soon.

This project is starting to look very nice in person.



http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/springhill091216a.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/springhill091116b.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/springhill091116c.jpg

I like the extra tone of brick at the bottom, really makes it nicer.

I still hate the lack of corner interaction, though. :(

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What city is that in the photo? I don't seem to recognize it.

What's with this vertical strip that was left undone ? Or was it removed for a reason ?

What's with this vertical strip that was left undone ? Or was it removed for a reason ?

Given the location of the dumpster, perhaps it was where their multi story trash chute was located and prevented the bricklayers from accessing that portion.

Given the location of the dumpster, perhaps it was where their multi story trash chute was located and prevented the bricklayers from accessing that portion.

Sure looks like it, thanks.

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/springhill100916.jpg

I'm still baffled at how that corridor has changed/is changing in that last picture. To think that this stretch was abandoned car repair shops and boarded up buildings that I remembered as I drove into town to see the Redhawks play. Can't wait to see what else is different in 10 years.

I'm still baffled at how that corridor has changed/is changing in that last picture. To think that this stretch was abandoned car repair shops and boarded up buildings that I remembered as I drove into town to see the Redhawks play. Can't wait to see what else is different in 10 years.
This is the same area in 2014.

https://goo.gl/maps/xSBDsAsdFu62

And it's not just this street but the whole area. There's been so much infill. An area that was empty lots just a few years ago has grown into an urban core.

^

That picture and comparison is stunning.

One of the most quickly transformed urban areas ever in OKC.

Someone can mash this up better, but...

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https://i.imgflip.com/1cainn.gif (https://imgflip.com/gif/1cainn)via Imgflip GIF Maker (https://imgflip.com/gifgenerator)

Wow.

nice