It appears plans are in the works to turn the old Central Freight Lines building and yard at 927 E Reno Ave into a new hotel.

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The property, situated directly north-east of the I-35/I-40/I-235 junction, sold in October 2015 to BRICKTOWN OKC JOSEPH INVESTMENTS LLC, an out-of-state developer who also appears to own the Biltmore Hotel in west Oklahoma City. According to documents filed with the City Planning commission, the property is being rezoned as I-1 Light Industrial (from it's current I-3 Heavy Industrial zoning) to allow for the construction of this new hotel. Thus far I can find no plans nor a building permit, so the flag and building design is currently unknown.

Yes, I contacted the property owner about this.

I'll add more later.

Ack, sorry if I jumped the gun on this! Do I need to pull anything down?

No, no... No problem.

Ack, sorry if I jumped the gun on this! Do I need to pull anything down?
First Rule of OKCTalk , Don't out scoop the Admin..

Motel 6?

The city has LOOOONG wanted to try some East Reno revitalization. At least back during Russell's reign.

This could be a great opportunity for a new master planned district or community.

Sheridan should be continued through and a new grid based street system built north of Reno. Maybe something like the Railyard District or something cool. Also, not that I would ever support a downtown football stadium, but there ever was to be one in OKC downtown, this would be a cool area to have it.

One other thing, I would really like to see the section of I-40 between I-35 and 235 either removed completely or even better, double stacked as an 8 lane highway with a 3rd stack for I-35 direct connection perhaps just north of Reno on Reno exactly and the waterfront restored. More optimally, I would like to see this highway buried, but I don't what is more unrealistic, this portion of I-40 being buried or triple stacked. Would be nice to have buildings a bike path along that river instead of the highway that is there now.

Would love to see the buried option. Was recently in Dallas and they now have a buried and stacked portion of I-620 out near the Galleria. It's a Tollway but it's AMAZING! The Tollway is below ground and the 620 above-ground has the exits. It made for a speedy bypass when traveling through.

Eastbound and down: OERB cleanup could spur development in Bricktown ‘suburbs’

By: Sarah Terry-Cobo The Journal Record April 13, 2016

OKLAHOMA CITY – Joshua Joseph said he saw what looked like a junkyard east of Bricktown and thought it would be a great place for a hotel. The Dallas-based developer was driving east on Reno Avenue when he spotted the Central Freight Lines trucking terminal dotted with truck parts.

“I want to create a beautiful entrance to Bricktown,” Joseph said.

Heavy equipment cleared dirt and concrete chunks on the site Wednesday as contractors removed the remnants of leftover material. Joseph’s project is moving forward quickly in part because there was an abandoned oil well on the lot. The Oklahoma Energy Resources Board is removing debris from a well drilled in 1931, as part of its well-site restoration program. In 1971, the well was plugged and the site was abandoned.

The environmental cleanup initiative is funded through a voluntary one-tenth of one percent tax on oil and gas production. The site on 927 E Reno Ave. is OERB’s 15,000th restoration project since the organization was founded in 1993. The group has spent $100 million.

OERB Environmental Director Steve Sowers said it will cost about $20,000 to remediate the concrete and scrap metal left on Joseph’s lot. The site is fairly typical of those drilled in the 1930s, Sowers said. It includes four concrete foundations, where the footing of an oil derrick was attached when the well was drilled. The project should be completed in about five days, depending on the weather, he said.

OERB restored about 401 well sites in Oklahoma County, and there are about 68 awaiting cleanup. At least 20,000 more sites across the state need more evaluation, Sowers said.

He said Joseph could help kick off redevelopment on Reno Avenue east of the Interstate 235 interchange. Joseph said he wasn’t aware of the abandoned well site until after he purchased the property, but OERB approached him about the no-cost cleanup program.

Joseph said he wants to provide a more affordable hotel for people visiting Bricktown or the new whitewater rafting attraction, which are less than a mile from his property.

Joseph he plans to develop the seven-acre lot in phases. He plans to build a 97-room Candlewood Suites, with construction to begin in late summer.

He said if there is interest, he would like to build apartments on the lot too.

“I want to make it the suburbs of Bricktown,” Joseph said.

More incentives are needed to encourage retail and leisure development east of Bricktown, he said. If the city built a sidewalk to connect his property to the nearby tourist attractions, it would encourage more people to walk in the district, he said.

^

Will be nice to have development on this side, however, hope he doesn't go cheap. Agree it needs sidewalks!

“I want to make it the suburbs of Bricktown,” Joseph said.



*shudders* I hope he means that to describe it's proximity to Bricktown and not design-wise.

This will be a 4-story Candelwood Suites.

The building permits have been filed and are close to being approved.

The city has LOOOONG wanted to try some East Reno revitalization. At least back during Russell's reign.

Before Russell's reign, actually. APA even came in and helped with a planning effort through its assistance program.

This will be a 4-story Candelwood Suites.

The building permits have been filed and are close to being approved.

I like this, being on the other side of the highway it most likely won't pull the same rates as several blocks west would. Which means this may be a more affordable option for families who are visiting but want to be downtown but can't justify some of the more pricy options.

I agree. It's also very useful for longer-term business travelers who need to be close to downtown but still want the ability to cook their own meals, since there's a kitchenette in every room. I just hope that the developer follows a more urban model for this location instead of the traditional large parking lot suburban model.

Dallas hotelier Joshua Joseph has submitted plans that show a cluster of 4 hotels for an area to the east of the Bricktown district.


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/candlewood3.jpg


The first hotel – a 97 room, 4-story Candelwood Suites – is just starting construction at 933 E. Reno.

The area just east of I-235 has long been neglected but Joseph bought nearly 7 acres for $600,000 and has drawn up plans that show a total of 399 rooms.


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/candlewood1.jpg



The plans come as 4 separate hotel projects are deep into construction to the immediate west, with several more in the planning stages for the Bricktown area.

See our comprehensive Downtown Hotel Summary (http://www.okctalk.com/showthread.php?t=34292&p=659682#post659682) for details on the other projects, including links to full articles and renderings.


Currently, the downtown area has over 2,500 rooms with 557 under construction and 1,247 planned, not including this project.



http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/candlewood2.jpg

Pete, that seems like an over abundance of hotel rooms. I have asked this before and I will ask it again, is DT/BT OKC getting too overbuilt on hotel rooms where ADR and OCC will start dropping?

Pete, that seems like an over abundance of hotel rooms. I have asked this before and I will ask it again, is DT/BT OKC getting too overbuilt on hotel rooms where ADR and OCC will start dropping?

Any price pressure from oversupply will affect suburban hotels before it will affect downtown too much.

Are there even sidewalks included?

Any price pressure from oversupply will affect suburban hotels before it will affect downtown too much.

That isn't exactly true. Overbuilding the demand in downtown is entirely possible. People don't just stay in other parts of the city because they can't get a room downtown. Downtown isn't convenient for all our guests. There are limits to every market.

That isn't exactly true. Overbuilding the demand in downtown is entirely possible. People don't just stay in other parts of the city because they can't get a room downtown. Downtown isn't convenient for all our guests. There are limits to every market.

I'm not saying every hotel outside of downtown will shut their doors. I would agree that both markets would be affected, but I think downtown hotels would be more likely to maintain profitable rates and bookings more easily than say a hotel on I-240 and S. Western.

edit - nevermind, i refuse to be a Debbie Downer

There needs to be pressure for urban design and good sidewalks or that will just hamper this area if core development ever extends to this far east. If I'm reading these renderings correctly these are straight suburban designs.

http://www.oklahoman.com/login?referer=/article/5530918?embargo_redirect=yes

Yeah you won't be getting that

I'm not saying every hotel outside of downtown will shut their doors. I would agree that both markets would be affected, but I think downtown hotels would be more likely to maintain profitable rates and bookings more easily than say a hotel on I-240 and S. Western.

I think the answer falls somewhere between your thoughts and mine and Rover's. I think it is a basic supply and demand kind of thing. If there is only 1,000 rooms and occupancy is at 85%, then people will definitely build more hotels, but if there are 2,500 rooms and occupancy is at 75% with 1,500 more under construction, I would think it would be wise to make sure the demand is there before building more hotels. The problem is the process for getting a hotel built is much longer than the actual construction, there are plans, financing, engineering, city ordinances, etc. So, when someone breaks ground on a new hotel, it had already been in the work for 12-18 months, if not more.

I was just driving on I-40 past this area and thinking how much of an eyesore it is at such a gateway to the city. Not sure this is much better, but it's better than junkyards.

Construction has started, and the foundation has been poured. Apologies for the poor picture; I will attempt to get a better one soon.
http://www.okctalk.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=13476&d=1485562771

The construction just to the west of this project is for mini-storage.

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/eastbricktown061817.jpg

YEAH!! Just what we need, another storage facility! :D

Maybe if we're lucky, there is a high end rendering of semi-clear shrubs and hipsters walking in front of the storage facility out there.

Storage facilities are easy money....like surface parking. However, when the land becomes more valuable, it is easy to clear and build. In this case, it may be awhile.

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/ebricktown090317.jpg

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/reno111917.jpg

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/candlewood011818b.jpg

The Candelwood is now open for business and the 2nd hotel, a Best Western, is already under construction.

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/candlewood050618a.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/candlewood050618b.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/candlewood050618c.jpg

Pete, aside from the Best Western, what are the other hotels under construction for this site? I remember reading that there were 3 or 4 planned, but didn't know if plans had changed, or if the brands had been revealed.

Pete, aside from the Best Western, what are the other hotels under construction for this site? I remember reading that there were 3 or 4 planned, but didn't know if plans had changed, or if the brands had been revealed.

Country Inn in the NE corner and Sleep Inn / Mainstay in the SW corner.

Candlewood is SE corner and Best Western is NW corner.

Oddly enough, I actually kind of dig this area. Having a storage facility that close to Bricktown and DD is a pretty good idea, and I love that these 4 hotels will be clustered together. Waaaay better use of that land then what it was. I'm happy with the density of this development.

When I went by there, that Candlewood seemed pretty full.

Oddly enough, I actually kind of dig this area. Having a storage facility that close to Bricktown and DD is a pretty good idea, and I love that these 4 hotels will be clustered together. Waaaay better use of that land then what it was. I'm happy with the density of this development.

I like the density, I just with more foresight would have gone into the land use. Eventually Downtown-esque street design will spread East. Why not go ahead and push the buildings to the front and hide the parking in the back?

I like the density, I just with more foresight would have gone into the land use. Eventually Downtown-esque street design will spread East. Why not go ahead and push the buildings to the front and hide the parking in the back?

While I wish they'd done that, I don't think it's that pressing a concern. The picture above (post #36) shows how big a barrier the interstate is between Bricktown and these hotels. Sure, you can walk there, but it's definitely not comfortable. If downtown-esque street design spreads east, I'd bet it happens north of this long before it happens on Reno. Somewhere between 4th and 10th will probably happen first. Maybe I'm wrong, but I think we've got at least 15 years before there's any move for that in this area. Maybe 20+ years.

I'm not a big fan of building a bunch of cheap crap in areas near downtown. We will eventually expand to that area, and it would definitely be nice if these places had been built with foresight of how downtown will grow. This development fills me with indifference. But I also think that by the time the economics support pushing downtown east into this area, by then it won't be that big a deal to just tear these suckers down. These are fine as a placeholder for whatever good thing eventually gets built here.

I like the density, I just with more foresight would have gone into the land use. Eventually Downtown-esque street design will spread East. Why not go ahead and push the buildings to the front and hide the parking in the back?

I don't have a lot of high hopes for most of OKCs development. Where big bucks are spent is one thing, but here, this could have EASILY been a really crappy development. Imagine pitched roofs on each hotel, only two stories, and each one being further and further down Reno. Think the Sleep Inn on Broadway in Edmond.

So the fact that these are clustered and dense, and presumably moderately urban is, sadly, surprising given the area. I'll take the few negatives to get this little block of decent hotels.

Here is the plan for the Best Western (Building B under construction) and the rest of the development.

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/candlewood022718c.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/candlewood022718a.jpg

Are there any plans by the city for fully connected sidewalks extending along Reno west into Bricktown? Based on the site design and pictures it looks like they're in place along the front of this development as well as a small stretch in front of the storage facility, but given the interchange I can only assume there won't be much else being built between there and Lincoln going north.

In Google Maps I see a sidewalk stretching most of the way along the south side of Reno from the west including over the railroad, but it would be nice to have it on the north side of the road too. Maybe just over to the southbound Lincoln intersection to connect to the crosswalk to nowhere that currently exists? That would give a sidewalk connection to both Bricktown and the boathouse district, which would be a win for both districts and the hotels.

Don't know kind of seems like a good walk to the new convention center and a Thunder game. I guess street cars will help that some.

This is the Comfort Inn that just opened about a half mile further east on Reno.

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/comfortinn050618.jpg

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/joseph090918.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/joseph090918b.jpg

Would be good to see some pedestrian improvements from this area to Bricktown. Like a double wide sidewalk with plenty of lights under the bridge.

You can see that along Reno the hotels and the self-storage place have added short sidewalks because that is now required by building code.

But after the storage, the sidewalk just stops right as you get to the overpasses. The city should come in and complete that walk all the way west to Lincoln.

You can see that along Reno the hotels and the self-storage place have added short sidewalks because that is now required by building code.

But after the storage, the sidewalk just stops right as you get to the overpasses. The city should come in and complete that walk all the way west to Lincoln.

Can the city do it? Is it ODOT right of way under the bridge? Not sure how that works for a city street passing under a highway.

Would be good to see some pedestrian improvements from this area to Bricktown. Like a double wide sidewalk with plenty of lights under the bridge.

Eh, the lights'll just burn out in a year and not be replaced. :Smiley122

Eh, the lights'll just burn out in a year and not be replaced. :Smiley122

Is the homeless camp still under here? The trashcan fires can illuminate the way. :)

Candlewood has been open for a while, Best Western on the right is moving along and they are well underway on the Country Inn which is the wood framing you see.

The 4th proposed hotel would be south of the Best Western and be a Sleep Inn.

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/reno012019a.jpg

In the foreground, is that the little blue train engine that was at the CO-OP ?

In the foreground, is that the little blue train engine that was at the CO-OP ?

No, that's a leased engine from GATX that Union Pacific uses; the rails in the foreground are part of UP's Harter Yard. The GE 80 tonner that used to be over at the Co-op (PCOM 1944) was sold to the demolition company that scrapped the silos there... It doesn't appear to have been seen in the wild since.

Candlewood should come up with a more midbrow concept: Candlebox Suites.

Dallas hotelier Joshua Joseph said this last project is now going to be an assisted living center, right?

Anyone know much more about Dallas hotelier Joshua Joseph? Anyone find corporate website?

I've never been able to find a website.

Joseph also owns mainly suburban hotels in DFW and some small towns in Oklahoma.