Oklahoma's first Tribute Hotel coming to Classen Curve area (https://www.okctalk.com/content.php?r=655-Oklahoma-s-first-Tribute-Hotel-coming-to-Classen-Curve-area)

A local hotel management group has partnered with Marriott's Tribute Portfolio collection and will be bringing a new 5-story hotel to a parcel near NW 63rd and Western.


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Plains Management Group is set to start construction soon at the site just north of Whole Foods and part of the Triangle at Classen Curve.

To be named The Ellison Hotel after the renowned author, Plains has partnered with the Ralph Ellison Foundation and aims to expose visitors and guests to the artistic side of Oklahoma's creativity through local galleries, artists, programming and events.

The boutique hotel will feature 120 rooms with a high level of service, a rooftop swimming pool and bar, meeting space, a lounge, and a restaurant operated by Chris Lower (Pizzeria Gusto) and Joseph Royer (Saturn Grill).

Michael Owens, Founder and Executive Director of the Ellison Foundation said in a statement, “We are excited to be part of this historic project. A hotel that honors Ellison’s legacy falls squarely within the vision of our organization. As stewards of Ralph Ellison’s voice, we’re delighted that everyone who wants to hear it will have a place to celebrate his contribution to the Oklahoma landscape.”

Plains Managing Partner Ryan Slater added, “We are excited to be able to bring the first Tribute Portfolio here in Oklahoma City. Our team has been working on this project for 5 years and from the architecture to the name, it is a great opportunity to showcase local creativity on a national level."

Tribute Portfolio describes themselves as a “growing family of characterful, independent hotels drawn together by their passion for captivating design and their drive to create vibrant social scenes for guests and locals alike.” There 24 Tribute properties in the U.S. And another 19 internationally.


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Local Architecture firm GSB and KNA Design will work together on architecture and interior design. J.E. Dunn will be the construction team with Bill White of White and Associates as the construction consultant and Simmons Bank is the lender. The Ellison brand will be developed by Cooper House and Marriott International’s design team.

The Ellison is scheduled to open in early 2021.


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My prediction? They'll have great success! Glad to see this taking place.

Badly needed in this area and looks like a great fit.

They have a great team and concept and have spent a lot of time developing all this.

Yes, yes. Great fit for the area.

Badly needed in this area and looks like a great fit.

They have a great team and concept and have spent a lot of time developing all this.

Slater is a 2nd generation OKC based hotel operator. Local people putting their money and reputation on the line with this. I think it looks great.

Looks cool. Adding more people to this area is a plus. Any plans that show the whole lot? I’d like to see how the parking is designed

Here's hoping they retain the beautiful live oak trees on the property.

^^^^ +1000000

There is a construction fence up at this site, as of today.

Little hard to see, but the fence is up for this project; the area with the track.

To the north, the former school is being renovated for NBC Bank, including a drive-thru.

Crane in the upper left is for HVAC equipment at Flower Child, next to the newly-opened Torchy's Tacos. Residences at Classen Curve (apartments) should be starting soon in the big empty area in the middle.

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Is the lot behind Whole Foods available for development? Or does Whole Foods own it?

Is the lot behind Whole Foods available for development? Or does Whole Foods own it?

It's owned by Washington Prime and they have proposed a couple of restaurants there, but just conceptually -- no operators have been identified.

Pardon my ignorance, but how is the hotel supposed to be laid out on the parcel? Will the main entrance be facing Western or the street to the south?

It will face the street to the south.

https://i.imgur.com/YMrqSs3.jpg

63rd and Western is en fuego.

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Vincit Constructors joins the Ellison Hotel Project Team
During these incredibly challenging times, we are grateful for new opportunities. Excited and humbled to join Plains Management Group to build The Ellison Hotel.
#EllisonHotel #WhiteSolutionsOK #GSBinc #JA_OKC #WallaceEngineering #VincitConstructors #ConquerYourVision #simmonsbank

https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:6662036085591334912/

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Didn't know where else to post this, but this 1976 article about Ralph Ellison returning home for the opening of the library in his name is incredible: https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/1976/11/22/going-to-the-territory It's long, but really worth the read.

Foundation going in:

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/ellison071620a.jpg

Steel starting to go up:

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Every time I see this thread I think it's the proposed 8 story development in Midtown ("The Ellison") and I get so excited to find out if it's happening.

Alas, Classen Curve is moving along :)

The proposed Midtown project is The Elliott.

The proposed Midtown project is The Elliott.

:lol2: That's what I meant but mixed it up AGAIN!

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I think this is going to look better than the renderings because the renderings don't accurately represent the surrounding area. Compare that last picture to:

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Way more street facing than you would think now that it's going up in the real environment. It's going to be fairly nice mid-rise infill instead of mid-rise middle of a field.

View of the rooftop pool/patio area.

16703
16704

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Who owns the property to the south between this and Whole Foods?

Who owns the property to the south between this and Whole Foods?

Washington Prime, the company that bought all that property from Chesapeake.

PUD plans show another restaurant pad with some parking on that parcel, although no deal has been done as of yet.

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Wow. It's been a while since I've driven this area. Contrasting these latest pics with the second "Before" pic in Post #10 is amazing. Complete transformation. This will be the buckle of a great walkable area from Classen Curve all the way north to Casady Square.

What a neat city we call home.

I bet those apartments end up with waiting lists.

There are almost no for-rent units in that area and you can walk to 2 great grocery stores, a bunch of restaurants and bars, and tons of shopping.

Not only is it a great area in general, it's centrally located and easy to get almost anywhere.

There are aspects of the pedestrian/cycling experience in that area that are going to see increased demand for improvement once there are people living there that want to walk around and I welcome these demands...

^

Yes, right now things are really disjointed but I'm sure that will evolve.

I would bet on a traffic signal being installed on 63rd between Western and Grand that would make it much easier for people to cross.

There are aspects of the pedestrian/cycling experience in that area that are going to see increased demand for improvement once there are people living there that want to walk around and I welcome these demands...

There are already more walkers and bikers around that area than I see concentrated anywhere else in the city, including the campuses. Every evening there are tons of walkers and bikers from The Curve, all along Grand through the park as it curves up to Penn. There are great trails through the park for running, walking and biking. And, the speed limit on the street is 20 mph. The sports fields there are used extensively, as well.

^

A lot of the runners in that area come from group events hosted by Red Coyote in Classen Curve.

But yes, tons of pedestrians in that area already and it's only going to increase.

There are already more walkers and bikers around that area than I see concentrated anywhere else in the city, including the campuses. Every evening there are tons of walkers and bikers from The Curve, all along Grand through the park as it curves up to Penn. There are great trails through the park for running, walking and biking. And, the speed limit on the street is 20 mph. The sports fields there are used extensively, as well.

The existence of walkers/joggers/bikers in the area doesn't preclude the need for infrastructure improvements. I'm just saying the demand will grow and hopefully there will be change. As someone who has walked through the area, ridden my bike through the area, and taken the bus to the area (and then walked), there's lots of room for improvement here.

The existence of walkers/joggers/bikers in the area doesn't preclude the need for infrastructure improvements. I'm just saying the demand will grow and hopefully there will be change. As someone who has walked through the area, ridden my bike through the area, and taken the bus to the area (and then walked), there's lots of room for improvement here.

That goes without saying practically anywhere. Just pointing out that there is currently a lot of activity and support for such improvements. It's a very family friendly environment where people get outside and enjoy it.

Washington Prime, the company that bought all that property from Chesapeake.

PUD plans show another restaurant pad with some parking on that parcel, although no deal has been done as of yet.

that would be a home run location for ruths chris steak

Not to mention a future commuter rail stop which yes, is still probably a decade away, but will only add to the desirability of the area for young professional types.

There was discussion on Twitter yesterday about the I-44/Western junction needing to be put on a road diet and have a bike lane added. I'd love to see that as biking that intersection can be perilous. Having the entire Western corridor from 63rd to 36th be completely walkable would be fabulous.

Not to mention a future commuter rail stop which yes, is still probably a decade away, but will only add to the desirability of the area for young professional types.

There was discussion on Twitter yesterday about the I-44/Western junction needing to be put on a road diet and have a bike lane added. I'd love to see that as biking that intersection can be perilous. Having the entire Western corridor from 63rd to 36th be completely walkable would be fabulous.

This is the only area in the metro (besides the OU campus) that is ready for a commuter rail stop right now. Downtown Edmond is getting closer it just needs a few more pieces.

Not to mention a future commuter rail stop which yes, is still probably a decade away, but will only add to the desirability of the area for young professional types.

There was discussion on Twitter yesterday about the I-44/Western junction needing to be put on a road diet and have a bike lane added. I'd love to see that as biking that intersection can be perilous. Having the entire Western corridor from 63rd to 36th be completely walkable would be fabulous.

I saw that thread was able to get a copy of the PDF of the Deep Fork Trail presentation they were talking about, it is very interesting.

I would generally agree but I also think Crossroads PnR stop would be a good one that's shovel ready as well.

My wish route:

CR North: Guthrie - N Edmond (Airport) PnR - Edmond Downtown - S Edmond PnR - N 63rd - Downtown.
CR South: Purcell - OU - Norman North (University Park N) - Crossroads PnR - Downtown *

30 min headways during 6am-9am, 4pm-7pm rush hours and 11am-1pm Lunch, 1 hr headways during 10pm-12am Late runs M-F. * CR South would be each way during runs

Now THAT would be an awesome Commuter Rail starter network

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Very nice.

Drive by last night it looks great! they have all the rooms lit up and shades partially or fully open really ads life there and makes you notice it even more.