Two hotels join rebirth of MidTown
Two hotels join rebirth of MidTown
By Steve Lackmeyer
The Oklahoman
Two MidTown hotels, both almost a century old, were recently added to Greg Banta's growing MidTown Renaissance development.
Banta completed a $265,000 purchase of the 98-year-old Hotel Marion, 110 NW 10, on Thursday. He bought the 96-year-old Cline Hotel, 1018 N Harvey, on May 31 for $389,380.
Both hotels are considered longtime eyesores along NW 10, which is being targeted for redevelopment by the city as a connection between St. Anthony Hospital and the Oklahoma Health Center.
"It's really good timing for the community," said Dave Lopez, president of Downtown Oklahoma City Inc. "So many of Greg's investments are helping the area move forward."
Banta has already started work at the Cline Hotel, which was a flop house until his purchase. All residents were evicted last month, he said, and crews are cleaning out debris and gutting the interior of the three-story building.
Banta also demolished a burned-out home on an adjoining lot.
Banta said "Cline" was his grandfather's last name -- something that drew his attention as he first began acquiring properties in MidTown. During the past year, Banta has bought several blocks between Western Avenue, Broadway, NW 10 and NW 13, an area known as MidTown on the north edge of downtown.
Renovations are under way at more than a dozen of the old homes, duplexes and office buildings, including MidTown's landmark Plaza Court Building.
Banta said he will soon seek permission from the Urban Design Commission to replace windows on the Cline Hotel, and will follow with roofing repairs and a marketing plan.
"I'm assuming it will be office space. ... It could be residential, too," Banta said. "We won't be operating it as a hotel, I can tell you that."
The Marion Hotel has been empty for about 20 years, and has passed through at least three owners in the past decade, all of whom attempted renovations.
"It's a difficult building; it's been in disrepair for a long time," Banta said. "Our plan is to go to the Urban Design Commission, get approval to put in windows, put a new roof on it and get it stabilized structurally. It's a neat old building -- and in a perfect world, we will keep it and try to take advantage of the architectural details."
Banta agreed with Lopez that the former hotels and the residents at the Cline were an obstacle for creating a medical corridor between St. Anthony Hospital and the Oklahoma Health Center.
"This is going to be a gateway," Banta said.
"It's important these properties are cleaned up, both for the city and for our investments."
Bookmarks