Fordson Hotel (formerly 21c Museum Hotel)

[Teo9969]

A modern mid rise office building would be perfect.



Hint of the old with a respectable dosage of modern. And ground floor retail.

Just have that corner part on Classen and that type of design is gold.

[adaniel]

Our Arts Scene is a joke because Arts are married to public input…and when the spouse of the Arts is in bed with everyone but the Arts…well…yes…it's a joke.

I really don't need any other example than how quickly and happily we approach the idea of razing Stage Center. Game. Set. Match.

I've even said the reverse of what you two are implying, which is that it's not for a lack of talent. On the contrary, there are lots of talented people in the Arts in OKC…you know how valued they are? They're lucky to make a lower to lower-middle class living pouring far more than 40 hours/week into their craft…oh, and at least 20 hours/week at a job that can actually pays on a regular basis.

The Thunder's most recent Gate Receipts in Forbes were $43M … I'd be very surprised if all the top Arts organizations total revenue was $43M combined. And that's total revenue for the Arts Orgs and not gate receipts…I'd be shocked if gate receipts totaled 10% of that $43M.

Very few theater productions have taken place in the Stage Center for some time now. It may be an architectural wonder to some but it was poorly planned for any sort of production or plays. You should take that up with the architect and not the state of the arts community. Besides, how can you focus on the SC and ignore the massive planned renovations to the Civic Center Music Hall or momentum citywide to get more live music venues?

As far as artists struggling here, ever heard of the term "starving artist"? This is not something only in OKC. Go to Santa Fe, arguably the best art scene within driving distance. For every Georgia O'Keefe-level successful artist, there are 50 painters who have to peddle their work to tourists on the Plaza between working their "normal job" to pay bills. Even my family friend, who is mad talented and landed a role on a mid-level Broadway play in NYC, still has to work as a nanny to spoiled Manhattan brats 25 hours a week. She hates doing it but she's got bills and will do anything for her big break. Just the nature of the game.

[PWitty]

Our Arts Scene is a joke because Arts are married to public input…and when the spouse of the Arts is in bed with everyone but the Arts…well…yes…it's a joke.

I really don't need any other example than how quickly and happily we approach the idea of razing Stage Center. Game. Set. Match.

I've even said the reverse of what you two are implying, which is that it's not for a lack of talent. On the contrary, there are lots of talented people in the Arts in OKC…you know how valued they are? They're lucky to make a lower to lower-middle class living pouring far more than 40 hours/week into their craft…oh, and at least 20 hours/week at a job that can actually pays on a regular basis.

The Thunder's most recent Gate Receipts in Forbes were $43M … I'd be very surprised if all the top Arts organizations total revenue was $43M combined. And that's total revenue for the Arts Orgs and not gate receipts…I'd be shocked if gate receipts totaled 10% of that $43M.

Razing a dilapidated, non-functional building to make way for a tower that will hopefully house a sizable company's employee base is hardly a perfect example of OKC's lack of the Arts.

[UnFrSaKn]

[Urbanized]

(Watch Urbanized and I now get into an online fight....)

I prefer to limit my Internet fights to Twitter...

[progressiveboy]

This development should be the catalyst in redeveloping the western segment of downtown OKC! Love this concept. The vibe I get is a big metropolitan, tastefully done development. Adds to OKC becoming a more cosmopolitan city with nice amenities!

[Rover]

Is this a 21c hotel? Or are you just posting something you like?

[kevinpate]

Ok, for the area north of the Museum 21C location
clear that entire area, including where the jail stands now. Dig down a ways and put in a multi-level parking structure below ground level. Build it so you can add a big arse retail/office/maybeevenresidential space above it in a few years and then in thirty or so years dig it back up and put in a really awesome tower for an energy company instead.

No? It's happened before. Maybe not wait thirty years though.

[UnFrSaKn]

Is this a 21c hotel? Or are you just posting something you like?

No, just something that would look nice there.

TCA Architects Help Design the New Urban Neighborhoods of Downtown LA | DTLA RISING

[Rover]

No, just something that would look nice there.

TCA Architects Help Design the New Urban Neighborhoods of Downtown LA | DTLA RISING

Yes, and that is real retail space.

[Teo9969]

Very few theater productions have taken place in the Stage Center for some time now. It may be an architectural wonder to some but it was poorly planned for any sort of production or plays. You should take that up with the architect and not the state of the arts community. Besides, how can you focus on the SC and ignore the massive planned renovations to the Civic Center Music Hall or momentum citywide to get more live music venues?

Architecture is a valid art form. That building is nothing, if not Art. But because enough people don't like it or "get" it, it will be razed without much thought. Lord help the OKCMOA if Chihuly ever falls out of style.

As far as artists struggling here, ever heard of the term "starving artist"? This is not something only in OKC. Go to Santa Fe, arguably the best art scene within driving distance. For every Georgia O'Keefe-level successful artist, there are 50 painters who have to peddle their work to tourists on the Plaza between working their "normal job" to pay bills. Even my family friend, who is mad talented and landed a role on a mid-level Broadway play in NYC, still has to work as a nanny to spoiled Manhattan brats 25 hours a week. She hates doing it but she's got bills and will do anything for her big break. Just the nature of the game.

And this is acceptable?

[hoya]

And this is acceptable?

Yes it is.

[Rover]

This hotel is bringing in significant art and raising the awareness and still it is more griping on this thread about how bad the city is in supporting art. Lol. Just a slow day I guess. Can' appreciate what IS happening.

BTW, SC isn't a piece of art. And if so, most art pieces don't require 100s of thousands of $ per year just to be maintained. Trying to tie its demise to the citizens capitalistic support for art is a serious straw man.

[Mississippi Blues]

As an aspiring developer/architect, I actually saved a picture of that complex a few months ago to look at it in detail.

[UnFrSaKn]

If the corner section with dark borders was all different styles for each floor and was kept lit up at night it would look pretty cool.

[Spartan]

A modern mid rise office building would be perfect.



Hint of the old with a respectable dosage of modern. And ground floor retail.

That reminds me of this new infill along Vasagatan in Stockholm, across from their central post office. Much more important to match scale than recreate motif.

[Pete]

TIF funding approved yesterday:

Louisville, Ky.-based 21c Museum Hotels, meanwhile, received unanimous approval for $5.3 million in tax increment financing toward a $51.5 million conversion of the Fred Jones assembly plant at 900 W Main into a hotel and contemporary art gallery.

The redevelopment calls for 140 hotel rooms and a locally owned restaurant

Oklahoma City panel approves public funding for downtown development projects | News OK

[Urbanized]

Hooray!

[OKVision4U]

Congrats OKC. We are ready to see more!

[Spartan]

That was fast action from the city. This looks very, very legit.

[ljbab728]

The city council also approved $3 million in tax increment financing to Indianapolis-based Milhaus Development, which is planning to build a 327-unit apartment complex at NW 10 and Shartel in Midtown.

A conversion of the Fred Jones assembly plant into a 21C Museum Hotel and redevelopment of the former Journal Record building both received unanimous final approval for tax increment financing Tuesday from the Oklahoma City Council.

[Urbanized]

Good grief, it's already been a month since the 21c discussion began?

[ethansisson]

Super excited about this. This has long been my favorite building downtown. I used to spend a lot of time there imagining the redevelopment possibilities.

[jccouger]

Just want to say this is my favorite development going on in the Downtown area. This project is going to do more for this area then anybody can imagine. Like Ethan said before me, this building has been my favorite non skyscraper building in OKC for as long as I can remember and I'm so excited for this repurposment with this amazing brand. So Excited!!!

[Spartan]

I'm with you guys. I've had a thing for this building's casement windows for years.