Fordson Hotel (formerly 21c Museum Hotel)

[soonerguru]

Well, I didn't vote for Shadid for Mayor, but it is always good to have a critic there to give differing views.

As for it not being a handout, how is the loan structured? Who is on the hook if the deal goes south?

It's federally backed by Community Development Block Grants. Shadid's problem is he criticizes everything of this nature and treats all of it equally. In this case, we get the standard Shadid corporate welfare rant, when this is in fact a five-year loan that will be repaid with interest.

Shadid's constant criticism actually has the unintended effect of making people ignore him. So when there's a particularly egregious insider deal, no one is listening anymore.

He is completely tone deaf.

[Spartan]

This is a historic project. This bldg has set empty for many years. And it's just an increase in the LOAN amount. And it is a loan for which the city will be repaid interest.

I hate plutocrats who act like capitalists begging at the city trough (and boy do these folks often rake welfare recipients over the coals). I also have a long-running distaste for this game.

And I agree this practice needs to be reined in, but Shadid is like the boy who cries wolf too many times. He treats this like a government handout when it is a short-term loan.

Shadid is right though, but with the wrong argument. It's not about how much money the individuals behind the deal have, but rather that they are leveraged appropriately so that public financing is only used to fill the gap in finance. This is a powerful tool that can move deals toward fruition, but in this case it may have been taken advantage of, which is okay as long as we get a great development out of it. The point now is that the public has gone all in and has real expectations.

[Pete]

ADG Architects just posted this on Facebook:

ADG is excited to announce that we're building a new office in West Downtown, Oklahoma City! So thrilled to be moving to the venerable Fred Jones Manufacturing Facility on Main Street (the future home of the 21c Museum Hotel). Proud to continue to have a hand in the renaissance of Oklahoma City.

Looks like they'll be taking all the space below labeled "tenant space" (see article at top of the page for renderings and more plans):

[Urbanized]

Interesting. Coincides with the property transaction on the Confectionary and Glass Buildings in Bricktown. I've always loved ADG's offices there, but hoped that one day those buildings would host retail and other public uses on basement and ground levels. The buildings' exposed/walk-in basements always reminded me of Newbury Street in Boston. Not to go off topic. Seems like a win-win...

[Pete]

The ADG Facebook page now says they'll occupy the western four bays, which is that entire tenant space shown above.

This was from today; clearly, they haven't even cleared out the building in advance of the renovation:

[Pete]

This also means ADG will be taking all the space along Classen.

[warreng88]

I drove by this afternoon and noticed the lights were on on the first floor and it had been completely cleared out (not gutted just junk and boxes were gone.)

[OkieNate]

I drove by this afternoon and noticed the lights were on on the first floor and it had been completely cleared out (not gutted just junk and boxes were gone.)

Yep, there were at least five 53' trailers there this week this ball looks like it's starting to roll!

[metro]

So to clarify is ADG taking the tenant space and restaurant space?

[kevinpate]

I think it is only the space marked Tenant space. Can not fathom this type of hotel would forego dinning and kitchen space.

[Pete]

So to clarify is ADG taking the tenant space and restaurant space?

No, they are only taking the tenant space. 21c will operate the restaurant and bar as shown:

[catch22]

Yep, there were at least five 53' trailers there this week this ball looks like it's starting to roll!

Are you sure it wasn't fifty-three 5' trailers?

[ljbab728]

Steve's update.

http://www.oklahoman.com/article/5367784?embargo=1

Construction starts this week on conversion of the historic Fred Jones Assembly Plant into a 21C Museum Hotel just one year after the project was first announced.
Greenberg said the first task will be clearing the building of “nonhistorical” elements and to strip the structure to its historic core.

[jccouger]

Hell Yes! Gonna have to start making my way over there to see what is going on once this starts.

[warreng88]

Pete, any idea when we will hear about a proposal regarding the surrounding buildings? Do you think this will have to open before work starts on other projects?

[Pete]

I've heard the plans for by Hall family will be pretty concurrent with 21c.

I suspect we'll start seeing some of the clearing out to the south of the hotel soon. There is a bunch of old industrial stuff immediately to the south which will go, along with the chutes that ties the old car plant to the buildings behind.

I would expect to hear more exact plans soon. They can't tear down anything without design approval.

[OkieNate]

Building is starting to look empty and there was a Midwest Wrecking truck and another 53' trailer there this morning. Progress!

[Pete]

As a reminder, the Hall family owns all the properties shown in yellow:

[Bullbear]

Thats a lot of great property to own around the 21c. I look forward to seeing what they do with it.

[traxx]

Building is starting to look empty and there was a Midwest Wrecking truck and another 53' trailer there this morning. Progress!

Results!

[Pete]

Construction fence is up (from https://twitter.com/dtOKCbuilds):

[David]

And it totally blocks off the sidewalk too.

[Pete]

At least in this case the building is already up against the sidewalk.

And of course, they will be completely re-doing the sidewalk and streetscape as well; that's part of their plans.

[David]

Good point, they can hardly be expected to keep the sidewalk open while replacing it.

[ljbab728]

Good point, they can hardly be expected to keep the sidewalk open while replacing it.

It could be pushed out into the street to accomplish that but I suspect there isn't a great deal of foot traffic there currently anyway.