Embassy Suites

[Plutonic Panda]

STOP IT. Stop thinking that with that mindset. This area can, and should, develop more urban in the future.

what is the problem here? The place is very walkable. I walk and bike through there all the time. Some places need sidewalks, but lord almighty, not everything has to be urban.

[bchris02]

STOP IT. Stop thinking that with that mindset. This area can, and should, develop more urban in the future.

The HSC is what it is.

How and why should the HSC be retrofitted to urbanist standards? What would be the economic point in doing so? I am all for enforcing urbanist standards in already existing urban districts as well as others like Core2Shore that are envisioned to be urban, but the HSC, despite being in the core, might as well be on Memorial from an urbanism perspective.

[Mr. Cotter]

This isn't "everything." It's a chance to develop a district that is within one mile of downtown. No one said everything has to be urban, but I'll say that this should be.

What a missed opportunity that Midtown Renaissance had here. In 80 years, no one will want to do for this location what they have done for so many formerly, and now again, great buildings.

[bchris02]

what is the problem here? The place is very walkable. I walk and bike through there all the time. Some places need sidewalks, but lord almighty, not everything has to be urban.

+1

[Pete]

The biggest issue is that this area is not part of an urban design district, even though it is very much an urban district.

Unfortunately, it's pretty clear that unless forced, local developers are content with massive setbacks and oceans of surface parking.

[Plutonic Panda]

This isn't "everything." It's a chance to develop a district that is within one mile of downtown. No one said everything has to be urban, but I'll say that this should be.

What a missed opportunity that Midtown Renaissance had here. In 80 years, no one will want to do for this location what they have done for so many formerly, and now again, great buildings.

Let ask though, what exactly do you not like about building? It is set back a little ways, but it seems to me those large two lots behind it can eventually be developed. The surface parking will eventually be developed, won't it? I'm not worried about it. I'm sure this area will become more urban as time goes, but it is a very nice area and we are very lucky to have it.

[bchris02]

Let ask though, what exactly do you not like about building? It is set back a little ways, but it seems to me those large two lots behind it can eventually be developed. The surface parking will eventually be developed, won't it? I'm not worried about it. I'm sure this area will become more urban as time goes, but it is a very nice area and we are very lucky to have it.

I agree.

[Mr. Cotter]

The HSC is what it is.

How and why should the HSC be retrofitted to urbanist standards? What would be the economic point in doing so? I am all for enforcing urbanist standards in already existing urban districts as well as others like Core2Shore that are envisioned to be urban, but the HSC, despite being in the core, might as well be on Memorial from an urbanism perspective.

How: Slowly, by implementing standards on new development, such as this hotel, Toby Kieth's Kids, the GE lab, etc. To say that we should give up because some stuff is already there is silly.
Why: Because it's the responsible, long term approach to development.

[Pete]

How: Slowly, by implementing standards on new development, such as this hotel, Toby Kieth's Kids, the GE lab, etc. To say that we should give up because some stuff is already there is silly.
Why: Because it's the responsible, long term approach to development.

Yep.

Especially since we are trying to link this area and all it's jobs to the rest of the urban core in various ways, including the streetcar.

Right now, the buildings are so far apart and set back from the roads, you'd have to have the streetcar stop at almost every building; or at the very least, people are going to have to walk very long distances to and from their destination, which means they are far less likely to use it.


There are a million reasons to employ responsible urban design methods to urban districts. We don't need to rehash that here.

[Laramie]

Attachment 7412

Snapped this yesterday while at the gym looking across 8th.

Passed through the Health Science Center area today; they are almost finished with the new Embassy Suites. It will be a great addition to the area especially with OU Medical Center, Children's' Hospital, VA Hospital and the PHF Research Park in the area.



They are building the new nine story ($58 million) OU College of Medicine, it is beginning to tower up with the two main pillar structures in place.





Let's hope the street car can penetrate the OU Medical Center area; the street congestion near the VA, OU Medical Center, Children's Hospital and a number of buildings in that area is a rough travel.

"Oklahoma City looks oh-so pretty... ...as I get my kicks on Route 66." --Nat King Cole.

[Pete]

Just learned their opening is set for January 27th, 2015.

[HangryHippo]

Driving by, that Embassy Suites is a colossal misuse of land and possibilities. I'm really surprised that a group that does such incredible work downtown could fail so badly with the land use for this hotel.

[Laramie]

Driving by, that Embassy Suites is a colossal misuse of land and possibilities. I'm really surprised that a group that does such incredible work downtown could fail so badly with the land use for this hotel.

We'll live with the results of the Health Science Center Area.

The area has real potential since OU Medical took over the PHF research park. PHF is responsible for more than $100 million in medical education and research in Oklahoma.

[LakeEffect]

Driving by, that Embassy Suites is a colossal misuse of land and possibilities. I'm really surprised that a group that does such incredible work downtown could fail so badly with the land use for this hotel.

Yep, but keep in mind that they started the design before they really had a handle on what good, urban design could be.

[HangryHippo]

Yep, but keep in mind that they started the design before they really had a handle on what good, urban design could be.

I have no reason to doubt you, cafeboeuf, but hadn't they already been working on other projects before this started? Maybe I'm remembering it incorrectly, but wasn't this one of their more recent projects to break ground? Were they working off old designs?

[LakeEffect]

I have no reason to doubt you, cafeboeuf, but hadn't they already been working on other projects before this started? Maybe I'm remembering it incorrectly, but wasn't this one of their more recent projects to break ground? Were they working off old designs?

Yes and no - they had started a few rehabs, but nothing of great significance. They had this designed and approved in 2007/2008 crash hit, so they tabled it. I bet they didn't want to spend time w/ a redesign when financing came available again and they could construct starting in 2013.

Not supporting the design - just providing the background. This couples greatly with Steve's article about a new vision for the entire area. The designs were acceptable b/c no one was pushing for anything else. That appears about to change...

[LakeEffect]

Just learned their opening is set for January 27th, 2015.

That would be great - I've got family coming in late February (depending on birth of our 2nd) and this is only 8 blocks away.

However, Hilton's website still shows reservations being accepted after March 27, 2015. Hopefully the opening does come in January.

[warreng88]

So, my sister in law works at the ICU at OUHSC. When we were talking about the ES, she asked why there isn't a more affordable, extended stay hotel in the area. It would make more sense since there are so many people who come in to town to see family/friends in the hospital. I told her the Homewood suites in BT was extended stay and I think there is one other (Staybridge Suites) proposed, that would also be extended stay and in BT, so not too far from OUHSC. Is there more of a need for an extended stay hotel in the immediate area though? Maybe a Hyatt House although the footprint of those are massive.

[Pete]

That would be great - I've got family coming in late February (depending on birth of our 2nd) and this is only 8 blocks away.

However, Hilton's website still shows reservations being accepted after March 27, 2015. Hopefully the opening does come in January.

I spoke to the GM today would gave me the January date, but of course that could slip.

I think it's pretty typical to have the on-line res system only indicate dates that are usually well after the "soft" opening.

They did say they would open the entire hotel at the same time: rooms, restaurants, meeting facilities, etc.

[Plutonic Panda]

12/16/2014

[LakeEffect]

So frustrated with the site layout here... drove by again this past weekend and it's amazing how they decided to lay it out. It fronts a side street, with the loading dock and non-window areas fronting 8th and towards Lincoln. Completely ignores any "urban" fabric that may have existed.

[Plutonic Panda]

So frustrated with the site layout here... drove by again this past weekend and it's amazing how they decided to lay it out. It fronts a side street, with the loading dock and non-window areas fronting 8th and towards Lincoln. Completely ignores any "urban" fabric that may have existed.

It's quite simple. You just build around the hotel.

[pickles]

Gross.

[traxx]

So frustrated with the site layout here... drove by again this past weekend and it's amazing how they decided to lay it out. It fronts a side street, with the loading dock and non-window areas fronting 8th and towards Lincoln. Completely ignores any "urban" fabric that may have existed.

Not sure why they didn't make it face 8th st. That would've made a lot more sense. But as far as urban fabric, there wasn't any. It was built in a field.

[HangryHippo]

Yes and no - they had started a few rehabs, but nothing of great significance. They had this designed and approved in 2007/2008 crash hit, so they tabled it. I bet they didn't want to spend time w/ a redesign when financing came available again and they could construct starting in 2013.

Not supporting the design - just providing the background. This couples greatly with Steve's article about a new vision for the entire area. The designs were acceptable b/c no one was pushing for anything else. That appears about to change...

So frustrated with the site layout here... drove by again this past weekend and it's amazing how they decided to lay it out. It fronts a side street, with the loading dock and non-window areas fronting 8th and towards Lincoln. Completely ignores any "urban" fabric that may have existed.

Yep. I said this early on that what they were building was going to be a massive disappointment. Just so frustrating to see this is what they built.