Historic Hotels in downtown OKC

[HOT ROD]

Hi everyone. I was reading an old thread about the Myriad Gardens and I started thinking:

with the success of the Skirvin as a Hilton and more particularly the Colcord as a boutique hotel - are there any other historic office properties in downtown that could be converted into hotel properties?

It would be very nice if downtown had a stock of say 500 rooms of historic boutique space, ala Colcord. I would also settle if a few buildings could become chain managed like Skirvin.

I think this could be a HUGE additional boost for downtown in that 1) we rid ourselves of most-likely C class office space 2) we add much needed 'boutique' rooms and just hotel rooms downtown in general 3) we preserve what historic buildings we have left in downtown 4) with Devon building and then moving into their new skyscraper, any businesses in these historic property conversions could have the opportunity to absorb space elsewhere in downtown.

While excited about the 1600 rooms we have downtown now, I personally think downtown needs 3500 rooms at many different price points to be successful. These hotels would have restaurants and other amenities that add to downtown and would make OKC even more thriving and attractive for development.

Anybody have any ideas of buildings downtown that could be candidates for Colcord like conversion? Also, maybe any worth apartment conversions?

Let's try to be specific (Name/Address/Pic) as possible.

[Doug Loudenback]

Well, two would be the usual suspects ... both owned by Sandridge. At least one other thread has discussed both of these buildings.

(1) Braniff Building at SE corner of Robinson & McGee, designed by Solomon A. Layton, built in 1923. ...



(2) Originally the 1928 expansion of the Oklahoma Savings & Loan, NE corner of Kerr & Robinson, and slated by Sandridge for destruction in favor of creating an open space entry/plaza.

[bluedogok]

It would be great if someone like Magnolia Hotels could get a hold of properties like that. I have stayed in their properties in Downtown Houston and Denver, they did a tremendous job in the conversions. Their namesake was the Magnolia Building in Downtown Dallas, that was always a great old building, I haven't seen it but if they did it anything like the Denver and Houston properties, I am sure it was outstanding.

[ronronnie1]

I still can't believe that those buildings posted by Doug are slated for destruction. I mean, did we not learn ANYTHING from urban renewal? They should be converted to hotels. At the very least they should just be LEFT THE HELL ALONE! Good god.

And this one being torn down still makes me ILL just thinking about:



usgwarchives.org & yentering.com respectively

Seriously, this crap needs to stop.

[gen70]

I guess it's just ego but, I wish I could build a bldg. in downtown OKC that some people would like to save.

[Spartan]

From what I've heard, the Bricktown Merc building is probably OKC's next best prospect, which Gary Cotton sold to a more able developer. The only problem with that is that in 2006 we were looking at a surge of new downtown hotels coming into Bricktown and now that's pretty much gone off the radar.

[shane453]

I guess it's just ego but, I wish I could build a bldg. in downtown OKC that some people would like to save.

If only all the developers of the world thought like that.

In fact, it should be the 'Hippocratic Oath' of real estate and architecture. "I want to build something that people would like to save one day."

[jbrown84]

Are those really the same building?? Looks like they removed a lot of the detail and trim for those ugly grey panels. WHYYYYYYYYY??


Anyway, I don't think either of those are right for a hotel conversion. Not quite attractive enough and not the best location. Better for residential.

I think the best candidate is the Hightower Building. It's got that great Upper East Side look to it and I think it would make a great small hotel. It would be right across from Devon's park.

[Doug Loudenback]

Are those really the same building?? Looks like they removed a lot of the detail and trim for those ugly grey panels. WHYYYYYYYYY??

Anyway, I don't think either of those are right for a hotel conversion. Not quite attractive enough and not the best location. Better for residential.

I think the best candidate is the Hightower Building. It's got that great Upper East Side look to it and I think it would make a great small hotel. It would be right across from Devon's park.

I don't know but maybe Steve does about the building's change but as a guess I'd say maybe it was when Kerr-McGee 1st acquired it.

You may be right about the location for hotels and best use being apartments. I hadn't thought of the Hightower ... yes, that would make a fine hotel.

[HOT ROD]

didn't Hightower used to be a hotel once? Wasnt it the Hotel Black?

anyways, I agree - it would be a perfect candidate for a 'return' to being a boutique hotel; two boutique hotels within a stone's throw of Devon's corporate skyscraper. haha

try that out for recruiting. ...

[redland]

didn't Hightower used to be a hotel once? Wasnt it the Hotel Black?

The Hotel Black, now an office building, was on the northwest corner of Hudson and Sheridan (Grand), just west of the new Devon tower. The Hightower Building, northwest corner of Hudson and Main, was never (to my knowledge) a hotel.

[Kerry]

First National Bank building needs to go hotel/residential or both. It will never make it has an office building again. Here is the 909 Walnut building in downtown Kansas City. This is the only future for FNC (well, that or the eventual wrecking ball). 909 Walnut is now 159 apartments.



If they tear down the FNC addition built in the 60's and put in a parking garage with a pool and tennis courts on the top deck they could make a go of it.

[Midtowner]

didn't Hightower used to be a hotel once? Wasnt it the Hotel Black?

anyways, I agree - it would be a perfect candidate for a 'return' to being a boutique hotel; two boutique hotels within a stone's throw of Devon's corporate skyscraper. haha

try that out for recruiting. ...

It's always been an office building and it's always been in the same family. They're excellent landlords and the amenities in that building are fairly impressive. The last time I was there (a few months ago), they still had elevator operators. The insides of the offices, especially on the middle floors leave a lot to be desired as far as layout goes. There used to be a lot of vacancy. But the 1st floor and the top several floors (which used to be occupied by an oil company, no idea who is up there now) are extremely nice.

[Doug Loudenback]

The Hotel Black, now an office building, was on the northwest corner of Hudson and Sheridan (Grand), just west of the new Devon tower. The Hightower Building, northwest corner of Hudson and Main, was never (to my knowledge) a hotel.

Completely correct, redland. Hightower began, and remains, a family owned office building in the west side of the city. 1 N. Hudson, though, was the Black Hotel until contemporary times.

For reference, here are a few images ...

The Black Hotel

As it was ...



As it is ...



Hightower

Exterior



Interior Lobby

[Platemaker]

I've always thought the Lawyer's Title Building... beautiful art deco building at 11th and Robinson... would make a cool boutique hotel. It has a great marble lobby too.

[Midtowner]

I've always thought the Lawyer's Title Building... beautiful art deco building at 11th and Robinson... would make a cool boutique hotel. It has a great marble lobby too.

I always thought it looked like it was constructed with leftover pieces of the courthouse.

[Spartan]

That building is currently under renovation..

[jbrown84]

I've always thought the Lawyer's Title Building... beautiful art deco building at 11th and Robinson... would make a cool boutique hotel. It has a great marble lobby too.

I've always loved that building.

[CCOKC]

I was in Lawyers Title last week and did not notice any renovations. It could be a good building but needs a lot of work at this point.

[Platemaker]

There is a large room in the back with two story glass windows that has been perpetually 'under construction' for about three years. There is an 'Available' sign out front... along with the old Christian Science church across the street.

[USG '60]

I always thought it looked like it was constructed with leftover pieces of the courthouse.

Isn't this the old Baptist Building? If so it DOES deserve a new life.

[Doug Loudenback]

Isn't this the old Baptist Building? If so it DOES deserve a new life.

It is, but I don't know if that was the original use of the building. Good question.

[USG '60]

It is, but I don't know if that was the original use of the building. Good question.

Since it was next door to First Baptist and since I know it was tha Bap Bldg in '53, I always assummed it was built as that.

[Doug Loudenback]

Since it was next door to First Baptist and since I know it was tha Bap Bldg in '53, I always assummed it was built as that.

Just did a little quick checking in the Oklahoman archives & County Assessor records. Found nothing definitive yet but did find this:

1) County assessor records show the property was built in 1930: See Leonard Sullivan Oklahoma County Assessor Real Property Detail Sheet ... the address shown is 1141 N. Robinson

2) Oklahoman archives show that, in 1923, 1141 N. Robinson was the home of Mrs. M.L. Turner, who was hostessing a Duplicates Whist Club meeting there; in 1927, a business called the Darwin Studios (home furnishings, etc.) began using that address; in 1934 Jack Jones funeral home began using the address; by 1940 the Knights Templar did, also; the Baptist Book Store moved to the property in 2/26/1950 (actually for the book store shown as 208 NW 11th).

I've found nothing describing the construction of the building we know today, though, if the assessor's record is accurate, that occurred in 1930.

I'll see if I can locate anything more definitive.

[Doug Loudenback]

Here's a 1948 Oklahoman article I found which certainly makes it seem as though the Baptist Building was originally built as such beginning in 1948, the information in the County Assessor's record (1930 being building date) notwithstanding. I'd suppose the assessor's date to be incorrect.