OKC's Bricktown Urban Design committee approves hotel application

Pamela Grady
5/16/2008

The Bricktown Urban Design Committee today approved an application for Alex Patel to demolish most of an existing building at the former Steffen’s Ice Cream building, 101 E. Main in Bricktown to build a four-story 95-room Holiday Inn Express at the site. As well, the committee voted to defer for 30 days a discussion of signs for the building and to allow for the retention of the wall at the east end of the property as proposed by the applicant. “I think you’ve done a marvelous job,” Member Bob Bright said, “It’s a significant addition to Bricktown.”

Chad Huntington, general manager of Water Taxi for the City of Oklahoma City, submitted an application to install handrails and four benches near the major landing point of the water taxi near the metal sculpture of the man pushing the ball up the hill.

“I think it needs to be a more historical type of rod iron railing architectural feature rather than bent two-inch pipes,” Bright said. “It just seems to me inconsistent with the architecture of the area and I think needs to be nicer. That’s an entry right to our water for folks coming in from out of town.”

Huntington said he would need to speak with his architect, parks and contractor about further solutions for the railing to further continue the theme of the area.

“Let’s just do it right,” Bright said.

The committee approved the location and installation of hand rails and seating at the site, but requested a continuance for discussion of the hand rail designs at it next monthly meeting.