Holiday Inn Express

Drove by the new Marriott Courtyard at Quail Springs yesterday. It has the same outside AC units as Holiday Inn proposes, and they blended in quite nicely with the building. I think having outside AC units as a condition for getting another hotel downtown isn't such a bad trade off. And we are getting 100% brick to boot.

I thought the north facade of the Steffens was the one that was in terrible shape.

Here's a couple photos of the north facade, which is literally falling down in parts and is by far the ugliest and least worth saving exposure:

Maybe it will be the North facade portion before they added the cinder blocks? Either way you can't see it, anyway

Site Plan:

So they are keeping the west facade and portions of the north.

That makes more sense than what I had read before about just the north side.

The more I learn, the more I like.

Yeah, but you still have to be asking yourself 'if this area is so great in terms of what they want for rents and for property, then why are we even talking about exterior A/C units on a Holiday Inn?'.

It's seems the area still has a long way to go before it attracts quality projects and hotels without compromise or public assistance. Here's to hoping the increased traffic from the NBA will help elevate what gets comes to bricktown in the future.

I like it except for the windows (very plain and boring) and of course the A/C units. If the windows were a bit larger like the ones in the current Steffen's it would be better.

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.

when will the hotel open?