I got a chance to go by the new construction of the Marriott Residence Inn. At least it is now starting to look like a building.

http://www.okctalk.com/gallery/data/500/medium/100_0755.JPG

http://www.okctalk.com/gallery/data/500/medium/100_0754.JPG

Nice pics. Thanks for taking these, Keith.

In person, it looks like a T or L facing the canal, forming a nice little courtyard in front of the canal. Thanks, Keith.

BTW, I like the way the big crane is towering over downtown.

BTW, I like the way the big crane is towering over downtown.

Yeah, it looks really good from I-40. Maybe for a little while people will assume it's going to be highrise.

New construction pics are in my gallery:

http://www.okctalk.com/gallery/showgallery.php/ppuser/204/cat/500

They are currently working on the 7th story now!

I went to the Harkins the other day and we drove in by the hotel and I like the way that right up against the edge of the road there you have seven stories going straight up. Even if there are still some empty spots, it's starting to feel more dense down there.

5.21.06 updates ... pleasant slightly overcast day to take a few pics ...

Bricktown Marriott Residence Inn ...

This pic looks southwesterly from a distance ...
http://www.dougloudenback.com/downtown/marriottresidence1.5.21.6.jpg

This pic looks northwesterly ... notice the small figure (woman in orange top and black pants) at the left near the sidewalk for perspective ... she wasn't moving between pics and it gives a point of reference for the next pic ...
http://www.dougloudenback.com/downtown/marriottresidence2.5.21.6.jpg

This pic looks northeasterly ... notice the woman in orange top who hadn't moved after the 1st pic was taken ...
http://www.dougloudenback.com/downtown/marriottresidence3.5.21.6.jpg

Edited note: Also, see http://www.okctalk.com/bricktown-wired/6389-updated-pictures-last-post.html for Keith's pics taken after those that started this thread.

Well, maybe it will look okay after all.

Well, maybe it will look okay after all.Sure it will! I think it might be fun to ... get a room, have fun in Bricktown before gametime ... stroll to the Ford Center and watch the Hornets ... stroll back and have a drink on the way ... have a good night ... get breakfast in the morning (the IHOP is pretty good, IMO) and go home around check out time! Saying this, I only live about 1 1/2 miles from the Ford Center, but wouldn't this be fun?

I agree Doug... hell of a deal.

Looks pretty nice having that hotel straddling the canal. Wish we could get Hogan to build a couple more on the parking lots on the south side of the canal.

The roof is going up quick.. I took pics and will try and upload them soon.

When driving through Bricktown and then to The Triangle area this afternoon (to try to locate the location of the Block 42 project ... see http://www.okctalk.com/58040-post50.html if you think you can help with that ...), I took a pic of the Marriott Residence Inn progress, below. The pic looks south from Joe Carter across Reno.

http://www.dougloudenback.com/downtown/marriottresidence6.13.6.jpg

Is this one just brick on the first floor, kind of like the Marriot at Reno and Gaylord? I can't remember. I hate that roof, but the place could look nice with all brick. (I know it's SoRo, but still...)

Is this one just brick on the first floor, kind of like the Marriot at Reno and Gaylord? I can't remember. I hate that roof, but the place could look nice with all brick. (I know it's SoRo, but still...)
I don't know how "true to form" the artist's rendering below will be, but that's all I have:

http://www.dougloudenback.com/downtown/residenceinn02.jpg

That's more brick than I remembered. Hopefully, it actually makes it on to the buidling.

Thanks, Doug.

That's more brick than I remembered. Hopefully, it actually makes it on to the buidling.

Thanks, Doug.

Is that brick or red-painted facade?

You know, I don't know. If it's just painted facade, that would be a huge rip off.

My impression is that Hammonds does good stuff ... hard to imagine that the Courtyard Marriott would have a lot of brick at the 1st 2 levels but that this one wouldn't have a lot more. Anyway, we'll know pretty soon.

If I remember right, the tower looking parts (with the peaked rooftops) are brick all the way up, and then the lighter color stuff might be <gasp> EIFS! ;)

Still a helluva lot better than that joke of a developer, Hogan. :mad:

Looks like some brick was going on already and from my vantage point on I-40, it looked like real brick!

Yep. Brick. On the way home yesterday, I drove by the property and took some progress pics. Here they are:

http://www.dougloudenback.com/downtown/marriottresidence.6.30.1.jpg http://www.dougloudenback.com/downtown/marriottresidence.6.30.2.jpg

http://www.dougloudenback.com/downtown/marriottresidence.6.30.3.jpg http://www.dougloudenback.com/downtown/marriottresidence.6.30.4.jpg

If not for the waterway, that could be located on Northwest Expressway. What a waste of good land :(

If not for the waterway, that could be located on Northwest Expressway. What a waste of good land :(As I think I may have said before, Midtowner you are much too young to be such a cynic. Give it another 10-20 years and then see if you are happy with new construction developments occurring. As for me, I experienced the destruction of the 1970-80's and the virtual absence of stuff until the MAPs stuff got going. I guess its a matter of perspective.

Personally, I'm very pleased with this particular development, and others in the vicinity. But, again, it may be a matter of time-perspective.

Very exciting to see the pictures.. thanks so much! I think it is a nice addition to Bricktown, once again reiterating the growth and potential of the the downtown area.

I remember coming to Downtown on a Sunday in Sept 2002 .... I thought we had had a nuclear blast or something! Driving through town, I couldn't see one person out! I stayed at the Westin and looked out the windows, same thing! I couldn't believe that there weren't any people or cars in the 'heart' of the city.

My husband went to get some wine and was gone about an hour.. I thought he got lost! He finally came back and we learned that you couldn't buy wine on Sundays and he couldn't even find a grocery store that sold beer anywhere near. It was an abrupt introduction to OKC!

But, I've seen downtown come alive compared to my first visits here.. (of course, I"ve learned where things are now and stocked up on alcohol for emergencies! LOL)

So, to me anything like this is a marked improvement..

It is exciting to see the growth and I still get thrilled walking from the Ford Center with 19K people after an awesome win from the Hornet's or New Year's Eve or after a concert .. just watching the city filled with people is so cool.

Doug and everyone who provided pics, I love to see these pictures. Keep them coming please.

Midtowner, I'm somewhat with you on this. For the most part...it is just a Residence Inn - who cares? For this board to throw the Marriott name in fron (versus in back like it is actually - Residence Inn by Marriott) is just making it more than it is. Yes it is another hotel with more rooms and it will be nice...but it isn't a true Marriott, Hilton, Double Tree, Embassy, etc. Just another middle market hotel that'll you'll find in nearly every town/suburb in the country.

Midtowner, I'm somewhat with you on this. For the most part...it is just a Residence Inn - who cares? For this board to throw the Marriott name in fron (versus in back like it is actually - Residence Inn by Marriott) is just making it more than it is. Yes it is another hotel with more rooms and it will be nice...but it isn't a true Marriott, Hilton, Double Tree, Embassy, etc. Just another middle market hotel that'll you'll find in nearly every town/suburb in the country.


Isn't there a Hilton currently in the works????? So why build two? The Hilton/Skirvin is going to be a great hotel as well. Lets just be glad for what we have here in OKC and anyone who is interested in building. I am sure this new Marriot will still be a nice hotel, especially on the riverwalk. This is what the city has needed for bigger events and such and finally getting some, now people want to gripe about it.

I'm astonished that no one has seriously considered building a Hyatt Regency downtown or in Bricktown.

Isn't there a Hilton currently in the works????? So why build two? The Hilton/Skirvin is going to be a great hotel as well. Lets just be glad for what we have here in OKC and anyone who is interested in building. I am sure this new Marriot will still be a nice hotel, especially on the riverwalk. This is what the city has needed for bigger events and such and finally getting some, now people want to gripe about it.

I wasn't saying we needed another Hilton downtown, yes the Skirvin will bring another upper market hotel to downtown. However, you are falling victim to the word game in progress...it is not a Marriott. It's a Residence Inn, which is owned by the Marriott company. That is like comparing a Hampton Inn or Homewood Suites to a full scale Hilton/Double Tree/Embassy Suites - just because they are owned by the same company. They aren't the same.

I think the main issue people have with this is that it is PRIME land downtown, on the canal...and the best they could do was a mid-market hotel?

and the best they could do was a mid-market hotel?

The always elusive, "they,".....I think if Hyatt Regency or Doubletree wanted to be in Oklahoma City - they would be here. They aren't. It's not because "they" didn't build them - it's because Oklahoma City is not Dallas, is not Houston, is not Denver, is not Seattle, probably not even Indianapolis. It is Oklahoma City and we will continue to grow, build and one day, "they" will come.

---

I think the older, Sheridan-facing section of the Galleria garage would be a great location for a Hyatt Regency overlooking the Myriad Gardens. Hopefully something like that isn't far off.

As far as I'm concerned, I'd take a mid-level hotel over a parking lot next to the canal any day.

The always elusive, "they,".....I think if Hyatt Regency or Doubletree wanted to be in Oklahoma City - they would be here. They aren't. It's not because "they" didn't build them - it's because Oklahoma City is not Dallas, is not Houston, is not Denver, is not Seattle, probably not even Indianapolis. It is Oklahoma City and we will continue to grow, build and one day, "they" will come.

---


Considering Double Tree is owned by Hilton - that would explain why they aren't looking here. Hyatt is in plenty of middle markets, so we'll see what happens. If you really want to focus on my using of the word "THEY" ... would it be better if I just name the developers instead? I mean, it has to be important to you since you spent so much of your post on it. LOL




I think the older, Sheridan-facing section of the Galleria garage would be a great location for a Hyatt Regency overlooking the Myriad Gardens. Hopefully something like that isn't far off.

As far as I'm concerned, I'd take a mid-level hotel over a parking lot next to the canal any day.


Well if you want to compare it between a parking lot or a mid-level hotel, the hotel is the defacto choice. Duh. :) I would like to see the Myriad Gardens and the Canal joined some how eventually, with a new hotel (like you suggested) over looking the area.

Considering Double Tree is owned by Hilton - that would explain why they aren't looking here. Hyatt is in plenty of middle markets, so we'll see what happens. If you really want to focus on my using of the word "THEY" ... would it be better if I just name the developers instead? I mean, it has to be important to you since you spent so much of your post on it. LOL

I looked at the cities with Hyatt Regency's and every single city has more convention business than Oklahoma City.

I mentioned the "they" thing because it's always "they" who do things. I've always thought it kind of funny. But seriously, whose fault is it there is not a Hyatt Regency in downtown Oklahoma City? Could I build a hotel and brand it as a Hyatt Regency because I think Oklahoma City somehow has an inherent right to have one downtown? Whose fault is it?

--

Give it another 10-20 years and then see if you are happy with new construction developments occurring.

If it all goes well, then this project will be one of the more embarrassing ones in 10-20 years. If OKC and the canal are only worth this kind of project in 20 years, then we have wasted a lot of money.

Right now it seems ok because the alternative is a parking lot, but like the Marriott Courtyard next to the Ford Center, it will hopefully look like a huge compromise in the near future. It is nothing more than a glorified motel, just like on Meridian or Memorial or I-44. It does not look like it belongs in a downtown area, especially on publicly enhanced property. If it is what we were trying to do with MAPS, then we probably should have spent our money elsewhere.

This hotel is not going to help us get bigger events. It will help us feed the ones that we are already getting and move those guests from Meridian to LB. The Colcord and Skirvin will do more for capacity and reputation that this one will.

So, while, yes we need the rooms, hopefully it is not going to be appreciated in 20 years or we're in trouble. I would love to see projects like this just outside of downtown as a sign of it being healthy, but I can’t really say that its being considered a “signature” project as much of a good thing overall.

I looked at the cities with Hyatt Regency's and every single city has more convention business than Oklahoma City.

Uh, Wichita...?

Uh, Wichita...?

You're right. I didn't see Wichita. Now that I think about it I remember it and it's a very nice hotel. Wichita, by the way, is a city on the move. With a metro population at about half of OKC's population - they kick our butts in a lot of areas. For one, what's our equivalent of this?
http://www.visitwichita.com/NR/rdonlyres/6551AF44-2D85-436E-9AA8-B4089E3BF805/19632/MeetingPlannersGuide3.pdf
I think it is this:
http://www.okccvb.org/meetinokc.html
Pretty pathetic, wouldn't you agree?

Compare Century II versus the Cox Convention Center:
http://www.century2.org/

Wichita and OKC run neck and neck (or did until recently) on number of hotel rooms downtown. In fact, where does OKC rank versus Wichita in the Tradeshow Week magazine ratings for convention cities? I think they rank 200 or so cities. Does anyone know where OKC and Wichita fall in those rankings??

And as for Bricktown and Old Town - Old Town is nothing to sneeze at, (with a lot more retail to boot!):
http://www.oldtownwichita.com/

Again, keep in mind, they are half our size!

Sorry for the aside, but Wichita is a city we ignore - at our own peril.

----------

Marriott Courtyard next to the Ford Center, it will hopefully look like a huge compromise in the near future. It is nothing more than a glorified motelThe Courtyard is nothing to sneeze at. To be sure, it is not a 500 room Hyatt. But, you need to remember something: hotel construction was seen as a much higher risk 4 years ago when it was being built. Not only was noone sure how far this downtown renaissance would go, but we were in the throws the post-Sept 11th travel slowdown.

Everyone who complains about the Courtyard might be interested in this fact: It is built to Marriott specifications-- not Courtyard specifications. It is a Marriott with a Courtyard name. The reason for this is two-fold: it is much cheaper up front and continuing to fly the Courtyard flag as compared to a Marriott flag (which probably helped make this a viable hotel project 4 years ago), and Marriott corp was concerned that there would be too many Marriotts in OKC (there were already two). The courtyard is a full-service hotel, just like the Sheraton and Renaissance. It is not a suburban Courtyard, it is what Marriott corp calls an urban Courtyard. At the bottom of my post are links to a couple other urban courtyards that Marriott corp considers this property a part.

I challenge anyone to get a hotel room at the Sheraton and at the Courtyard. The Courtyard is nicer! It is more modern and up-to-date.

I think another interesting point to make concerns the Hampton and Residence Inn. While I may not 100% agree with their location, we need those type of hotels downtown, too. We need a range to attract large conventions. We cannot possibly expect to get 8 4-start hotels downtown and that is it. That would be unreasonable. And, eventually, it would cause a number of those hotels to possibly fail, since they are competing for the exact same customer profile. It will be much better for OKC to have this growth in the high end and mid level areas. I know some of you are very disappointed that Hammons is not building an Embassy Suites downtown yet. Mr Hammons is smart. I think he understands that it was not the right time for an Embassy. Two Hilton products opening at roughly the same time could have been disasterous for both (I am talking about the Skirvin Hilton & would-be Embassy Suites). My guess is that Mr. Hammons will let the Skirvin open, see how it goes for a year or so, then (if the numbers support it) start construction of an Embassy Suites downtown. And who knows, it could be the first hotel in the Arts Quarter. Wouldn't that be nice?

Other urban Courtyards:
http://marriott.com/property/propertypage/PHLDC
http://marriott.com/property/propertypage/PITCY
http://marriott.com/property/propertypage/WASCN
http://marriott.com/property/propertypage/DENCD
http://marriott.com/property/propertypage/HOUDT

Our urban Courtyard:
http://marriott.com/property/propertypage/OKCDT

Thanks Brian, you make some good points. I love the Courtyard - their rooms, service, everything. In fact, after my disastrous experience the other day at Waterford Marriott; in retrospect I just wish I had gone to the Courtyard.

The links to the other "urban" Courtyards were interesting. I noticed all the others were old renovated hotels - very nice.

Good post!

-----

A travel writer from the New York Times noticed the difference in the Courtyard too. He said that the Courtyard wasn't too different from the Marriott he had just stayed in before, saying in some respects it was even nicer. Personally, it would've been nice to have it fitted into a historic building like the other urbans. But I do like the way it matches the Ford Center. Gives the block a cohesive look.

I also think we need a hotel for the Arts Quarter. Performers shouldn't have to walk far to their venue (Civic or Stage Center). As someone said earlier, the Galleria space is ripe for a hotel. Perhaps that would be the ideal spot for Midtowner's Hyatt Regency. ;)

I actually disagree with some of the thoughts mentioned here about the Residence Inn. I think it will fit okay on the canal, and in downtown. It's not your typical two story, spready out, apartment-like Residence Inn. Most Residence Inns are two story and look more like sprawling apartment complexes. This is a 6 story building, with doors facing the inside. The brick is nice. Like the Courtyard, it won't be your typical suburban hotel.

We really need a variety of hotels in downtown. Not everyone can afford the Renaissance and Sheridan. Because the Residence Inn will have mostly suites, and because it won't be as expensive as the Renaissance, I think it will cater more to families, which is really what we're wanting to draw to Bricktown anyways. Right?

Someone posted a while back wanting suggestions on affordable hotels in downtown, for around $100 per night. We really don't have anything in that range. Courtyard comes the closest.

I'm just happy we're getting a hotel right on the canal. And we do need more.

How about Hammons building that Embassy Suites on the remaining pad next to Toby Keiths? Wouldn't that be a great space?

And saying the Residence Inn could be found on NW Expressway. Well, so could the Sheridan. It's just a big box, not unlike the Marriott on NW Expressway. It's more the location, not the way the hotel looks.

Now, if they were building a 2 story motel with exterior doors, like a typical La Quinta or something, then I think we should be concerned. But, that's not what's happening here.

writeranger, you might also check out this link:

http://www.coxconventioncenter.com/

writeranger, you might also check out this link:

http://www.coxconventioncenter.com/

Hi Metro,

Nice website for CCC. I wasn't actually comparing websites. I meant comparing the two convention facilties themselves. If you've been to Century II you would know what I mean. My point really is that there shouldn't even be a comparison due to Wichita being - literally - half our size. Yes, we have the Ford Center and Century II is convention and performing. But the primary comparison would be with the Cox Convention Center when comparing primarily convention facilities. Century II blows it away - in my opinion.

I agree that the Arts district needs a hotel of its own and the area of the old Galleria garage would be great. However, I really wish the bus station would be either rebuilt and made a little more appealing or moved to another part of downtown (maybe upper west side, near the MetroTransit terminal?). I wish the city would do something to spruce that area of downtown up, because I honestly doubt many people really want to walk around that area at night.

Additionally, I feel the way Marriott is building the Residence Inn with a substansial amount of brick and much nicer quality than say the one by Crossroads Mall, it fits in well. There will eventually be an Embassy Suites or something to that caliber in the downtown/bricktown area, but until then, I think the Residence Inn is a welcome addition. It is much better having that than an empty pad site afterall.

writerranger, I was just simply providing the website, nothing more or implying nothing.

I actually disagree with some of the thoughts mentioned here about the Residence Inn. I think it will fit okay on the canal, and in downtown. It's not your typical two story, spready out, apartment-like Residence Inn.

How about Hammons building that Embassy Suites on the remaining pad next to Toby Keiths? Wouldn't that be a great space?

Now, if they were building a 2 story motel with exterior doors, like a typical La Quinta or something, then I think we should be concerned. But, that's not what's happening here.

The above quote is edited for space...anyway.

Two story Residence Inn? Where have you seen that? Most are at least 3 to 4 floors. Also a La Quinta with outside doors? Have you been by the one in Norman by chance? :)

As far as the pad by Toby Keith's...I hope you don't mean between them and Harkins/Earls. Waaaay to small.

No we shouldn't ignore Wichita, however despite Century II being cooler on the outside (sure looks like an arena though), I don't think it's anything special on the inside. It's old and worn out, much like the Myriad was. The Hyatt is nice but the city actually had to take over management of it when the original developer was regretting his decision to build such a huge hotel in a city smaller than Tulsa.

Also, the only other hotel in their downtown is a Radisson which is in a historical building similar to the Skirvin but not as cool. Their downtown ballpark is almost as trashy as Driller Stadium. Their arena is out in the boonies and it's smaller than the Cox Arena and much uglier. Old Town is okay, but the Spaghetti Warehouse there has gone out of business in the last couple years. Their arena football team has dropped one notch below af2 (what we are) and no longer can afford to play at the aformentioned arena. They also have terrible sprawl. Big shopping centers are being built in the eastern side of the city way out from anything. It would be the equivalent of multiple shopping centers going in at Council and Memorial.

So I think we still got a lot on them.

However, I really wish the bus station would be either rebuilt and made a little more appealing or moved to another part of downtown (maybe upper west side, near the MetroTransit terminal?).

Actually it was announced awhile back that the bus station was going to relocate.

As far as the pad by Toby Keith's...I hope you don't mean between them and Harkins/Earls. Waaaay to small.

It's not too much smaller than the pad where the Hampton Inn is being built.

Actually it was announced awhile back that the bus station was going to relocate.

If I'm not mistaken, this was not announced but rather discussed. I usually stay on top of these issues and attend any planning meetings I can and to my recollection it was merely discussed. I know possible other uses for the current location included restaurants or housing. I personally like the architecture and history of the building, it just needs to be cleaned up.

If I'm not mistaken, this was not announced but rather discussed. I usually stay on top of these issues and attend any planning meetings I can and to my recollection it was merely discussed. I know possible other uses for the current location included restaurants or housing. I personally like the architecture and history of the building, it just needs to be cleaned up.

You're probably right. I've ate and splet since then.

Other urban Courtyards:
http://marriott.com/property/propertypage/PHLDC
http://marriott.com/property/propertypage/PITCY
http://marriott.com/property/propertypage/WASCN
http://marriott.com/property/propertypage/DENCD
http://marriott.com/property/propertypage/HOUDT

Our urban Courtyard:
http://marriott.com/property/propertypage/OKCDT

This is great comparison. You can see that even in side by side, "apples to apples", comparisons our "urban courtyard" doesn't look very urban and is pretty bland compared to others in the same class. But the real point is that the Courtyard was built on the only available lot that sat right next to our new 20k arena and directly across the street from our large and updated convention center. Time will only tell, but that lot would have been much better suited for a much bigger hotel. And, because of the hotel market in which it was built, it was a big compromise for that location and in retrospect was a huge missed opportunity. Hopefully, in 10 to 20 years, OKC will be worth the risk.

I am not saying that the Courtyard and the Residence Inn are bad hotels on their own or that we don't need their low price points in our inventory, but they are eating up prime development space that could have, and I guess I feel should have, been used for more ambitious hotels. I don't think the residence property needs to be bigger, but it is pretty unoriginal, even with the brick. It doesn't incorporate the canal very well and, yes, looks very much like a Meridian Ave development.

Yes, they are better than empty pad sites in the short term. My point was that in the long term, if we really wanted be able to host larger conventions, these projects will be in the way more than they are an asset. In the long term they could be a factor in stunting our convention and tourism industries, because the prime locations on which any ambitious hotel would need to be located to justify and recoup its expense have all been developed with ponderous ones. Neither are flagship developments that would look favorable in comparison to most modest hotels in other markets, yet they are on our most important properties.

I think many still have the approach that "it's good enough for OKC". But if you want to grow and attract visitors and conventions who have dozens of similar options, you want things that are both distinguishable and memorable, as well as accommodating. The most logical thing would be to commit your most visible spaces for development to those goals. These do not do that.

I am not saying that everything has to be a Colcord or Skirvin. All I am saying is that this is a very pedestrian hotel on what was supposed to be a very defining public attraction. This and the Courtyard are compromises anyway you slice it and, hopefully, in 10 to 20 years OKC is regretting those compromises instead of still having to make them.

If I'm not mistaken, this was not announced but rather discussed. I usually stay on top of these issues and attend any planning meetings I can and to my recollection it was merely discussed. I know possible other uses for the current location included restaurants or housing. I personally like the architecture and history of the building, it just needs to be cleaned up.
I agree ... it's a nice little piece of our history, built in 1941 ...

http://www.dougloudenback.com/downtown/vintage/1941.bus2.jpghttp://www.dougloudenback.com/downtown/vintage/1941.bus.jpg

The Residence Inn is up on Marriott.com.
Residence Inn Oklahoma City Downtown/Bricktown: Suites and amenities for corporate travel (http://marriott.com/property/propertypage/okcbt)

It will open in December. Also, I think it is good to note that while it may not be a full-service hotel, it at least will have a restaurant open for all 3 daily meals for its guests. I think that is a plus. Most Residence Inns just have a small room for breakfast and that is it.

Club House
Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner

I'm still in love with Marriott for this:

Oklahoma City Hotels: Marriott's quality accommodations for business or family fun (http://marriott.com/city/oklahoma-city-hotels)

What a bummer that it's going to have an outdoor swimming pool. How urban is that?

The Sheraton's pool is outside. Indoor pool done not necessarily equal urban, and outside pool does not necessarily equal suburban.

Here are some updated pics of the Marriott Residence Inn, the Bricktown Police Station, and the NEW Walnut Bridge.

http://www.okctalk.com/gallery/data/500/medium/OKCTalk_pictures_10-3-06_007.jpg

http://www.okctalk.com/gallery/data/500/medium/OKCTalk_pictures_10-3-06_006.jpg

The two above pics are of the new Walnut Ave. Bridge, looking towards the north.

http://www.okctalk.com/gallery/data/500/medium/OKCTalk_pictures_10-3-06_004.jpg

The Bricktown Police Substation (south side)

http://www.okctalk.com/gallery/data/500/medium/OKCTalk_pictures_10-3-06_003.jpg

The Bricktown Police Substation (east side)

http://www.okctalk.com/gallery/data/500/medium/OKCTalk_pictures_10-3-06_002.jpg

The new Residence Inn (north side)

Bricktown is looking great!

Very nice, Keith!

How can you say, "Bricktown is lookin great" after taking a photo of that thing?

I may be the odd man out, but the Residence Inn is looking better and better as it develops. Now I just hope its connection to the canal is tastefully done. Anything gated would defeat its site on the canal.