Search found 73 matches

by JohnMcKee
30 Jul 2018 11:37
Forum: Urban Development
Topic: Museum Tower
Replies: 229
Views: 226616

Re: Museum Tower

Museum Tower is finally doing great. Certainly could have been a better start. Doing great in what sense? That it is occupied? There was always a price that those condos would have sold for and moved fast, the measure of success of Museum Tower is not occupied condos, it is if they made money. Give...
by JohnMcKee
26 Feb 2018 19:56
Forum: City Issues/News
Topic: Uptown Dallas: Business Openings and Closings
Replies: 636
Views: 628746

Re: Uptown Dallas: Business Openings and Closings

Good riddance, couldn't have happened to a nicer person. This falls squarely on Al, he had a great neighborhood bar, one that I was formally a frequent customer at and he drove all his neighborhood business away by acting like a complete p***k. Apparently he thought his bar could survive on middle a...
by JohnMcKee
31 Jan 2018 11:47
Forum: Urban Development
Topic: Oak Lawn
Replies: 810
Views: 1321429

Re: Oak Lawn

The gays have started moving to Oak Cliff.
by JohnMcKee
20 Dec 2017 23:49
Forum: Urban Development
Topic: Museum Tower
Replies: 229
Views: 226616

Re: Museum Tower

Plus penthouse aside high rise condos are incredibly difficult to comp building wide, first floor units sometimes get a premium, sometimes they take a big hit, a 2nd floor unit may take a bigger hit because a tree obstructed view, a 3rd or 4th might get a premium for a tree top view, lower floors or...
by JohnMcKee
15 Dec 2017 15:44
Forum: Urban Development
Topic: Museum Tower
Replies: 229
Views: 226616

Re: Museum Tower

It's the Shelton and there is a good reason they are selling fairly well after an initial very rough start. They just happen to be in HPISD but pay city of Dallas taxes, not many places you can buy for $400k in HPISD, much less fully updated and livable for someone in the market for a $400k house. A...
by JohnMcKee
11 Dec 2017 13:33
Forum: Urban Development
Topic: Museum Tower
Replies: 229
Views: 226616

Re: Museum Tower

If the tower had sold out quickly we'd all be tsk tsking about how they did a firesale at a loss just to get rid of the thing. Instead, they choose to maintain their margin and do a slow burn on the sales so we tsk tsk about the slow rate of sales. I see absolutely nothing wrong with Museum Tower c...
by JohnMcKee
14 Nov 2017 14:43
Forum: Urban Development
Topic: DTD: The National/Thompson Hotel (1401 Elm)
Replies: 681
Views: 590068

Re: Downtown Dallas: The Drever

Lender behind $380M project in downtown Dallas says developer has 'defaulted' on loan https://www.bizjournals.com/dallas/news/2017/11/14/lender-behind-380m-project-in-downtown-dallas-says.html I can't get passed the paywall, but the headline says it all. Disable Javascript on http://www.bizjournal....
by JohnMcKee
10 Nov 2017 15:11
Forum: Urban Development
Topic: Museum Tower
Replies: 229
Views: 226616

Re: Museum Tower

I think a lot of people here measure success by the existence of a new shiny shiny and not the impact or value of the project itself. So the tower is built, it's almost completed, is that success when it is almost certainly already unprofitable and by some rough but fair estimation losing at least $...
by JohnMcKee
10 Oct 2017 10:05
Forum: Urban Development
Topic: Uptown: The Crescent
Replies: 4
Views: 7623

Re: Uptown: The Crescent

While the materials used were certainly high-end The Crescent was considered rather kitschy almost to the point of tacky or vulgar at the time of it's construction and for a while after. While it has a certain architectural grandness that is appreciated today that wasn't always the case and might no...
by JohnMcKee
09 Oct 2017 14:06
Forum: Urban Development
Topic: Museum Tower
Replies: 229
Views: 226616

Re: Museum Tower

29 of those units are also going against 6 on the market by their first owners.
by JohnMcKee
27 Sep 2017 12:37
Forum: Urban Development
Topic: Uptown Dallas: Hall Street Condos (2934 N. Hall St.) (6 ST)
Replies: 31
Views: 34300

Re: Uptown Dallas: New Hotel at Hall and Oak Grove

kingpin wrote:anyone know whats going on here?

ImageUntitled by Around My City, on Flickr


Almost certain it is the construction office for those apartments down the street on Hall at Howell.
by JohnMcKee
11 Sep 2017 15:48
Forum: City Issues/News
Topic: Northpark Center
Replies: 1624
Views: 839320

Re: Northpark Center

by JohnMcKee
07 Sep 2017 14:31
Forum: Urban Development
Topic: Uptown Dallas: Dream Hotel
Replies: 148
Views: 126081

Re: Uptown Dallas: Dream Hotel

People always confuse hotel management companies with hotel developers. Dream hotel is a hotel management company, they have a contract to manage the hotel that developer of the hotel is trying to build using outside investors.
by JohnMcKee
07 Sep 2017 14:27
Forum: Urban Development
Topic: Uptown Dallas: Selene | 2620 Maple (Former Old Warsaw) | 12 ST
Replies: 92
Views: 74695

Re: Uptown - Warsaw Restaurant Office Tower

The owner of the Old Warsaw wasn't involved, he sold his property to the group that was planning on developing it.
by JohnMcKee
06 Sep 2017 10:33
Forum: Urban Development
Topic: Uptown Dallas: Dream Hotel
Replies: 148
Views: 126081

Re: Uptown Dallas: Dream Hotel

I have no inside information but I think it is pretty clear what is going on here, they designed this project with no money to start construction and are shopping it for investors. The current status is the same as it was from the beginning, construction will start as soon as they have the money whi...
by JohnMcKee
20 Aug 2017 18:02
Forum: Urban Development
Topic: Uptown Dallas: New Alamo Manhattan Hotel Project
Replies: 27
Views: 35759

Re: Uptown Dallas: New Alamo Manhattan Hotel Project

I'm really ambivalent about this project, it's a good flag for the neighborhood but otherwise meh except for this: and (12,500 square feet of) meeting space that will be available to the community. I really do hope they make meeting space available to the community at a very low cost/no cost basis. ...
by JohnMcKee
28 Jul 2017 11:46
Forum: City Issues/News
Topic: Uptown Dallas: Business Openings and Closings
Replies: 636
Views: 628746

Re: Uptown Dallas: Business Openings and Closings

http://dallas.culturemap.com/news/resta ... o-closing/

Shocking no one Patrizio's in Uptown is closing. It was always empty and having eaten there once the food was super disappointing, definitely went downhill in the move from HPV.
by JohnMcKee
27 Jul 2017 19:43
Forum: City Issues/News
Topic: Uptown Dallas: Business Openings and Closings
Replies: 636
Views: 628746

Re: Uptown Dallas: Business Openings and Closings

cowboyeagle05 wrote:Personally, I've never felt that our gay bars fit the world Will & Grace painted for me.


BJs, Peckers, Woody's, I think we are covered. I guess down to two now. But we lost Moby Dicks and got a Woody's so...
by JohnMcKee
27 Jul 2017 14:09
Forum: City Issues/News
Topic: Uptown Dallas: Business Openings and Closings
Replies: 636
Views: 628746

Re: Uptown Dallas: Business Openings and Closings

Every city is required to have at least one gay bar named with a double entendre and there are only so many to go around.
by JohnMcKee
26 Jul 2017 21:09
Forum: City Issues/News
Topic: Uptown Dallas: Business Openings and Closings
Replies: 636
Views: 628746

Re: Uptown Dallas: Business Openings and Closings

They're collaborating with Sam Sameni, Alon Abramov, and Shaul Sultan, who own Avenu Lounge and who also owned Next Door. We just want a chill spot on McKinney Avenue, something that's laidback and not super expensive, like some of the other bars in the area," Jovel says. ... Next Door opened ...
by JohnMcKee
25 Jul 2017 13:54
Forum: City Issues/News
Topic: Uptown Dallas: Business Openings and Closings
Replies: 636
Views: 628746

Re: Uptown Dallas: Business Openings and Closings

Looks like Uptown Urban Market at Gables Villa Rosa is struggling. The Slider spot, La Duni and Fireside Pies have closed. I believe the market has only been around since the spring. Former Sfuzzi space. I'm not surprised, I'm a prime customer, get take away all the time, live two blocks away, easy...
by JohnMcKee
18 Jul 2017 09:26
Forum: Urban Development
Topic: DTD: The National/Thompson Hotel (1401 Elm)
Replies: 681
Views: 590068

Re: Downtown Dallas: The Drever

The Statler also had incredibly shaky financing and is under a criminal probe over their financing.
by JohnMcKee
17 Jul 2017 16:04
Forum: Urban Development
Topic: DTD: The National/Thompson Hotel (1401 Elm)
Replies: 681
Views: 590068

Re: Downtown Dallas: The Drever

No, it also mentions that they don't have the money yet, probably hoping to use the models to drum up interest from investors.
by JohnMcKee
12 Jul 2017 18:18
Forum: Urban Development
Topic: Harwood District: Bleu Ciel (390 FT / 33 ST)
Replies: 308
Views: 261086

Re: Harwood Int'l District: Bleu Ciel (390 FT / 33 ST)

R1070 wrote:The glass on the top is not my favorite and it's boring.


At that height with that much open terrace I'm pretty sure that is more a design necessity so you don't have to bolt down every piece of furniture so it doesn't blow onto 35 and kill people in a bad thunderstorm but I could be wrong.
by JohnMcKee
11 Jul 2017 11:27
Forum: City Issues/News
Topic: Uptown Dallas: Business Openings and Closings
Replies: 636
Views: 628746

Re: Uptown Dallas: Business Openings and Closings

R1070 wrote:They could just be doing a remodel like 6th Street (which is looking way better).


6th Street has been on the TABC delinquency list (i.e. unable to legally buy alcohol) since their decision to abruptly close for "remodeling".
by JohnMcKee
10 Jul 2017 09:42
Forum: City Issues/News
Topic: Uptown Dallas: Business Openings and Closings
Replies: 636
Views: 628746

Re: Uptown Dallas: Business Openings and Closings

The Next Door property is already started a significant remodel, I never noticed a lockout, they never appeared on the TABC delinquency list and there hasn't been a for lease sign so either the owner of the property is doing a very through make ready for re-lease which seems unlikely or Next Door ei...
by JohnMcKee
08 Jul 2017 12:51
Forum: City Issues/News
Topic: Uptown Dallas: Business Openings and Closings
Replies: 636
Views: 628746

Re: Uptown Dallas: Business Openings and Closings

The TABC delinquency list has Christies listed as under bankruptcy protection. They appear to still be operating and can under bankruptcy protection but it probably isn't a good sign. Not surprised about Next Door, they seemed to run a good operation but the atmosphere wasn't great and the drinks we...
by JohnMcKee
05 Jul 2017 15:01
Forum: Urban Development
Topic: DTD: The National/Thompson Hotel (1401 Elm)
Replies: 681
Views: 590068

Re: Downtown Dallas: The Drever

Image

Sorry, not the best photo but they lit up the windows the last two nights with a giant red, white and blue 4. Seems rather odd to put that much effort into something rather trivial when this project is so troubled.
by JohnMcKee
17 Jun 2017 16:42
Forum: Urban Development
Topic: Uptown Dallas: Hall Street Condos (2934 N. Hall St.) (6 ST)
Replies: 31
Views: 34300

Re: Uptown Dallas: New Hotel at Hall and Oak Grove

We are talking about multiple plots, 2934 is where that Italian restaurant that burned down around a decade ago was at Nobel and Hall. The property at the corner of Oak Grove and Hall is owned by some entity named "Oak Grove Hotel Group" which is what the hotel speculation is about.
by JohnMcKee
11 Jun 2017 13:27
Forum: Urban Development
Topic: Arts District: 1900 Pearl (362 FT | 25 ST)
Replies: 203
Views: 189768

Re: Arts District: 1900 Pearl (362 FT | 25 ST)

As I felt with the Richard's Group I don't have the biggest problem with this much parking in buildings right now as long is it is attractive as it is in both buildings. Hopefully what we will see happening is in the coming years is that as parking needs decrease inside these buildings they will ope...
by JohnMcKee
19 May 2017 11:26
Forum: Urban Development
Topic: Harwood District: Bleu Ciel (390 FT / 33 ST)
Replies: 308
Views: 261086

Re: Harwood Int'l District: Bleu Ciel (390 FT / 33 ST)

Looks like those glass bottom/sided cantilevered pools for the penthouses actually happened. I know they were floated on the original design but I'm pretty sure they said they might not happen if the penthouse buyers didn't want to pay the significant costs to make them a reality.
by JohnMcKee
17 May 2017 13:08
Forum: Urban Development
Topic: Oak Lawn
Replies: 810
Views: 1321429

Re: Oak Lawn

Tailored crosswalks are great, especially if they lead to new sidewalks. Oak Lawn Avenue should be one of the city's Premier, World-Class, New Millenial, NewUrbanistMixedUse, Starcitect, Complete Streeted.... pedestrian-resident oriented thoroughfare, from the fountain at Preston Road to the Trinit...
by JohnMcKee
09 May 2017 11:29
Forum: Urban Development
Topic: DTD: The National/Thompson Hotel (1401 Elm)
Replies: 681
Views: 590068

Re: Downtown Dallas: The Drever

Steve Brown is such a hack it drives me crazy, is he paid by the DMN or the developers that pitch him stories?

The deck renders are OK I guess, but they are just renders and hardly extraordinary.
by JohnMcKee
27 Apr 2017 16:26
Forum: Urban Development
Topic: 6th Street - Anyone know what is going there?
Replies: 6
Views: 9113

Re: 6th Street - Anyone know what is going there?

What's going on with 6th street is they are on the TABC delinquency list so not being able to buy alcohol to sell anymore is probably one among a number of problems they are having related to not having money.
by JohnMcKee
13 Apr 2017 14:23
Forum: Urban Development
Topic: Uptown Dallas: San Martín (former The MAC location)
Replies: 43
Views: 43703

Re: Uptown Dallas: San Martín (former The MAC location)

After what seems like an eternity the structure is finally under construction. Two story tall I-beams are in place now, no idea if they are just going for exceptionally high ceilings, two stories of dining or if they are doing something like kitchen up, dining below. If they were doing two stories o...
by JohnMcKee
13 Apr 2017 14:14
Forum: Urban Development
Topic: Downtown Dallas: Scion Hotel
Replies: 95
Views: 83483

Re: Downtown Dallas: Scion Hotel

I'm going with the simple answer, he knew that making a Trump announcement would get him lots of publicity and it did.
by JohnMcKee
11 Apr 2017 16:24
Forum: Urban Development
Topic: Uptown Dallas: Central Market at McKinney and Lemmon
Replies: 417
Views: 418025

Re: Uptown Dallas: Central Market at McKinney and Lemmon

If that were the case they would probably tear the building down pretty quickly so they aren't paying property taxes on the improved value.
by JohnMcKee
27 Mar 2017 20:55
Forum: Urban Development
Topic: Uptown Dallas: Selene | 2620 Maple (Former Old Warsaw) | 12 ST
Replies: 92
Views: 74695

Re: Uptown - Warsaw Restaurant Office Tower

I probably shouldn't say anything but according to a very reliable source and I mean there is literally no one that could be more reliable on this project it might not go through at all. Sorry to be so cryptic, not trying to be a jerk but given the source and the context it came out I don't even kno...
by JohnMcKee
13 Mar 2017 19:56
Forum: Urban Development
Topic: Alexan Skyline Goat Hill
Replies: 34
Views: 33137

Re: Alexan Skyline Goat Hill

Are they not giving you a discount on rent because of the pool? A pool is a key amenity and with warm weather right around the corner I would be pretty upset if I was paying for a pool I couldn't use. The leases include a "construction addendum" which I believe bar you from seeking damage...
by JohnMcKee
13 Mar 2017 13:39
Forum: Urban Development
Topic: Alexan Skyline Goat Hill
Replies: 34
Views: 33137

Re: Alexan Skyline Goat Hill

Are they not giving you a discount on rent because of the pool? A pool is a key amenity and with warm weather right around the corner I would be pretty upset if I was paying for a pool I couldn't use.
by JohnMcKee
13 Mar 2017 11:53
Forum: Urban Development
Topic: Downtown Dallas: Scion Hotel
Replies: 95
Views: 83483

Re: Downtown Dallas: Scion Hotel

edit: Oops, wrong page.
by JohnMcKee
02 Mar 2017 15:44
Forum: Urban Development
Topic: Uptown Dallas: McKinney/Boll Tower - 2614 McKinney Ave - (18 ST)
Replies: 227
Views: 176727

Re: Uptown Dallas: McKinney/Boll Tower - 2614 McKinney Ave - (18 ST)

I assume they charge tenants for parking like many office buildings.
by JohnMcKee
01 Mar 2017 14:04
Forum: Urban Development
Topic: Uptown Dallas: M Line Tower (240 FT / 20 ST)
Replies: 64
Views: 66610

Re: Uptown Dallas: M Line Tower (240 FT / 20 ST)

Looks like this has either topped out or they are going to finish pouring the last floor in the next day or so.
by JohnMcKee
13 Feb 2017 12:32
Forum: Urban Development
Topic: Uptown Dallas: M Line Tower (240 FT / 20 ST)
Replies: 64
Views: 66610

Re: Uptown Dallas: M Line Tower - 20 Floors

Nope, unobstructable from the Oak Grove side, protected by Greenwood Cemetery and the State Thomas zoning.
by JohnMcKee
11 Feb 2017 20:41
Forum: Urban Development
Topic: Uptown Dallas: M Line Tower (240 FT / 20 ST)
Replies: 64
Views: 66610

Re: Uptown Dallas: M Line Tower - 20 Floors

I was walking by today and actually paid attention to the work now that they have started framing in the exterior and WTF? This site has basically the best skyline and open views anywhere in Dallas and you aren't putting in a wall of glass on that side? The windows at La Tour aren't nearly tall enou...
by JohnMcKee
07 Feb 2017 11:37
Forum: Urban Development
Topic: Downtown Dallas: Scion Hotel
Replies: 95
Views: 83483

Re: Downtown Dallas: Scion Hotel

Nobody cares what you think about Trump. Let's stick to urban development. Save the political drivel for Facebook and Twitter. Is there anything more political than urban development? Not to mention concerning ties between Trump and Turkey, questions over location and federal funds for the high spe...
by JohnMcKee
05 Feb 2017 04:12
Forum: Urban Development
Topic: Downtown Dallas: Scion Hotel
Replies: 95
Views: 83483

Re: Downtown Dallas: Scion Hotel

Yeah, f the constitution as long as we turn a parking lot into a hotel. There is a lot to process here between general conflicts of interest in general not to mention specific ones dealing with Turkey, but ask yourself, why would this mediocre hotel proposal claiming to be targeting mid-range busine...
by JohnMcKee
04 Feb 2017 17:49
Forum: Urban Development
Topic: Downtown Dallas: Scion Hotel
Replies: 95
Views: 83483

Re: Downtown Dallas: Scion Hotel

Not only that, Trump's business relationship with Turkey as I pointed out are extremely concerning, we should not be celebrating a development even if it happens that raises grave concerns about Trump's entanglements with personal enrichment with US policy.