Dallas Fort Worth Urban Forum

Work has been underway for a good while now. It started with the demolition of all those properties, and then they dug a massive hole for the garage. Is construction at ground level now?

Taken this morning.

Nice infill.

This has a lot of presence in that area of Uptown. Now Nick and Sams and that dirt lot next to it look like a great spot for another tower.

Untitled by rlopez2011, on Flickr

What will the exterior be like? Early renders look like maybe brick.

Whatever happened to this one? Delayed opening due to COVID situation I’d assume, but should be completed by now. Any pics to share?

Marriott is about to announce updated food & beverage procedures and arrangements for all its brands, so that might be 1 thing. Could cash-flow during- and after-virus be another? The owners at my property have had to use what would have been renovation funds to keep us going and afloat.

At least the gaybourhood will now have another hotel option to coordinate major events with along with the recently opened Virgin. Depending of course on what survives the COVID shutdown.

Thanks for the pics @Dalbert. IMO that’s the perfect sized hotel for that part of town.

Chuck246 wrote:Thanks for the pics @Dalbert. IMO that’s the perfect sized hotel for that part of town.

Agreed, but there were some people on here insisting that it shouldn't be a "Marriott" branded hotel because those can only be 1000+ room convention hotels right in the middle of major downtown business districts.

^ Some people have short memories....

Hannibal Lecter wrote:^ Some people have short memories....

s-l1600.jpg

Neat! Where is/was that? Somewhere along Harry Hines?

TNWE wrote:

Hannibal Lecter wrote:^ Some people have short memories....

s-l1600.jpg

Neat! Where is/was that? Somewhere along Harry Hines?

It was at Stemmons/Market Center, the southwest corner. The Sheraton Suites, Courtyard, and Fairfield are on that site now.

It was Marriott's first big property in Dallas, and the closest it would come to the CBD until the SpringHill Suites in the West End. It has more than made up for that since then, between organic growth and the acquisition of Starwood, the downtown area now is more than well-represented with Marriott-branded properties.

itsjrd1964 wrote:

TNWE wrote:

Hannibal Lecter wrote:^ Some people have short memories....

s-l1600.jpg

Neat! Where is/was that? Somewhere along Harry Hines?

It was at Stemmons/Market Center, the southwest corner. The Sheraton Suites, Courtyard, and Fairfield are on that site now.

It was Marriott's first big property in Dallas, and the closest it would come to the CBD until the SpringHill Suites in the West End. It has more than made up for that since then, between organic growth and the acquisition of Starwood, the downtown area now is more than well-represented with Marriott-branded properties.

Cool!

I thought the Marriott in Plaza of the Americas predated the Springhill in the West End? Or was it built as something else?

I think it was just POA Hotel for quite some time originally.

From 1962, starting at 6:45: https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x6qegpm

CTroyMathis wrote:I think it was just POA Hotel for quite some time originally.

IIRC It was originally under the Trust-House Forte banner, a European brand.

And before it flipped to Marriott, it was a Westin hotel for a time. But TNWE, you are somewhat correct as it was the first downtown property that Marriott had that was branded as a Marriott--not as one of the other brands under their umbrella.

itsjrd1964 wrote:And before it flipped to Marriott, it was a Westin hotel for a time. But TNWE, you are somewhat correct as it was the first downtown property that Marriott had that was branded as a Marriott--not as one of the other brands under their umbrella.

When I first moved to Dallas I was struck by how few Major chain properties there were downtown - Just the giant Hyatt, Sheraton, and Marriott (along with the more niche hotels on Commerce and high-end places like the Fairmont). I had some relocation money from my job and was thinking I could bank a bunch of points from staying at an extended-stay hotel within walking distance from the office for a few weeks while I got an apartment sorted, but the only thing even remotely close was the Hyatt House on McKinnon, and being the only game in town for extended stay, they wanted something like $200/night.

Obviously that's now changed, both with new properties being built and the various brands merging or partnering up with local boutiques. I was always shocked when coworkers/consultants from out of town would stay out in Addison or whatever, but at the time they no doubt pulled up the website for their preferred brand, saw the limited selection and/or high prices downtown, and grabbed one of the lower-priced suburban locations, even if it meant renting a car and paying for parking (and every company I've ever worked for would rather pay even more for a rental car and parking than let you go even a penny over the hotel rate limit ).

Scheduled to open next month.

https://www.dallasnews.com/business/rea ... n-january/

Maybe one of our photographers will grab a pic sometime soon.

Untitled by rlopez2011, on Flickr

Untitled by rlopez2011, on Flickr

Untitled by rlopez2011, on Flickr
Untitled by rlopez2011, on Flickr
Untitled by rlopez2011, on Flickr

Untitled by rlopez2011, on Flickr
Untitled by rlopez2011, on Flickr
Untitled by rlopez2011, on Flickr
Untitled by rlopez2011, on Flickr

Untitled by rlopez2011, on Flickr

One part of Marriott's site says the hotel is supposed to open this month, while the hotel's site says next month. Kingpin's great pics make it look pretty much ready now.

https://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/ ... as-uptown/

I like this hotel, nice little infill project. Hope they do well!

Such a nice looking building! I'm excited to check it out!

That electric pole is begging to be buried.

It still feels like a odd location but hey I welcome more hotels near Oak Lawn for hosting larger events.

That Marriott Uptown is about as bland as a hotel can get. Nothing memorable or to note, but it has buried parking. LOL.

rono3849 wrote:That Marriott Uptown is about as bland as a hotel can get. Nothing memorable or to note, but it has buried parking. LOL.

Yeah.... But at least...

Bland + Podium < Bland + Buried

rono3849 wrote:That Marriott Uptown is about as bland as a hotel can get. Nothing memorable or to note, but it has buried parking. LOL.

I think the shape of the building is fine, but why not use bolder color choices for pete's sake!! That tan, on beige on brown is horrible!!

Agree but overall folks this is certainly going to be positive for Uptown