DTD: The National/Thompson Hotel (1401 Elm)

[Roman_Patrick]

Untitled by Roman Reyna, on Flickr

Taken Yesterday! It will finally look great again!

[Tnexster]

Is every piece mapped back to its original spot.

[Jay9398]

Is every piece mapped back to its original spot.

They cataloged and marked every piece before removal so I would imagine mostly yes (obviously some were damaged during removal and will have to be replaced).

[ArtVandelay]

I sure hope they are using really strong adhesive! That would suck to get wacked by one falling off.

[cowboyeagle05]

Well, the original pieces have been cut with a laser to make them thinner and lighter. A framework applied to the back to stabilize the marble as well as make it easier to adhere. Similar to how they create that plastic webbing behind small tile installations. As long as they finish its possible they will have extra marble they could use inside the building for smaller applications. Maybe a bar top or wall section?

[Roman_Patrick]

Untitled by Roman Reyna, on Flickr

Are they finally going to unveil the new marble?? Looks like they are taking off the blue cover from the bottom of the tower.

[willyk]

Untitled by Roman Reyna, on Flickr

Are they finally going to unveil the new marble?? Looks like they are taking off the blue cover from the bottom of the tower.

If the project is strapped for funding, isn’t this an odd thing to be spending money on?

[cowboyeagle05]

It appears to be simply limping along. Mind you know no sane businessman would spend money on reassembling the marble without knowing there was a richer future on the other end to finish the project. Course there is a reason most investors have steered away from this project altogether so it just may take a leap of faith and maybe some delusional vision to get it done.

[itsjrd1964]

I just read not too long ago that Thompson Hotels has become part of the Hyatt universe. It will be interesting to see if the hotel portion of this project will still go to Thompson, and Hyatt would want a bigger DTD presence, or if another brand is being considered--if there still is a hotel being considered.

[Tnexster]

Looked like they had made a lot of progress with the tile installation on the east side and I noticed they had workers on at least three corners of the tower laying tile up the sides. So far I am liking the way it's turning out.

[lakewoodhobo]

One more time

https://www.dallasnews.com/business/rea ... do-project

[muncien]

One more time

https://www.dallasnews.com/business/rea ... do-project

Perhaps I'm just so desperate for this thing to get done that I'm grasping for straws here... But, I can't help but see this as a good sign.

The fact that work resumed before making a big announcement with more renderings is very reassuring. The fact that this is now being done by someone who has not only done it before, but did it just down the street is also good to hear. Not to mention the big names behind the financing.

Less talk, more action. Finally.

[Tnexster]

FWIW, I see this building every day and now I see people working on it every day. Also, the people that I met from Drever that worked on my floor have disappeared. I don't think I have seen them for a month, now it makes sense.

[Tivo_Kenevil]

One more time

https://www.dallasnews.com/business/rea ... do-project

Perhaps I'm just so desperate for this thing to get done that I'm grasping for straws here... But, I can't help but see this as a good sign.

The fact that work resumed before making a big announcement with more renderings is very reassuring. The fact that this is now being done by someone who has not only done it before, but did it just down the street is also good to hear. Not to mention the big names behind the financing.

Less talk, more action. Finally.

This is a win. I never believed Drever could get this done. Todd Interests at least has experience, and is fully invested in Downtown Dallas..Finally we have legitimate hope.

[whit5125]

I work in Renaissance tower on the 29th floor and look at the tower every day. Trust me, the past two weeks work has really picked up on it, especially on the lower podium where they have built what looks like another level of pavilions for what will be restaurants and eventual other amenities. And today they are on the west side prepping to put the tiles back on.

[ArtVandelay]

I think we now know why 505 North Ervay was purchased by Todd Interest and being demolished for a parking garage.

[lakewoodhobo]

I think we now know why 505 North Ervay was purchased by Todd Interest and being demolished for a parking garage.

If it's a parking garage for The Drever (new name TBD) then it's too bad the tunnel connection between these two locations is closed off.

[trueicon]

If you believe this project will be completed under Drever's guard, you will be disappointed. In fact I'll buy a round of drinks for everyone on this thread if I'm wrong and it opens next year like they promise. But I could just as easily promise to buy everyone a new iPhone XS Max -- it really won't matter.

Sorry guys, no round of drinks or iPhones.

[TNWE]

I think we now know why 505 North Ervay was purchased by Todd Interest and being demolished for a parking garage.

If it's a parking garage for The Drever (new name TBD) then it's too bad the tunnel connection between these two locations is closed off.

Has anything happened to the tunnel sections between the LTV building and 1401 Elm that would preclude re-opening that pathway? My understanding was that the tunnels were only closed off south of Thanksgiving Square because 1401 Elm was vacant.

[cowboyeagle05]

I believe the city still has structured all incentives so that the tunnels have to be closed as part of these vacant redos cause most council members still think they alone are the reason retail isn't on the ground floor of the crappy designed office buildings the city has allowed and continues to allow to be built downtown...

[dfwcre8tive]

I believe the city still has structured all incentives so that the tunnels have to be closed as part of these vacant redos cause most council members still think they alone are the reason retail isn't on the ground floor of the crappy designed office buildings the city has allowed and continues to allow to be built downtown...

I don't think there's any incentive either way regarding the tunnels. The city isn't going to pay to improve the spaces but if the owner wants to keep them leased/occupied they can.

As for the connection to Thanks-Giving Square, the tunnels from this building are still under the street and terminate in the Tower Garage. The corridor going from underground to street level is now dark/closed. When LTV went through their renovation they closed the escalator connection to the tunnel from street level on Pacific. They were required by the city to maintain public access with a staircase, but I don't think this ever happened (or how they got out of this).

Capture.JPG

[cowboyeagle05]

Let me clarify. By my conversations with various people in CBD development the city has been clear that any developer looking to redo these buildings downtown should think long and hard about keeping the tunnels. I shouldn't have said the incentives are structured simply that the developers are enthusiastically encouraged to shut off tunnels and repurpose them at their earliest convenience. Many believe making Downtown be more alive is something that can be vastly improved by mothballing the tunnels and sky bridges. There are limits to what the city can do officially but they can suggest things to help developers get a better deal aka more likely to get approval.

[eburress]

It wouldn't be a cure all for sure, but I do happen to agree that closing the tunnels in order to force the retail and foot traffic to the streets is a good thing.

[Chris Sapphire]

Yay!!!! This project is now full steam ahead. Just read on DallasNews.com that a new investor has come to take over and it shall be done by next year. Can't wait to see the new LED lights they'll install on the facade's white pinstripes finally on.

[texasstar]

I'm looking forward to that re-opened observation deck!

[ArtVandelay]

I'm looking forward to that re-opened observation deck!

Do you think they will still do the observation deck? That feature promised under the Drever regime surprised me because you're taking rentable space out of inventory for an amenity that isn't going to generate as much revenue.

[Jay9398]

I'm looking forward to that re-opened observation deck!

Do you think they will still do the observation deck? That feature promised under the Drever regime surprised me because you're taking rentable space out of inventory for an amenity that isn't going to generate as much revenue.

The public observation deck was in the orignal Merriman Anderson design and they're still the architects of record, so it will probably stick. Now whether Drever's plan to make it free will stick, we'll just have to wait and see.

I am a little nervous about the pinstripe lights since my bedroom window is across the street but again I guess we'll just have to wait and see.

[lakewoodhobo]

Do you think they will still do the observation deck? That feature promised under the Drever regime surprised me because you're taking rentable space out of inventory for an amenity that isn't going to generate as much revenue.

This was probably a condition for receiving the $50M in TIF from the city, but I could be wrong. I know that LTV/1600 Pacific was supposed to have a porte cochere accessible to the public that was eventually scrapped for a parking garage ramp, but that required an amendment to the TIF agreement.

With the race to get so much done by the end of next year, I doubt there's any time to renegotiate that deal.

[Tnexster]

East side of the building tile replacement is almost done, looks fantastic and they are well underway on the south side facing Elm. Bright and shiny it will look like new when it's done.

[itsjrd1964]

East side of the building tile replacement is almost done, looks fantastic and they are well underway on the south side facing Elm. Bright and shiny it will look like new when it's done.

Well, after months and months and *months* of the unpeeled/unwashed/etc version staring us in the face, pretty much anything will look better at this rate. I hope Todd Interests is able to pick up the pace; I can't imagine already having East Quarter to evaluate and contend with, then suddenly having to add the yet-to-be-done-but-so-much-left-to-do complex at 1401 Elm, as well. That's a lot of $$$$$ and man-hours to come up with.

The DBJ version, with slideshows:
https://www.bizjournals.com/dallas/news ... treet.html

[Tnexster]

Lots going on today, more progress on the tile along Main and they appear to be removing all of the exterior lighting covers all the way to the top of the building. Maybe they are going to install some LED feature in place of what looks like fluorescent lights?

[Tnexster]

This is from May 8th but had not seen this specific report posted yet so....

Historic Dallas Marble-and-Glass Tower Gains New Owner, Ending an Empty Decade
Long Vacant 52-Floor Mid-Century Redevelopment to Include Office, Hotel, Apartments

https://product.costar.com/home/news/shared/1249733717

[LongonBigD]

Thanks for sharing.

I had forgotten this was built by H.L. Hunt and used as the pretend offices of JR Ewing on the tv show.

[itsjrd1964]

Thanks for sharing.

I had forgotten this was built by H.L. Hunt and used as the pretend offices of JR Ewing on the tv show.

Actually, the longtime Ewing Oil setting on Dallas was next door at what is now Renaissance Tower. Previously, in the show's first 5 episodes, Bryan Tower was used as the interior/exterior setting for Ewing Oil. I'm not sure 1401 Elm (and it's later names) was ever used as any setting on Dallas.

[Tnexster]

Thanks for sharing.

I had forgotten this was built by H.L. Hunt and used as the pretend offices of JR Ewing on the tv show.

True, if you go back to the episode after JR is shot you will see Cliff Barnes coming out of this tower. Great clip showing the front of this tower in that particular episode.

[Dallas12]

Unless I’m way off, First National Bank built Elm Place, not Hunt. Hunt built Thanksgiving Tower.

[Hannibal Lecter]

^ You are way on.

By coincidence, when Thanksgiving Tower was constructed it was the second tallest building downtown. The building it supplanted? Elm Place.

[LongonBigD]

H. L. Hunt died in the 70’s, Thanksgiving Tower is early 1980s. Perhaps his children developed Thanksgiving Tower (HuntOil?). I do recall that all original occupants were primarily companies owned by or doing business with the Hunts, sorta the 1980s version of Old Parkland.

[dfwcre8tive]

H. L. Hunt died in the 70’s, Thanksgiving Tower is early 1980s. Perhaps his children developed Thanksgiving Tower (HuntOil?). I do recall that all original occupants were primarily companies owned by or doing business with the Hunts, sorta the 1980s version of Old Parkland.

Hunt Petroleum / Hunt Energy was Thanksgiving Tower (built by the Hunt family). It's complicated.

https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2008/06/hunt200806

https://www.nytimes.com/1987/09/27/maga ... -debt.html

[Tnexster]

Some scaffolding has gone up on the east side around the pillars, looks like they are about to begin tile work there. So far the work they have done looks spectacular.

[lakewoodhobo]

Hard to tell from the street level, but they're removing the middle plexiglass panels and what's left of the fluorescent lights behind them. Not sure if the panels on the right side are new or old but since there don't appear to be any missing pieces, I wanna say that they're new.

If that's the case, is it possible that they're not adding an LED system at this time?

IMG_9473.jpg

IMG_9474.jpg

[Tnexster]

Downtown Dallas' landmark First National Bank tower is getting its restored marble exterior two years after removal


https://www.dallasnews.com/business/rea ... er-removal

[cowboyeagle05]

I took these on Friday and honestly it looks great in person. Looks brand new like it should.

64779589_442317322985562_2232504252201172992_n.jpg

64381202_2731362000239179_4230599329804451840_n.jpg

64224197_446182492862008_2955616237624754176_n.jpg

[texasstar]

Nothing but good news here!

[DPatel304]

Great pictures, thanks for the update! I'm so glad this project appears to be seeing regular progress these days.

[Jay9398]

Hard to tell from the street level, but they're removing the middle plexiglass panels and what's left of the fluorescent lights behind them. Not sure if the panels on the right side are new or old but since there don't appear to be any missing pieces, I wanna say that they're new.

If that's the case, is it possible that they're not adding an LED system at this time?

The panels are new. All of the infrastructure for the old flourescent lighting system has been gutted. Last I heard they were still testing/trying to decide on the replacement lighting system. Nothing has yet been installed that I can see on the Elm Street side.

[Tivo_Kenevil]

I hope the windows are replaced

[Jay9398]

I hope the windows are replaced

Several windows in the tower have already been replaced. They are so clearly different and newer than the old windows that I can't imagine they wouldn't replace them all.

The windows at street level actually look really good when they're clean. I don't know if they will replace them but it really might not be necessary.

[Tivo_Kenevil]

I hope the windows are replaced

Several windows in the tower have already been replaced. They are so clearly different and newer than the old windows that I can't imagine they wouldn't replace them all.

The windows at street level actually look really good when they're clean. I don't know if they will replace them but it really might not be necessary.

Not sure if feasible, due to historical credits, but clear windows on the ground floor would look awesome. Right now the tint on the lower floor looks unwelcoming IMO.

[Bwd1975]

How’s 1401 Elm coming along? I haven’t been by in about 6 weeks and I excited to see the progress. Anybody have any recent photos?