Downtown Dallas: Courtyard by Marriott (12 St)

[lakewoodhobo]

Drove past this site around 11am today and noticed heavy equipment and construction fence. Thought it was related to 400 Record at first, but then started wondering if it quietly broke ground. Any idea?

[Tnexster]

Did they tear anything out? There was a gate of some kind on the east side.

[lakewoodhobo]

Did they tear anything out? There was a gate of some kind on the east side.

They were tearing out the parking lot today. This is definitely moving forward.

FullSizeRender 2.jpg

FullSizeRender.jpg

FullSizeRender 3.jpg

[ContriveDallasite]

Does anyone have renderings of what the hotel is supposed to look like?

[willyk]

This seems like an odd spot for new hotel construction without many amenities nearby. The only appeal is walkability to the DCC. But a site near the Aloft would do that too and have better access to Main. Is it safe to say that holding down the cost of the site is what is driving the site selection? That to this customer cost matters more than location?

[Tnexster]

It's a great sign that Marriott has enough confidence to build near the convention center. Great to see this kind of infill development. More will follow.

[ContriveDallasite]

COURTYARD BY MARRIOTT
MW Builders is partnering with Equity Hotel Group to construct a 12-story Courtyard Marriott in downtown Dallas, TX. The hotel is directly adjacent to Union Station and just blocks from Dealey Plaza.

The post-tension reinforced concrete structure will house a parking garage on floors one through five with the 167 hotel rooms occupying the 5th through 11th floors.

The 12th floor will feature a Skybar rooftop lounge with an independent 150-foot elevator tower to carry guests directly to the terrace featuring panoramic views of the Dallas skyline. The hotel footprint covers 90 percet of the project site and will be built up against existing structures requiring shoring to protect neighboring buildings.

http://www.mwbuilders.com/portfolio/pro ... oject/1525

[lakewoodhobo]

Wow, that is certainly different especially standing next to La Quinta/Lawrence. Kinda disappointed by the lack of interaction with Ferris Plaza, but I had low expectations anyway.

If any mods are able to combine this thread with the existing one labeled "Site of Jefferson Hotel" please do.

[muncien]

That is an interesting facade... Not sure what to make of it. But glad to see new stuff in this area. Street interaction looks decent as well.

[The_Overdog]

Where is this going to be? I'm guessing the parking lot behind Cindys New York Deli on the corner of Houston & Wood and backing the La Quinta?

[DPatel304]

This is a nice surprise. It's nothing spectacular, but there hasn't been a lot of new construction happening in the CBD so far.

Are all the existing, vacant buildings spoken for at this point?

[Tnexster]

That is very colorful.

[tamtagon]

That is very colorful.

It's like Miami threw up. They'll be able to paint or something.

[Kelley USA]

Love the new construction and the skybar concept, but the design is atrocious IMO...

[buildingswithlegs]

I guess we should celebrate eccentricity, but really? That?

[Tivo_Kenevil]

The red trim is not very subtle. Not sure if that is stucco on the building... I hope not.

[DPatel304]

Love the new construction and the skybar concept, but the design is atrocious IMO...

Ditto on the skybar. Dallas is such a good looking city, I feel like we should have more rooftop bars. Recently we've gotten Happiest Hour and the Alamo Draughthouse, which kinda count, but no options that I know of within the city and our current ones aren't that tall.

[vman]

I've never seen a Courtyard Marrriot look like this. They're usually pretty understated (and I might add, one of my favorite hotel chains) This is just ugly. Hopefully it will be altered by the time it's completed.

[Tnexster]

Why are there parking spots in front? Seems like a tight space and not worth the effort for four cars.

[dallasbeatsaustin]

Very ugly, but I can't stop looking at it. Late Stalinist architecture combined with a multi-story storage facility.

[eburress]

It's awful. Absolutely awful. They have to go back to the drawing board. Awful.

[willyk]

Very odd that they face the deadest part of the site, and ignore the plaza and Houston St where the action is. I bet whoever designed this did not even bother to visit the location.

[lakewoodhobo]

Very odd that they face the deadest part of the site, and ignore the plaza and Houston St where the action is. I bet whoever designed this did not even bother to visit the location.

I don't hate that it faces Record, which is much more pedestrian friendly than Houston, but the surface parking along Wood St, where there should be a patio, is downright criminal.

[ContriveDallasite]

It's a down right ugly building and the only previous images I can find from this architect is a generic 3 story budget hotel.

[DPatel304]

Very odd that they face the deadest part of the site, and ignore the plaza and Houston St where the action is. I bet whoever designed this did not even bother to visit the location.

I don't hate that it faces Record, which is much more pedestrian friendly than Houston, but the surface parking along Wood St, where there should be a patio, is downright criminal.

I agree, but I'll take it. This is better than the empty lot that is currently there, and, whenever self driving cars become the norm, it wouldn't be too hard to convert that surface lot into a plaza.

I wish they would just do that straight off the bat instead of having to wait a couple decades for it be 'fixed', but, until the CBD reaches West Village levels of density, I'm not going to nitpick about details such as this. Other than the (seemingly small) surface parking spots, the building seems to be decently urban in design and it's not like they are building a Sam's club or fast food with a drive-thru.

[Dmkflyer]

Very odd that they face the deadest part of the site, and ignore the plaza and Houston St where the action is. I bet whoever designed this did not even bother to visit the location.

I don't hate that it faces Record, which is much more pedestrian friendly than Houston, but the surface parking along Wood St, where there should be a patio, is downright criminal.

I hope this is sarcasm and I haven't had enough coffee.

The rendered parking barely meets the definition of surface parking. Have you already forgotten what this building is being built on?!

[DPatel304]

The rendered parking barely meets the definition of surface parking. Have you already forgotten what this building is being built on?!

True, but, if it's barely a parking lot, I don't see why it needs to be there at all.

[lakewoodhobo]

Very odd that they face the deadest part of the site, and ignore the plaza and Houston St where the action is. I bet whoever designed this did not even bother to visit the location.

I don't hate that it faces Record, which is much more pedestrian friendly than Houston, but the surface parking along Wood St, where there should be a patio, is downright criminal.

I hope this is sarcasm and I haven't had enough coffee.

The rendered parking barely meets the definition of surface parking. Have you already forgotten what this building is being built on?!

Definitely the "not enough coffee" part. Of course it's better than what it was before, just angry at architects that pull something out of a coloring book and don't design for context. Missed opportunity.

Here's what I think happened: the developer hadn't bought the separate parking parcel to the south when they planned the hotel and sent it to CPC. At some point this year they did buy the parcel, so either this is an old design that will change since they have more land, or they bought the land and didn't bother to change the design.

dallas_courtyard_day_9.jpg

[tamtagon]

I'm not keeping up.... this is in addition to Hotel Lawrence? which is being renovated and reopened by someone else?

doh! I just looked, duh.

Pretty impressive Dallas is making up the hotel room deficit; but I'm not sure the current inventory expansion, is keeping pase with the overall growth of the downtown area. We're going to see a few more of these 100-200 room hotels fill in more of the cracks, and soonish we'll seem a couple+ really large hotels get underway.

I wonder if this Marriott is mostly in response to the Patent office...?

[dukemeredith]

Definitely the "not enough coffee" part. Of course it's better than what it was before, just angry at architects that pull something out of a coloring book and don't design for context. Missed opportunity.

Here's what I think happened: the developer hadn't bought the separate parking parcel to the south when they planned the hotel and sent it to CPC. At some point this year they did buy the parcel, so either this is an old design that will change since they have more land, or they bought the land and didn't bother to change the design.

Hopefully the former.

I'm not so averse to the design. I have a feeling it will look much better from a street-perspective than the bird's eye views we see in the renderings.

[Jay9398]

Love the new construction and the skybar concept, but the design is atrocious IMO...

Ditto on the skybar. Dallas is such a good looking city, I feel like we should have more rooftop bars. Recently we've gotten Happiest Hour and the Alamo Draughthouse, which kinda count, but no options that I know of within the city and our current ones aren't that tall.

I agree, but there are several skyline view locations coming soon. The Lorenzo Hotel, the Drever (9th floor deck and 50th floor observatory) and the Belo building redo will all have public spaces with great views of the skyline from different perspectives.

[Tnexster]

Not crazy about the colors but am prepared to withhold judgement until later. I am more impressed by the fact that Courtyard is building a hotel downtown on top of a parking lot. One down, don't know how many to go but I know its a lot.

[dukemeredith]

^ agreed!

[Tnexster]

That is a hideous section of downtown. Wasted space.

[Tivo_Kenevil]

Dallas at its worst.

[tamtagon]

Potential!

[willyk]

Pretty impressive Dallas is making up the hotel room deficit; but I'm not sure the current inventory expansion, is keeping pase with the overall growth of the downtown area. We're going to see a few more of these 100-200 room hotels fill in more of the cracks, and soonish we'll seem a couple+ really large hotels get underway.

J.W.Marriott would be a nice fit.

[The_Overdog]

That is a hideous section of downtown. Wasted space.

What stinks is there are multiple areas of downtown just like that.

[willyk]

That is a hideous section of downtown. Wasted space.

What stinks is there are multiple areas of downtown just like that.

Every silver lining has a dark cloud?-- let's cheer up!

One of the most exciting things about Downtown is that even the most neglected corners are seeing new investment. Examples:

1. This hotel
2. City Electric
3. Butler Brothers
4. Dallas High School
5. Factory Six03
6. Farmers Market
7. Tower Petroleum/Corrigan

[dukemeredith]

Good point, Willy.

My parking lot picture was taken from Fountain Place, lookingsoutheast. On the other side of the building, the parking garage is being built (with retail space), the AMLI apartment tower seems close to construction, the old BofA site will eventually get some iteration of Perot Tower, and across Field will get the huge South Asia Museum development (maybe? hopefully? Has anyone heard anything about it lately?).

The area will eventually be built up, but for now those lots are an undeniable eyesore. Particularly appalling are the empty parking spaces!

[Cabrio330]

And to add to dukemeredith's list of proposed development around Fountain Place, remember that Headington owns all of that surface parking and the parking deck on the right. I have not heard or seen any plans from them yet, but maybe they will focus on these parcels now that Forty Five Ten is open.

[DallasMan]

Good lord, that rendering is ugly. Beyond that, this design will just be very dated looking in 10-15 years.

[mdg109]

It's already dated. It looks like early 2000s. But I've learned never to trust renderings, so I'm still optimistic and hoping that there will be an open cafe facing the park. Fingers crossed.

[kingpin]

1/2/17

Untitled by Around My City, on Flickr
Untitled by Around My City, on Flickr
Untitled by Around My City, on Flickr

[Tivo_Kenevil]

This Hotel in addition with the La Quinta and Belo improvements will bring some momentum to this area. Great to see the nook come alive.

[Tnexster]

This Hotel in addition with the La Quinta and Belo improvements will bring some momentum to this area. Great to see the nook come alive.

Agreed, not overly impressed with the design but am really happy Courtyard sees fit to drop a new hotel on this side of downtown, think that says a lot.

[willyk]

Agreed, not overly impressed with the design but am really happy Courtyard sees fit to drop a new hotel on this side of downtown, think that says a lot.

I have been skeptical of this location but I am starting to see the potential. This is an under-appreciated corner of downtown. But there really is a lot of foot traffic here with the courthouses, Dealey Plaza, El Centro, the County offices and Union Station.

What's missing are a couple of daytime restaraunts to cater to the traffic and give the locale some personality. Places with an historic feel like Highland Park Pharmacy or Norma's would be a nifty fit.

Maybe the City should let the food trucks station themselves here to prove up the viability of some permanent restaraunts, and that would get things going.

[muncien]

This corner of the CBD is starving for some residential. Best case scenario would be that residential gets incorporated into any redevelopment of the DMN property. It's always a bit of a ghost town over there after dark...

[lakewoodhobo]

Crane went up on Tuesday. At least that's when I noticed it.

[kingpin]

3/4/17

Untitled by Around My City, on Flickr
Untitled by Around My City, on Flickr
Untitled by Around My City, on Flickr

Untitled by Around My City, on Flickr