BUH-BYE Heavenly Hospitality

[carltonplace]

Mr Dalton is unwilling to budge on his stance that the bus station is a road block to his development. Too bad, it was a very cool looking concept.

Tulsa World Article

[Kiah]

quote:Both sides seem to agree the major hurdle is the bus station.

"They're entitled to their opinion, but quite frankly we believe the problem is more perceptual than real," Himelfarb said.

A bus station, particularly close to that area, will be essential in transporting employees of the arena, convention center and hotels, Himelfarb said.

"My view is, even if we were able to agree to move it, we would be trading one set of difficulties for another," he said.

Funding a new bus station also would be a problem, Himelfarb said, noting that federal funding was used to build the station eight years ago, and that places restrictions on its use.

Dalton said the development group will not waiver on the bus station and that it would be an issue for any hotel that would locate in the area.

"I've told Don that we want to be as flexible and creative as possible in how we get this accomplished," he said. "However, there are several items we have no control over, and one of those is the bus station."

Downtown Tulsa has great potential, but there are some "necessary, tough decisions" for the city to make, Dalton said.

Himelfarb said he doesn't blame the development group for looking out for its interests, and the city must do the same.

"Two different people can look at a project and see two different things," he said. "We are continuing our dialogue.

"I don't know whether we'll get to the end point with them. But I am certain we'll get there with someone. There is a new downtown hotel in Tulsa's future."

Right on, Don. That attitude about the city's interests vs. strictly private interests is a refreshing change.

[sgrizzle]

I wonder if the other chain cares about the bus station.

[Dana431]

"They're entitled to their opinion, but quite frankly we believe the problem is more perceptual than real," Himelfarb said.

Great quote!

[rwarn17588]

Jerks.

Remember Westin, there's nothing more expensive than regret.

[Chicken Little]

Reading the article, it occured to me that Himelfarb shows the same kind of toughness and transparency that the Mayor did on the TPD raises, and is now showing with EMSA.  Keen negotiators, this lot; they know how to leverage the media and the public:  

quote: "If you let a date drive you, you lose your negotiating leverage," he said. "You don't make a long-term decision based on the short-term impact.

"As bad as we want it, we have a responsibility to act in a businesslike manner."

I don't know about the rest of y'all, but reading something like this makes me feel pretty good about the way things are going.

[Oil Capital]

quote:Originally posted by rwarn17588

Jerks.

Remember Westin, there's nothing more expensive than regret.

I don't think it's fair to blame this on Westin.  The responsibility rests squarely on the Heavenly Hospitality people (who, from what we can see on their lame website, appear to have successfully developed exactly one suburban Marriott Courtyard motel.)

[Oil Capital]

Anybody want to place bets on what year a new hotel opens in downtown Tulsa?

The economic development director is again telling us that another company is expressing interest in building a hotel downtown.  

Yeah, right.  Give it a rest.

Where were they when the proposals for this parcel were due?  When the city put out the request for proposals, we were told they were getting calls "every day" or some such nonsense about developing this parcel, and mysteriously, only one inexperienced "developer" actually submitted a proposal.  

Likewise, when they put out the request for proposals for that urban development land onthe northeast edge of downtown, we were told there were many interested parties, phones were ringing off the hooks, yadda yadda yadda. And yet, when prposals were due, there was exactly one.

[TheArtist]

Early in the year I heard about Heavenly Hospitalities development plans for Owasso, rumor was in a couple months they would get started on it. A few months later there was a topic on here about the development and it was said it would start in a couple months.  Well its been a couple months several times now.  Hows that development going in Owasso?

[perspicuity85]

I think it is obvious that Heavenly's ambitions seriously outweigh its experience.  Moving the bus station is nothing short of ridiculous.  It is in a very central location for downtown and also could be utilized in the expansion of the city's rubber tire trolley system.  Surely as the arena and downtown loft projects progress a more reasonable proposal will surface.  Why don't we get John Q. Hammons, who built South Tulsa's Renaissance Hotel, to help out.  He is known for his philanthropy (Union's new UMAC, NW Arkansas Convention Ctr.), and for developing world-class hotels.  Not to mention obvious profits once the arena finally opens.

[AVERAGE JOE]

Huge thumbs up for Himelfarb. Proud that he's out there working on the city's behalf.

[sgrizzle]

quote:Originally posted by perspicuity85

I think it is obvious that Heavenly's ambitions seriously outweigh its experience.  Moving the bus station is nothing short of ridiculous.  It is in a very central location for downtown and also could be utilized in the expansion of the city's rubber tire trolley system.  Surely as the arena and downtown loft projects progress a more reasonable proposal will surface.  Why don't we get John Q. Hammons, who built South Tulsa's Renaissance Hotel, to help out.  He is known for his philanthropy (Union's new UMAC, NW Arkansas Convention Ctr.), and for developing world-class hotels.  Not to mention obvious profits once the arena finally opens.

There is a theory that Hammons was working with Lafortune to get the property and develop it. However, that theory was base don lafortune's plan to buy out the towerview slot. The city council shot that down. This single issue means a couple of million cost difference.

[Chris]

Bravo Don Himelfarb! It's nice to see someone standing up for the city. I get tired of the attitude of "This is the only chance we're going to get so we have to do it." Tulsa's better than that.

[brunoflipper]

quote:Originally posted by perspicuity85

I think it is obvious that Heavenly's ambitions seriously outweigh its experience.  Moving the bus station is nothing short of ridiculous.  

that is a nice way of putting it... these guys are bull**** artists... they don't have two nickles to rub together... thank go they got that arizona SBA loan for 25,000 back in march (half way down- http://www.sba.gov/loans/businessdetail/output/2006/busaz.html )
...

[NCTulsan]

quote:Originally posted by Dana431

"They're entitled to their opinion, but quite frankly we believe the problem is more perceptual than real," Himelfarb said.

Great quote!

Agreed 100%.  Here in Charlotte, we have a Ritz Carlton going-up less than a block from our central transit center .... a facility about twice the size of Denver Avenue Station, but much less attractive.  A mere 20 feet from the transit center is a mixed-use project under construction, including a dining/entertainment complex and a 50-story condo tower.

I may be biased since I worked on the Denver Avenue Station project back in 1997-98, but I believe it to be a great asset to downtown Tulsa and to the potential for an arena district.  Sometimes it is worth the fight to stand-up to developers.