Phoenix Area getting 2nd W Hotel

[dallastophoenix]

Although the city is only saying that a high-rise boutique hotel and condo building will be built next to the America West Arena downtown, insiders say it's most definitely another W Hotel (the other one is 20 miles away in Scottsdale - to be built by 2008).

[St-T]

^nice!

[frankchitown]

Wow, and I wouldn't be surprized if we see a W-Plano or W-Arlington by 2010

[Geaux Tigers]

Wow, and I wouldn't be surprized if we see a W-Plano or W-Arlington by 2010

Uh, try W Cowtown!

[St-T]

^UM, "cowtown" nor Arlington really doesn't fit the model for the W. I would bet you would see W Frisco/Plano.

[Columbus Civil]

Once again you underestimate Arlington's can-doedness

[rantanamo]

^is that what they call the horrible time they are having acquiring land for JerryWorld parking lots?

[Columbus Civil]

Dr. Cluck will get it done, just you wait.

[dallastophoenix]

Suns bringing 'W Hotel' to downtown Phoenix

Ginger D. Richardson
The Arizona Republic
Sept. 22, 2005 06:00 PM

Downtown Phoenix's skyline will be peppered with another new high-rise by early 2008, this time a 39-story luxury hotel and condominium tower to be built and paid for by the owners and management of the Phoenix Suns.

Suns majority owner Robert Sarver first announced plans to do the project back in February, but unveiled the building's new design this evening at Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon's second annual State of Downtown address.

The $100 million plus property, which will be located at Third and Jefferson streets near America West Arena, will feature approximately 190 rooms and 170 condominium residences, a 3,000 square foot signature restaurant, a 4,000 square foot destination bar and a 10,000 square foot Bliss Spa and fitness area.

It is has expanded in both size and scope since the original announcement seven months ago.

"With all the plans being unveiled downtown, we are getting increasingly bullish about what is going to take place down there," Sarver said. "We think this will be an iconic structure."

The property is being privately funded, but Phoenix City Council members have agreed to give Sarver and his partners a $5 million property-tax abatement.

Both the hotel and the condos will be managed by W Hotels Worldwide, and is expected to cater to top executives, athletes and wealthy professionals.

The posh property's height - at 450 feet - will make it the second tallest building in downtown. Only the Bank One Center towers higher, at 487 feet.

Sarver was unable to provide details about how much the condominiums, known as "W Residences" would sell for, but said the average floor plan will be about 2,000 square feet. One, two and three bedroom models will be available, and those who live there will be able to take advantage of all the amenities the hotel offers, including the pool area, the spa and 24-hour room service.

"The W Phoenix will completely redefine the concept of an urban retreat," said Ross Klein, president of W Hotels. "We'll offer guests and residents a place to sip, spa, socialize and shade in an oasis of style and comfort."

W Hotels Worldwide, incidentally, is part of the Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide, Inc. hotel management chain, which has also signed a deal with the city to operate a new publicly-financed, 1,000-room hotel downtown.

That property, which will cost an estimated $350 million, will be operated under Starwood's Sheraton flag, and located at Third and Van Buren streets.



Reach the reporter at ginger.richardson@arizonarepublic.com or (602) 444-2474

[psukhu]

In my opinion a second W for the Dallas area would be in this order:

1- Another Dallas location, maybe downtown
2- Addison (Addison Circle)
3- Las Colinas (Urban Center)
4- Plano (Legacy Town Center)
5- Frisco (near minor league ballpark)

I don't think Frisco is "ripe" for a W yet, but it might be by 2010. Plus, there's a Texas law that says that counties with under a million people can't allow businesses to serve alcohol after midnight. Frisco said instead of fighting the law, they will wait since Collin/Denton county should be at a million people by the 2010 census.

[texman]

2- Addison (Addison Circle)
3- Las Colinas (Urban Center)
Those are probably your best bets.

[ksig121]

I would actually put my money on DTFW. With Sundance Square and all of the other West Village style development that is planned on their Trinity banks, it seems like a perfect place for the W.

[WestTexan]

I would actually put my money on DTFW. With Sundance Square and all of the other West Village style development that is planned on their Trinity banks, it seems like a perfect place for the W.

I just spent the weekend at the Worthington. I talked to a couple of hotel employees who mentioned that visitors to the city and to Sundance appeared to be in decline. They also mentioned that a couple of the nicer restaurants in town had closed. Although I noticed that the great DC steakhouse Sam & Harry's recently opened a Cowtown branch. Things seemed pretty hoping to me there, but there is definately a lack of good dinning and hotels.

FTW would be my first pick, but I wonder if it's cosmopolitan enough for a W. I have a relative that came to here from California specifically to visit the museums in FTW and she and her friends stayed in Dallas.

[ksig121]

Maybe you're right. I don't know. I just imagine that some of this upscale development has to venture over to Ft. Worth. There's a ton of money in that city as well. It seems to me that Dallas is getting a bit too built-out with these kind of developments and that Ft. Worth is being largely ignored.

Don't get me wrong, I'm no Ft. Worth fan by any stretch of the imagination. I love the fact that all of this development is going on in Dallas. I just wonder if we can sustain this pace.

I don't remember much about the S&L and real estate bust of the 80's, but I have seen what the telecom bust did to Richardson. I just hope that we are not going down the same road with all of this retail and high-end residential development.

Just a thought.

[psukhu]

The S&L scandal and the Telecom bust have nothing in common with the current Uptown boom.

Low mortgage rates, relocations from other metros and the urban renewal trend are just some of the factors fueling Uptown's growth.

[slfunk]

I would actually put my money on DTFW. With Sundance Square and all of the other West Village style development that is planned on their Trinity banks, it seems like a perfect place for the W.

Right there with you on that one. One of the early press releases by the Starwood for the W at Victory, stated something to the effect that the W is looking for areas that are at the center of the culture, arts, and other activities. Frisco, Plano, Richardson, etc. etc.; they are the center for the shopping culture, soccer mom's minor league events, satelite business parks so forth not the arts or business epicenters. There are only two "suburban" sites I could see. That being at the Legacy Town Center (which already has a Marriott) or somewhere around Six Flags/Ball park/Cowboys stadium. Both of those places are still not the center of activity for the metro. I say Las Colinas, but I put Sundance Square way ahead of anyone for a second location.