DTD: Statler Hilton / Old Library Block

[KelleyUSA]

I drove by the Grand Hotel this past weekend- and noticed it has so much potential. It's right in the CBD and could be a great opportunity considering its proximity to Main Street etc... If the Main Street Development ever takes off this could be a prime hotel for business and vacation travelers. Clearly the hotel is now closed- but it would be great if someone like Hyatt, Hilton, Westin, Wyndham or Omni would buy it and renovate into a world class hotel. Has anyone heard anything on this?

[GarrettCarey]

I could not agree more!

It truly has the potential to become a premier hotel again. I imagine that it will attract interest when downtown begins to thrive just a bit more.

To me, the whole south side of DT is a jackpot of potential. Here are a few reasons.
- Several buildings due for renovation (i.e. Grand Hotel)
- Plenty of room to expand or build (i.e. a PARK)
- DART access
- Highway access (30, 75, 45, 35)
- Farmers Market
- Fair Park accessibility

I am done rambling

[metrosteve]

Its nice to have people thinking about the possibilities of this partiicular Dallas building. You probably know that the Grand has been through several incarnations over the years and was, I believe, built as a Hilton. When I first moved to Dallas in the 70's this place was very nice--it has a pool on the roof and I think it would make a great apartment house. I just got back from a wonderful 3-day weekend in Manhattan and I am always blown away by what has been done there architecturally and in adaptive-reuse projects. Downtown Dallas could never have enough housing options to suit me and the more people living there, the more economic expansion will open for all the types of businesses which once thrived in the core city in the past and most certainly will again in the immediate future. I am quite an optimist--both Dallas and Fort Worth have great synergy and the downtowns will play off each other nicely.

[John T Roberts]

The Grand Hotel was originally constructed as the Statler Hilton in 1956. It does have a pool on the roof and has 710 rooms.

[KelleyUSA]

New info from Dallas Biz Journal:

The Dallas Grand Hotel closed in 2001, but its rooms appear to be buffed-and-puffed and waiting for the next guest. If you happen to be standing on the rooftop of an adjacent building, as I was last week, you can easily peer into the windows of the 20-story hotel, and see that all the beds are made, fresh pitchers and water glasses are sitting atop tables in the rooms and the pale, blue-green grand - or maybe it's a baby grand - piano stands at the ready in the lounge for its ivories to be tickled. It's a somewhat spooky setting as the sun goes down, according to the tenant of the building I was visiting. The hotel started life as the Statler Hilton hotel in 1956 and apparently its current owners, Far East Consortium International Ltd. in Hong Kong, are hoping to strike a deal with a national brand to run the facility. In an end-of-year report in March, Far East states: "After the 9/11 event in the USA, the Group has decided to tie up this hotel with an international 'Brand' and is currently reviewing the franchise arrangement with the prospective Brand with the view to continue its operation with 700 rooms together with the convention facilities. The refurbishment and upgrading program of this hotel will commence when the franchise agreement is finalised (sic)."

[metrosteve]

This is Great news!!!! Haven't seen this weeks bizjournal yet--thanks for the post up-date.
metrosteve

[GarrettCarey]

that is great news. i hope they also plan some street level improvements as well. It has so much potential and should live up to it's name......"Grand Hotel"

[John T Roberts]

That is good to hear. I've found this building looks amazingly occupied for a closed hotel.

[leogrrl]

Does anyone know anything new of it? Did the park motion pass? I first drove by it in 2000 or 2001, it was already closed by the time I saw it. I am enchanted and amazed by it, but I'm not sure why. At best it looks run down but I think I'd chain myself to it to try to prevent it from being demolished, lol. I'd love to involved with it's reopening, even if I could just be a housekeeper..haha. Just kidding. But really, I do love it. My s/o and I make it a point to drive by it everytime we head downtown.

[gc]

Good question leogrrl. The Grand has been relatively absent from discussions lately, except for the proposed park. Demolition for the park has not been approved as far as I know. I too would hate to see its demolition. I know the park discussions have been pretty active lately, so perhaps we'll hear something in the next couple of months or so. By the way, welcome to the forum leogrrl.

[leogrrl]

I really hope they do not start demolition for the park.. I'd just really love to see the hotel in it's full glory. I want to win the lottery - hey don't we all? - but I'd spend every dime I got to reopen the hotel I think. I think it could be just charming. I wonder if it is for sale or if it is a done deal? How does the park motion work -- like say they wanted to make one where, oh, the Adolphus is - could they destruct it just because they are the city, or does it have to be abondoned? Are they doing it because of the back taxes or what? I really hate the thought of them tearing it down.

I'd love to see in it or at least know what it looked like in it's prime - what the rooms looked like, the lobby, etc... does anyone here happen to have any photographs?

I am seriously considering heading downtown with my Canon Rebel this weekend and shooting a few rolls, just in case it is demolished so I can remember what it looks like, and remember my dream. This is sad.. lol

[crescentboi]

I too love the Grand. I was there a few years back for a prom and spent a little while in the lobby (I was at prom so i had to dance!). I slightly remember that it had a great staircase in the lobby that went up to the ballroom. Also if memory serves me right there was even at that time, a lot of empty spaces and meandering halls.

As far as the park goes, I pray that they DO some demolishing, but not of the hotel. People had talked somewhat of clearing the block in front of it for the park and I think that that would be wonderfull. If they did that, I would love to turn The Grand into a hotel/condominum property. I have seen quite a few hotels where the lower floors (say 1-5) will be hotel rooms, then the floors above them are condos. I think that would work wonderfully for The Grand.

Can you imagine living right across from a great park in the middle of downtown. Or visiting Dallas and staying at a charismic hotel that would over look a park. I feel that there are so many options for the property, the city would be fools to demolish it.

[leogrrl]

I just viewed your profile - we'll both be 21 this year - me on August 9. hehe. I love the area you're in. My s/o used to work at 3535 Travis.

You wouldn't happen to have any pics from the time you were there would you? I am such a picture freak :-p

That would actually be nice for there to be a park near the hotel, but the hotel itself being torn down would be a shame.. the architecture is amazing you know? I just think it is beautiful.

Any other details you'll share about this hotel are welcome. I am so interested, even though I never even saw it before it was closed. You can post or email leogrrl1981@yahoo.com if you don't want to clutter the board :)

[crescentboi]

hey leogrrl, maybe if we all meet up this July we can celebrate our birthdays early!

unfortunetly i didn't get any photos of the hotel when i was there, honestly i didn't think about it back then! I was just young and ignorant!

i do love the area i'm in. its a short walk from everything, and i'm learning that more now since i wrecked my car and am HAVING to walk or take the trolley places. its pretty cool!

[leogrrl]

There's a meeting in July? Are newbies welcome, I just joined yesterday :)

No problem on the pics. I have only professional ones from my own prom - too much going on to mess with pics of course, lol.

It's so beautiful down there. You're quite lucky to be in the area. I guess I'll stick to being way north. lol.

[leogrrl]

I should have just included this in my last post, but oh well..

Does anyone know what the note on the door says? It's been there for almost 2 years but I have never bothered to stop and read it.

[crescentboi]

I've never noticed a note on the door. Actually our last meeting that we had we walked right by, but didn't notice it.

As far as the meeting goes, everyone is welcome! Even newbies!

[leogrrl]

Awesome. :)

[gc]

There is a note on the front door. I saw it saturday walking by, however, I did not read it...oops. I'll check it out and let you know soon.

[leogrrl]

Thank you Garrett. That would be greatly appreciated.

[leogrrl]

I drove by again last night and noticed there were no lights on anymore...weird. Does someone go in there and turn them on occasionally or have they just burnt out, I wonder?

It was late and the cops were plentiful so I didn't go park and read the note...anyone around there have any idea what it says?

Or the status regarding Laura Miller and my precious fantasy business? :-p

[gc]

Has anyone seen or heard anything about the Grand Hotel? It has been out of the spotlight lately?

[leogrrl]

I noticed that the lights are all out when I drove by on Friday on my way through to Deep Ellum <my favorite detour is, of course, that hotel>. It was late and there were several questionable looking people around so I didn't stop to read the note, but it was pretty sad to me that it was so dark :(

[leogrrl]

I desperately want to see this hotel inside, I feel so gipped that I never saw it! LOL.

Does anyone know what's been going on at all? Has Laura Miller decided to destroy anything else lately? Ugh.

[pariah]

so what would we rather see another hotel take over the grand, or convert the building to residences?

[gc]

Residences definitely!

[bloodandpopcorn]

I defintely agree on apartments! We'll have more than enough hotels in the DT area, but we need as many Dallasites living there as we can! hehe.

[pariah]

i agree on the apartments

[jsoto3]

I say both. Half condos/apartments, half boutique hotel, with a high-end street level restaurant and a rooftop bar/lounge, and also a private rooftop pool/fitness center for residents and one for the hotel as well (the building has three wings so this could work out easily and well). This way there will be alot of street level activity (with valet drop-off under a badass canopy). If it were solely residential the street would be dead.

[leogrrl]

I'd like to see as much of it remain a hotel as possible, but half and half would be good. I'd almost sell my soul to live there I think :-p

I drove by on Saturday, the front semi-circle drive was full of cars, one of which was a full size truck pulling a trailer, seemingly filled with boxes.

So, my usual out of nowhere post... does anyone know what's going on with this place?

[Columbus Civil]

I'd almost sell my soul to live there

If I had to endure eternal damnation in exchange for living in a certain place for 50 or so years (assuming I live to average life expectancy), I really don't think it would be anywhere in Dallas.

[bloodandpopcorn]

I don't know, the Davis building comes awflly close for me... Not to mention those ungodly mansions on inwood between northwest highway and forest. Though I suppose anywhere that isn't Japan is certainly not worth my soul. But that of my first born child, hmmm...

[gc]

from STEVE BROWN's real estate briefs.....

Grand Hotel to be sold

Downtown Dallas' Grand Hotel – closed for several years – is scheduled to be sold next month for unpaid taxes.

Local taxing authorities are set to auction the landmark building on April 6 to recoup almost $1.7 million in unpaid taxes, according to Foreclosure Listing Service.

The 738-room hotel on Commerce Street was built in 1950s as the Statler-Hilton and is owned by Hamsher International Ltd. of Hong Kong.

[TexasStar]

Does that mean this property will now be brought back to life?

[Quiz03]

Sounds like it will be sold on the courthouse steps. It'll take a while for whoever does purchase it to come up with some plans for it.

[jsoto3]

http://www.dallascad.org/AcctDetailCom.aspx?ID=00000101695000000

Anyone have any real estate investor friends? I work for an architecture firm that is more than qualified to create some amazing plans for this building . . . .

[leogrrl]

I noticed Tuesday night there are several lamps on inside. Still, I was in a hurry and couldn't see much.

I am so hopeful that whoever buys it will bring it back to it's deserved glory rather than destroy it, though I'm not holding my breath :(

[tamtagon]

Anyone have any real estate investor friends? I work for an architecture firm that is more than qualified to create some amazing plans for this building . . . .

I do a little demographic research for a group of property investors in Atlanta, and mentioned this auction. They were less than receptive.... For a long range investor, this purchase could be an important action.

[dallastophoenix]

man, oh man, if i had the money to buy that building...

[Columbus Civil]

That hotel is not so grand.

[leogrrl]

Maybe if we all chip in ;)

[leogrrl]

Today was the day, right? Has anyone heard any news about the auction?

[gc]

I have heard nothing, but will keep my eyes open.

[leogrrl]

I'm still trying to find info about this on the Dallas News website.... I know I'm obsessed but I want this hotel to stick around so bad.

[gc]

I emailed for updates....no response yet.

[gc]

A brief update...

I've been informed that the foreclosure sale was held off for back taxes but plans are to keep posting it and hopefully sell it.

Not much but a little substance.

[US75Guy]

Any new news on this project? I hate to see this building slip from memory.... Did the tax sale ever happen? Does anyone have any photos of the inside, or know of a website where some photos might be posted. I think the success of this building will depend on success at the Merc. If the Merc gets a renovation, this will follow next, but not before. The Merc seems to be the catalyst for that corner of the CBD.

[tamtagon]

I think it was mentioned that the company about to buy the Merc was also looking at the Grand Hotel building.

[US75Guy]

In the DMN it seems they were looking at blocks of buildings over there. I hope this white knight comes through with all of the promises.

[pariah]

it would be a huge shot in the arm if the merc and the grand were redeveloped thats a huge block