ENID, OK - June 20, 2017 - The Enid City Commission voted 5-0 on Tuesday night to approve the preliminary plans and specifications for the downtown hotel per the master development agreement. The 30% plans were presented to the commission. Mayor Shewey and Commissioner Ben Ezzell were absent from Tuesday's meeting.
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Chris Burdick with Envirotech Engineering presented the site plan for the downtown hotel. The main entrance will be off of Maine Street with a semi-circle entrance and porte-cochère to be used for checking in. There will also be parking to the east which will incorporate a one way drive that will tie back into the parking lot along the east side of the property.
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There will be entrance and exit points both on Grand and Independence on the east and west sides. The back drive which exists today with the event center will be continued and tie back into the loading area of the event center.
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The back of the hotel will have a knockout piece with an indoor pool. There will be a bar area/breakfast area inside as well. Entrance and exits are built into both ends as well as the pool area so there will be multiple ways to get to the event center.
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The hotel will be light grey brick, dark grey brick and blue aluminum panels which are the hotels color scheme. The hotel brand has approved the 30% plans and they believe they can approve the 90% plans by August.
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Whitney Hall spoke on behalf of the Main Street Enid Design Committee. The committee asked the designers that as much brick as possible be used in the exterior of the building. The Design Committee unanimously supports the current design of the hotel. Enid will have the first Best Western GLō hotel in the region.
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There will currently be no direct link from the hotel to the event center such as a sky bridge because they want to be able to lock down parts of the building at night or when not in use.
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Kelly Tompkins, Main Street Director, spoke and explained how the hotel will create a park once weekend for visitors. They can park and stay in the hotel while being within walking distance of the event center, the ballpark, shopping, dining and the Arts District.
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Lisa Powell with ERDA said they had been involved with the developer and the Main Street Design Committee. ERDA also approves the current design of the hotel.
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Cheryl Denny, a lawyer advising the City of Enid and ERDA, spoke about the incentives and process for completing the hotel. She said it looks like they are on target to close by the end of August. Once the deal closes the developer has to be turning dirt within 45 days.
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According to Enid Mayor Bill Shewey, “The approval is one step closer to the construction of a Best Western “Glo” hotel in downtown Enid adjacent to the Central National Bank Center.”
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Over the past four years, Best Western Hotels has changed its brand and customer base. With the agreement approved Tuesday evening, Enid will have the first Best Western Glo hotel in the state and the first in this region of the United States.
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Enid City Manager Jerald Gilbert said, “We are closer to realizing the vision of a downtown hotel.” Gilbert added, “This milestone has been accomplished through the joint effort with the Enid Regional Development Alliance (ERDA), the developer, and the City of Enid.”
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Related article: Council Approves Downtown Hotel Agreement
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Layout of the downtown hotel below.
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Downtown Hotel Moving Forward
