Jump to content


Photo
* * * * * 1 votes

714 Main/Farmers & Mechanics National Bank/Kimpton Hotel

Dowtown Hotel Conversion

  • Please log in to reply
259 replies to this topic

#251 John T Roberts

John T Roberts

    Administrator

  • Admin
  • PipPipPipPipPipPipPip
  • 16,363 posts
  • Gender:Male
  • Location:South Fort Worth
  • Interests:Architecture, Photography, Bicycling, Historic Preservation

Posted 19 July 2021 - 07:17 PM

This is in reply to Nitixope's inquiry about il Modo on the ground floor.  We started off with a salad, which was large enough to share.  It was good, but nothing special.  We told the waiter that we wanted to share the salad, but it came out on one plate and we only had our table silverware to divide it up.  That was a little awkward and messy.  The spaghetti was very good and it was not bathed in a red sauce, so it was different.  We didn't want to get too adventurous on our first visit, so we both ordered the spaghetti.  For dessert, we split the tiramisu.  I was a little disappointed in it, as I have had better in other Italian restaurants.  Both of us thought there was too much mascarpone on top of it.  Half as much would have been better with the remainder taken up with the soaked ladyfingers.  I would recommend the place, but it is expensive.



#252 JBB

JBB

    Skyscraper Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPipPipPipPipPip
  • 7,420 posts
  • Gender:Male
  • Location:Dirty suburbs

Posted 19 July 2021 - 07:35 PM

I don't get the not dividing up the salad, especially at a restaurant that nice.  Same thing happened to me at Cane Rosso in Arlington a few weeks ago. I know that's not exactly fine dining, but I was a little bothered by it when were specific about splitting it.



#253 John T Roberts

John T Roberts

    Administrator

  • Admin
  • PipPipPipPipPipPipPip
  • 16,363 posts
  • Gender:Male
  • Location:South Fort Worth
  • Interests:Architecture, Photography, Bicycling, Historic Preservation

Posted 19 July 2021 - 08:05 PM

Kalleen and I both agreed that the salad issue with no tongs or way to get it out of the plate was the downfall of the meal.  We were also specific about splitting it when we ordered it.  The waiter was excellent and very personable, and he was rewarded.



#254 Nitixope

Nitixope

    Skyscraper Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPipPipPipPipPip
  • 5,866 posts
  • Gender:Male
  • Location:Fort Worth, TX
  • Interests:Biking, Photography, Music, Bass Guitar, Architecture, Construction

Posted 19 July 2021 - 09:26 PM

Its nice to see a higher end Italian option. I think people wanting a nice meal out for an occasion are willing to pay a little more. Its also nice to see how attentive they are so far to each of the Google reviews good or bad.

#255 Nitixope

Nitixope

    Skyscraper Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPipPipPipPipPip
  • 5,866 posts
  • Gender:Male
  • Location:Fort Worth, TX
  • Interests:Biking, Photography, Music, Bass Guitar, Architecture, Construction

Posted 14 August 2021 - 12:59 PM

Here's a few shots of the Harper Kimpton Hotel I took during the FW Architecture Walking Tour today:

 

UBkwRi3.jpg

 

3TwK5R4.jpg

 

cYpY1Rd.jpg

 

x2qcHBY.jpg

 

cK5bsVL.jpg

 

YBYveos.jpg

 

 

These are historic artifacts including original elevator components.  Pardon the reflection.  I gently tugged on the lamp chain and didn't want to force it off fearing I'd never get it to come back on.

yK472Ox.jpg

 

Elevator Dial inside the main lobby:

ALaHYac.jpg

 

Original Letter Box inside the main lobby:

BcYamL0.jpg

 

View to the south from the 24th floor:

Nms6BpC.jpg



#256 John T Roberts

John T Roberts

    Administrator

  • Admin
  • PipPipPipPipPipPipPip
  • 16,363 posts
  • Gender:Male
  • Location:South Fort Worth
  • Interests:Architecture, Photography, Bicycling, Historic Preservation

Posted 14 August 2021 - 01:12 PM

You captured some great photos of the details on the building.  Thanks for coming, and I hope that you will be able to attend more tours in the future.



#257 John T Roberts

John T Roberts

    Administrator

  • Admin
  • PipPipPipPipPipPipPip
  • 16,363 posts
  • Gender:Male
  • Location:South Fort Worth
  • Interests:Architecture, Photography, Bicycling, Historic Preservation

Posted 15 August 2021 - 09:20 AM

Yesterday, I had some questions on the tour that I could not answer. Unfortunately, I'm still trying to research those questions.  In my quest to find the answers, I tried to look at some of the National Register Nominations for the buildings in question.  Those nomination forms either didn't download or there were some problems.  One nomination form that I did find was for the Farmers & Mechanics National Bank/Kimpton Harper Hotel.  I found something interesting that the UTA Library Digital Gallery supports, but doesn't directly say because they are photograph collections.  Here it is: the first major renovation done to the building was the infilling of the 3 story lobby by extending the two mezzanine levels across the space in 1948 by the Fort Worth National Bank.  They needed the space, and one way to get it was to convert the bank lobby into two additional full floors.  However, that need for more space didn't last long.  They opened their new headquarters building across W. 7th St. in 1952.  This is now the Oncor Building.



#258 Nitixope

Nitixope

    Skyscraper Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPipPipPipPipPip
  • 5,866 posts
  • Gender:Male
  • Location:Fort Worth, TX
  • Interests:Biking, Photography, Music, Bass Guitar, Architecture, Construction

Posted 15 August 2021 - 11:21 AM

That's strange,  I went to NPS map and there's no more orange marker for 714 Main but I have the PDF file that I previously downloaded on my computer?

 

https://www.nps.gov/...f9-a99909164466



#259 John T Roberts

John T Roberts

    Administrator

  • Admin
  • PipPipPipPipPipPipPip
  • 16,363 posts
  • Gender:Male
  • Location:South Fort Worth
  • Interests:Architecture, Photography, Bicycling, Historic Preservation

Posted 15 August 2021 - 12:53 PM

I did find it online, by just doing a Google search for the National Register Nomination.  I don't think it has been removed because the THC would have notified Historic Fort Worth, and they haven't.  Also, I don't think the hotel conversion would have been a justification for removal.  The Sinclair hasn't lost its designation after their hotel conversion.  Both buildings had the elevators extended to the roof.  That elevator extension is much more noticeable as a facade change on The Sinclair, since they extended one of the core elevators upward.  The elevator core is on the west wall of the building.  On The Harper, the architects put in a new elevator from the 24th floor lobby to the roof and penthouse.  That location is set back from the front facade, and the building is so tall, you can't see that new construction from the street.



#260 John T Roberts

John T Roberts

    Administrator

  • Admin
  • PipPipPipPipPipPipPip
  • 16,363 posts
  • Gender:Male
  • Location:South Fort Worth
  • Interests:Architecture, Photography, Bicycling, Historic Preservation

Posted 11 November 2021 - 04:44 PM

The FW Weekly has an article on Refinery 714.  The link is below:

 

https://www.fwweekly...nery-714-soars/

 

There is an architectural mistake in the article.  The reporter calls the building Art Deco.  This building is not Art Deco.  It's design predates the period by about 8 years.






1 user(s) are reading this topic

0 members, 1 guests, 0 anonymous users