220 replies to this topic

[Urbndwlr]

Looking at the Sandman web site, this brand appears to be more mid-range, in line with a Sheraton, compared with Kimpton, which is likely more in line with a Westin - (using the Marriott brands as comparisons).

 

I couldnt tell if they're going to plant in those parking lot islands (shown as striped on the site plan).  I really hope so to break up the large asphalt surface.  Also, i'm thinking maybe the dumpster enclosure should have been put somewhere else on the site rather than on the street corner, but not sure.

[Austin55]

Some signage is up.

 

 

 

[Stadtplan]

Which restaurant is going in here? Or is there one?

[Dylan]

Oh my... the new porte-cochere partially covers the third floor windows. It's so absurd I can't help but laugh even though I hate it.

[John T Roberts]

The porte-cochere intersection with that window is not a good detail.  The fascia on the porte-cochere seems to be the appropriate scale.  The only possible solution that I could think of would be to lower the height of the canopy, but there may be some vehicle clearance issues if the architects had done that.  The porte-cochere is designed so that it can be removed without harming the building as described by the Secretary of Interior's Standards for Rehabilitation of a Historic Building.  If the W.T. was designated at a higher level than Demolition Delay, the City's Historic Preservation Officer might be allowed to get involved with this unfortunate design mistake, but under our Preservation Ordinance, the only thing that allows the City to get involved with a DD building is actual demolition of the building.  Renovations are not included.

[JBB]

Just throwing this out, but is that a room window?  It could be a service area or public space of some sort and that was taken into consideration when the window was partially covered.  Regardless, it's still a bad look from the exterior.

[Stadtplan]

Just throwing this out, but is that a room window?  It could be a service area or public space of some sort and that was taken into consideration when the window was partially covered.  Regardless, it's still a bad look from the exterior.

 

Too bad they couldn't have extended it out a little further to the right between the windows on that open brick space.  Just another foot or two wider would have covered up the fact that it just terminates mid-window.

[John T Roberts]

Yes, moving the south portion of the canopy a little bit to the right or south to a location where it hit the brick would have been a solution.  The design drawings presented to the DDRB show it below the window sill, so something changed between design and construction.  I also looked at the section through the building at that location, and it appears that is a guest room window at that location.

[rriojas71]

Thankfully there are very few people who look at details like most people do here on the forum.  We all tend to be hyper aware of strange details like that.  People I know who are not really into architecture and design couldn't point it out if we gave them hints as to what is wrong.

[JBB]

Good point and that applies to a number of things we discuss on the forum.

[Stadtplan]

Maybe we should have a thread called "Crimes Against Architecture"

 

Law and Order: SBU

"In the criminal justice system, architecturally based offenses are considered especially heinous.  In Fort Worth, the dedicated detectives who investigate these vicious felonies are members of an elite squad known as the Special Buildings Unit. These are their stories."

[Stadtplan]

The 2nd Musume location will be in the bottom of the Sandman. This was speculated previously, but not sure if it was confirmed. A high-end Japanese restaurant is welcomed by me in the sea of hotel steakhouses. They will utilizing the old basement bank vault as a Tatami room. 

 

https://www.papercit...urant-japanese/

 

TLA,

Here's the permit filings for the basement restaurant renovations at Sandman.  I jumped this conversation back over to the main building's thread until further news of Musume is available.

 

Occ Change of Use Permit:

https://accela.fortw...ShowInspection=

 

https://accela.fortw...ShowInspection=

 

Project Description:

The Sandman Hotel

Tenant finish out work for a new restaurant located at the basement level of the sandman hotel. work is to include new kitchen bar and seating area.

[TLA]

Thank you, Nitixope. I couldn’t find this thread, but figured it was the 2nd best place.

Looking forward to dining in the old bank vault and appreciating the historic building.

[Austin55]

Getting an extension by the TIF

 

 

B. Consideration of a Resolution to authorize an amendment to the TIF Development Agreement with Northland Properties Corp. relating to property located at 810 Houston Street for the extension of the Completion Deadline to be June 30, 2023 (Michael Hennig, Economic Development Manager)

[John T Roberts]

I know I have mentioned this before, but of all of the old banks that used to be in Downtown, the W.T. Waggoner was the only building that had the old bank lobby more or less fully intact when the building was restored by XTO.  The building's lobby was also in its original condition at that time.  A few other lobbies were partially intact, but not complete, while others have been totally destroyed. 

[Stadtplan]

I know I have mentioned this before, but of all of the old banks that used to be in Downtown, the W.T. Waggoner was the only building that had the old bank lobby more or less fully intact when the building was restored by XTO.  The building's lobby was also in its original condition at that time.  A few other lobbies were partially intact, but not complete, while others have been totally destroyed. 

John, would you say this was the largest bank lobby downtown?

[Stadtplan]

Thank you, Nitixope. I couldnt find this thread, but figured it was the 2nd best place.

Looking forward to dining in the old bank vault and appreciating the historic building.

TLA,
Heres the forum Google search trick I mentioned about at lunch the other day. Saves me so much time finding threads, the forums built-in search feature really struggles to produce quality results. (Second post in this thread):
https://www.fortwort...155#entry137711

[Stadtplan]

Refresh my memory, but if Musume is going in the basement, what restaurant is slated for the ground floor?

 

"...a restaurant and bar on ground level, and future lease space at basement level." -DFWI

[Stadtplan]

Refresh my memory, but if Musume is going in the basement, what restaurant is slated for the ground floor?

 

"...a restaurant and bar on ground level, and future lease space at basement level." -DFWI

 

https://www.tdlr.tex.../TABS2023008806

 

PROJECT

Project Name: Waggoner Sandman Hotel

Project Number: TABS2023008806

Facility Name: W.T. Waggoner Building

Location Address: 810 Houston St

Fort Worth, TX 76102

Location County: Tarrant

Start Date: 1/20/2023

Completion Date: 5/20/2023

Estimated Cost: $100,000

Type of Work: Renovation/Alteration

Type of Funds: This project is privately funded, on private land for private use.

Scope of Work: A new restaurant finish out space in the lower level of the Waggoner building scope of work will include adding a bar to lobby space at grade level, mechanical for new kitchen, new ceiling and restaurant seating.

Square Footage: 5,100 ft 2

Design Firm Name: Merriman Anderson Architects

[Stadtplan]

 

Refresh my memory, but if Musume is going in the basement, what restaurant is slated for the ground floor?

 

"...a restaurant and bar on ground level, and future lease space at basement level." -DFWI

 

https://www.tdlr.tex.../TABS2023008806

 

PROJECT

Project Name: Waggoner Sandman Hotel

Project Number: TABS2023008806

Facility Name: W.T. Waggoner Building

Location Address: 810 Houston St

Fort Worth, TX 76102

Location County: Tarrant

Start Date: 1/20/2023

Completion Date: 5/20/2023

Estimated Cost: $100,000

Type of Work: Renovation/Alteration

Type of Funds: This project is privately funded, on private land for private use.

Scope of Work: A new restaurant finish out space in the lower level of the Waggoner building scope of work will include adding a bar to lobby space at grade level, mechanical for new kitchen, new ceiling and restaurant seating.

Square Footage: 5,100 ft 2

Design Firm Name: Merriman Anderson Architects

 

 

https://accela.fortw...ShowInspection=

 

Record AD23-00004: 

Alcohol Distance Check

Record Status: Accepted

 

Project Description:

MUSUME FORT WORTH

MIXED BEVERAGES/LATE HOURS

[Austin55]

The door was open for the first time since work began. I kinda missed focus here but was trying to be quick as workers were coming and going. It looks like the interior, at least what can be seen from this entrance, has been nicely preserved. 

 

 

More signage. Note the "opened january 2023" 

 

[John T Roberts]

The lobby hasn't changed.  On our tour today, we didn't walk by the building on Houston.

[John T Roberts]

The sign for Musume is also up on the base of the building.  This is a view looking down the sidewalk.

sandmanentry by jtrobert, on Flickr

[Stadtplan]

Project Description:

Sandman Signature Hotel

Temporary Banner Signage 30 days for Hotel opening

 

https://aca-prod.acc...ShowInspection=

[John T Roberts]

On today's Downtown Fort Worth Walking Tour, we discovered that the Sandman Signature Hotel has quietly opened.  The historic bank lobby and the elevator lobby are both still intact.  However, walls have been erected behind the original teller cages on both the main level and on the mezzanine.  This makes the bank lobby much darker than what it was when it was completely open across the building.  In addition to the new stair on the north side of the building to provide the required exits out of the public spaces in the building, I discovered a brand new door that was cut into the south wall of the building, that opens to the street.  The installation has not been finished, so it is a little rough right now.

[Stadtplan]

Sorry I had to bail out early this morning, I have company coming to visit from Seattle. Did the Sandman have the 30-days for hotel open signs up, from my previous post in March? Was it a soft opening? This seems like the longest project ever.

[John T Roberts]

I understand when you have other obligations.  Instead of 30 days for hotel opening banners, they said "Now Open".  It was definitely a soft opening.  However, there was someone there to tell us about the hotel, the conversion, and the building. Also, some of his information was incorrect.  He had the opening year of the building wrong.

[John T Roberts]

Yesterday, those of us on the tour, noticed workmen on scaffolding at the 18th floor of the building.  I mentioned to them that it appeared that the workmen were reinstalling the lanterns that had been removed for construction.  I went back to the building today, and I can confirm that some of the missing lanterns have been put back.  There are still some at the top of the building that are still missing.  I anticipate that they will complete that task this week.  On another note, I have a picture of the area at the base of the building where the new door has been installed.  I also have a shot of the "Now Open" sign at the corner of 8th & Houston.  In addition to this, I received permission to take new interior photographs.  It may take me a while to post those.  I'm running out of time tonight.

 

sandman-newsouthdoor by jtrobert, on Flickr

 

sandman-openingsign by jtrobert, on Flickr

[Stadtplan]

Thanks for the update. Is that black door in the first image a temporary construction door or is that final?

[John T Roberts]

I went back and looked at the DDRB presentation for the signage, and it appears that the black door is temporary.  The DDRB presentation shows a door similar to the bank entry (now restaurant) door on the east side of the building.  I looked at one of my very close up photos that I didn't post, and the door does not align with the historic windows, so that is another clue that this door is temporary.  Also, some of the trim is missing, so I'm guessing that when the matching wood and glass door is installed, it will align and the trim will be put in place. 

[John T Roberts]

I processed the photographs and I have decided to post them here on the forum.  I didn't exactly match my position from where I was in 2004 when XTO Energy allowed me to shoot the interior of the building and bank lobbies.  However, I will post my photos from then so you can compare the original restoration with the conversion to a hotel.

 

This was the elevator lobby in 2004:

 

Hotel elevator lobby 2023:

sandman-elevatorlobby by jtrobert, on Flickr

 

XTO Executive Offices in Bank Lobby 2004.  Remember, this was the only fully intact original bank lobby left in the city:

 

Hotel lobby bar in 2023.  Photograph taken from approximately the same location.

sandman-lobbybar by jtrobert, on Flickr

 

Teller cages in 2004:

 

Teller cages 2023:

sandman-tellers by jtrobert, on Flickr

 

View from west teller cages looking toward bank lobby entrance on Houston Street from 2004:

 

The lobby bar blocks the view taken from this location, so I stood as close as I could to take this same view.  Note the wall at the edge of the mezzanine.

sandman-lobbylookingeast by jtrobert, on Flickr

 

When you add new construction to historic construction, the suggested method is to make sure that the additions do not harm or alter the historic.  This is how the new wall was handled where it touched the historic plaster at the edge of the mezzanine.

sandman-newwall by jtrobert, on Flickr

 

This is a view of the check-in counter at the west end of the bank lobby.  You can see that the historic clock is still in place.

sandman-checkindesk by jtrobert, on Flickr

 

When I took photos of the lobby in 2004, XTO did not allow me on the mezzanine.  With the Sandman Signature Hotel, the mezzanine has the fitness area and meeting rooms.  I was allowed to go up there to take pictures.

sandman-mezzanine-1 by jtrobert, on Flickr

 

sandman-mezzanine-2 by jtrobert, on Flickr

 

sandman-mezzanine-3 by jtrobert, on Flickr

 

sandman-mezzanine-4 by jtrobert, on Flickr

 

sandman-mezzanine-5 by jtrobert, on Flickr

[Crestline]

This month a local auction house is running an online auction titled "The Fort Worth W.T. Waggoner Building - Art, Decor, History". I haven't researched the details, but I'm assuming these are materials that were removed from the Waggoner building prior to hotel conversion. 

[Stadtplan]

This month a local auction house is running an online auction titled "The Fort Worth W.T. Waggoner Building - Art, Decor, History". I haven't researched the details, but I'm assuming these are materials that were removed from the Waggoner building prior to hotel conversion. 

 

Great find!  Did you see that button on the bottom of the page that says "Get Financing?"  Now that's scary.

[Stadtplan]

Musume private dining room (more to come later, having storage issues with phone today):

[rriojas71]

Wow.  That is really awesome.

[Stadtplan]

A few more shots from Sandman today:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[John T Roberts]

You did a great job photographing our tour of the Sandman.  For those of you who haven't attended the Downtown Walking Tours, this is an excellent example of what you are missing.

[TLA]

Amazing photos! My parents will get a kick out of the Cutler Mail Chute Co sign. Always cool see the legacy of upstate New York.

The developers did a great job. Well worth the wait.

[ramjet]

Really nice pics, Nitixope!  Also liked your pics of the Aloft and environs.  This was a really fun tour.  I loved the joyful guides at the hotels.  They had terrific energy.  And, as always, John was a great source of knowledge and history surrounding these and the other buildings we saw.

[Stadtplan]

Thanks for the compliments. I really like the mail chute and all of the brass features.

[Stadtplan]

https://aca-prod.acc...ShowInspection=

Project Description: Sandman Hotel

Streetscape and Lighting Improvements on 810 Houston Street(Sandman Hotel)

 

https://aca-prod.acc...ShowInspection=

Project Description: Sandman Hotel

The project is to install landscaping and trees in the city ROW that is required during the IPRC plan review. The all of the trees on Houston Street are to be removed and all of the trees on Throckmorton are to remain and be protected.

[Crestline]

The all of the trees on Houston Street are to be removed and all of the trees on Throckmorton are to remain and be protected.

 

Removing all the trees on Houston on the Sandman block? Sounds drastic!

[Austin55]

Sandman is officially open. 

 

https://fortworthinc...building-with-/

[Austin55]

Huge Fire/Medical presence downtown, reported explosion at the Sandman.

[Austin55]

Photo via Chelsea Davidson and DFW Scanner: https://www.facebook...618701906949545
 

[rriojas71]

Oh wow!! That is terrible. Hopefully no one was hurt by this but it doesnt look good if anyone was in the basement Lobby area.

[Austin55]

The whole facade of the bottom two floors is just... gone. 

[rriojas71]

There is a huge open pit in the sidewalk as well that I saw on the news from the helicopter fly over

[Austin55]

There is a huge open pit in the sidewalk as well that I saw on the news from the helicopter fly over

 

Are you watching this feed? 

[rriojas71]

I was looking at WFAA