PartyBear said:

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I don't know who's name was blocked out a couple posts above. However this is Hyatt doing this. It is one of several chain hotels coming in but with a Bayloresque name and attached to it and Baylor theming (green and gold decor etc.). But it is a Hyatt hotel. Baylor doesn't own it and isn't building it and it isn't on Baylor's property.

That said they need someone other than Teaff doing the ads for it. It comes off rather the opposite of humble.

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I wish Baylor did own it.

It's become a thing lately for colleges to build their own hotels on campus.

They apparently are a net money maker.

I think Baylor would be smart to open one.

I can't find anything that implies the Grant Hotel is a Hyatt project.

I did find this:

https://www.wacotrib.com/business/another-hotel-added-to-waco-s-growing-list-as-developers/article_96f6b180-4ea5-5890-a2be-ca40158c0f62.amp.html

The Grant Hotel at 17 stories and over 300 rooms seems to be quite ambitious.

The only name I find associated with Grant Hotel is LM Dyson...

Here is an article from early 2016.... although it sounds like the scope of the project has changed...

https://www.wacotrib.com/business/riverfront-proposal-for-chisholm-landing-near-mclane-stadium-clears-st/article_e077d093-1fb3-54e3-826e-bc846eab70a8.html


Be sure and read the last couple of paragraphs...

What is being built on the spot west of I-35 on MLK where the ground has been dug out? When I saw the Grant video at the game I thought it may be going up at that spot. The excavation was pretty deep and large in size, seems the footings for a building that large would fit that footprint.

KajunKarlsdad said:

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What is being built on the spot west of I-35 on MLK where the ground has been dug out? When I saw the Grant video at the game I thought it may be going up at that spot. The excavation was pretty deep and large in size, seems the footings for a building that large would fit that footprint.

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3 hotels.

baylrballa said:

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KajunKarlsdad said:

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What is being built on the spot west of I-35 on MLK where the ground has been dug out? When I saw the Grant video at the game I thought it may be going up at that spot. The excavation was pretty deep and large in size, seems the footings for a building that large would fit that footprint.

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3 hotels.

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If the deeds are light blue, it will be expensive to stay there.

Here is the promotional video for the hotel that was shown at the football game.

I noticed on the boat it said Grant Hotel and Residences. Would be a great place to sell condos... I know several on here who would be interested in something like this and even locally, I would consider purchasing one as an investment property to rent out...

Bear Doc said:

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Here is the promotional video for the hotel that was shown at the football game.

I noticed on the boat it said Grant Hotel and Residences. Would be a great place to sell condos... I know several on here who would be interested in something like this and even locally, I would consider purchasing one as an investment property to rent out...

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I will right after we win our first national championship in football, which is far more likely to happen before this hotel is ever built.

WTH finally did a story on it:

https://www.wacotrib.com/news/business/hotel-honoring-grant-teaff-planned-for-lake-brazos/article_e89791b3-cfe1-50b3-89f9-bcfe373383bd.html?fbclid=IwAR1wFPf9RDQ3iHvBNwg9jHmendfAZH7Zk4mUmjL9sMBafAOLzu3R5xL0I0I

whitetrash said:

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WTH finally did a story on it:

https://www.wacotrib.com/news/business/hotel-honoring-grant-teaff-planned-for-lake-brazos/article_e89791b3-cfe1-50b3-89f9-bcfe373383bd.html?fbclid=IwAR1wFPf9RDQ3iHvBNwg9jHmendfAZH7Zk4mUmjL9sMBafAOLzu3R5xL0I0I

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The oddest thing in that article is Dyson claiming this is all about honoring Grant and Donnell Teaff.

Well, Coach already has a statue at the stadium.

It just seems odd to me that a former business professor would believe in developing real estate and a business for any purpose other than making money.

That's why you throw millions of dollars into an 17 story hotel: in hopes that the building will eventually pay for itself and bring profits beyond the pay off.

You build a hotel because the market is there for it. There may well be demand for hotel rooms out on Marlin Highway near the Lake Brazos Dam. I don't know. But, if I was going to commit to a project of this magnitude, my attempt would be to tap that market and not for the honor of someone. That's what plaques are for, naming rights and those kinds of things.

It is an interesting piece of property because it is still on the west side of the dam and even has it's own basin, similar to McLane's, but being that direction from downtown and campus, you're going to make sure you have other development in that direction that will draw people to your hotel. Otherwise, you're going to be stuck with a 17 story shell out in that direction.

Some interesting new info from the wacotrib on the new hotel and also that surrounding acreage.

A blog post by Base4 Architects and Engineers, which is designing the modular hotel for Dyson, states Grant Hotel would become part of a larger development called Chisholm Landing, "which will feature the world's largest climbing tower, a riverboat modular hotel, ropes course, and indoor climbing facility." The post also states the hotel's second floor would be made available to students pursuing careers in culinary and hospitality fields.

There is a video on chisolmlanding.com. I cant get it to play on my computer but the picture shows those features listed above.

UBBY said:

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Some interesting new info from the wacotrib on the new hotel and also that surrounding acreage.

A blog post by Base4 Architects and Engineers, which is designing the modular hotel for Dyson, states Grant Hotel would become part of a larger development called Chisholm Landing, "which will feature the world's largest climbing tower, a riverboat modular hotel, ropes course, and indoor climbing facility." The post also states the hotel's second floor would be made available to students pursuing careers in culinary and hospitality fields.

There is a video on chisolmlanding.com. I cant get it to play on my computer but the picture shows those features listed above.

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Also from the article:

Quote:

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In an email response to questions, Baylor University spokeswoman Lori Fogleman said the Dyson-led group bought a sponsorship package through Baylor Bear Sports Properties, which manages multimedia rights for Baylor Athletics.
"As part of the package, they secured a marketing designation as the 'Official Hotel of Baylor Athletics,'" Fogleman wrote.
"The project does not have any further involvement of Baylor University or the Athletics Department," she wrote. "Dr. Dyson retired from Baylor University in 2013 and currently does not have a faculty appointment."

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My cynical nature notwithstanding, I hope this doesn't end up like the Turtle Creek Racquet Club. If anyone was around Dallas in 1984-85, there was a huge marketing splash touting the "world's largest indoor country club" to be built at the corner of Lemmon and Knox. Took out a huge sponsorship of SMU Athletics in Fall 1984 (I recall they sponsored the Mustang Mania bumper stickers that year; I was in grad school at SMU at the time) and I think marketed itself as the "Official Country Club of SMU Athletics". Was going to be a 20 story condo/office tower in addition to all these indoor tennis courts, pool, etc., etc. Between lender financing and presales of memberships, had enough cash to break ground and dig a 90-foot deep hole on the lot to pour the foundation and underground garage, then.......went bankrupt.

For the next 2-3 years the hole sat there, perilously close to the intersection. City of Dallas finally filled it in around 1987 or 1988. I believe there is a CVS and a gas station on the site today (probably because the soil would be too unstable to support a larger structure).

Here's a NYT article about it from 1986: https://www.nytimes.com/1986/07/13/realestate/national-notebook-dallas-what-to-do-with-the-hole.html

whitetrash said:

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UBBY said:

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Some interesting new info from the wacotrib on the new hotel and also that surrounding acreage.

A blog post by Base4 Architects and Engineers, which is designing the modular hotel for Dyson, states Grant Hotel would become part of a larger development called Chisholm Landing, "which will feature the world's largest climbing tower, a riverboat modular hotel, ropes course, and indoor climbing facility." The post also states the hotel's second floor would be made available to students pursuing careers in culinary and hospitality fields.

There is a video on chisolmlanding.com. I cant get it to play on my computer but the picture shows those features listed above.

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Also from the article:

Quote:

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In an email response to questions, Baylor University spokeswoman Lori Fogleman said the Dyson-led group bought a sponsorship package through Baylor Bear Sports Properties, which manages multimedia rights for Baylor Athletics.
"As part of the package, they secured a marketing designation as the 'Official Hotel of Baylor Athletics,'" Fogleman wrote.
"The project does not have any further involvement of Baylor University or the Athletics Department," she wrote. "Dr. Dyson retired from Baylor University in 2013 and currently does not have a faculty appointment."

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My cynical nature notwithstanding, I hope this doesn't end up like the Turtle Creek Racquet Club. If anyone was around Dallas in 1984-85, there was a huge marketing splash touting the "world's largest indoor country club" to be built at the corner of Lemmon and Knox. Took out a huge sponsorship of SMU Athletics in Fall 1984 (I recall they sponsored the Mustang Mania bumper stickers that year; I was in grad school at SMU at the time) and I think marketed itself as the "Official Country Club of SMU Athletics". Was going to be a 20 story condo/office tower in addition to all these indoor tennis courts, pool, etc., etc. Between lender financing and presales of memberships, had enough cash to break ground and dig a 90-foot deep hole on the lot to pour the foundation and underground garage, then.......went bankrupt.

For the next 2-3 years the hole sat there, perilously close to the intersection. City of Dallas finally filled it in around 1987 or 1988. I believe there is a CVS and a gas station on the site today (probably because the soil would be too unstable to support a larger structure).

Here's a NYT article about it from 1986: https://www.nytimes.com/1986/07/13/realestate/national-notebook-dallas-what-to-do-with-the-hole.html

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I think that may be the situation with the Downtown Riverfront project. I asked Austin Meeks about it and he said they won't be able to build a building over 3 stories tall because of the soil.

Two things about that soil.

First, it obviously has a very high water table because of its proximity to the river.

But, also, after the 1953 tornado, they didn't have a landfill or anywhere else to deposit the massive amount of debris that was left over from the devastation.

So, our city leaders buried it where they thought it would least impede the public: along the banks of the Brazos.

This definitely seems ambitious. I am curious how they will work in white water rafting.

Chisholm Landing Video
https://vimeo.com/249474508


Edited to add Waco Trib article from Jan 2016
https://www.wacotrib.com/business/riverfront-proposal-for-chisholm-landing-near-mclane-stadium-clears-st/article_e077d093-1fb3-54e3-826e-bc846eab70a8.html

Edited to add article from base-4 modular design article.
https://www.base-4.com/17-story-modular-boutique-hotel/

What a rousing first paragraph to the story. "A developer with a track record of ideas that never come to fruition".

....and they guy is in poor health. This is never going to come to pass it appears to me. Even worse if it starts but never finishes becoming another eye sore in that stretch of 6. Teaff should have never agreed to be spokesperson. What is the purpose of the ads now? It isn't going to be open anytime soon

Pretty sure this is the same developer who made lots of splash about building a world-class golf course in Woodway. Even had Gary Player come out to an empty field to make the great announcement. He hit a few golf balls into the field.

Nothing happened. Well, that's not altogether true. They did spend some money. I'm sure Gary Player's appearance wasn't free.

That Chisholm Landing video is awesome..... and I guess the response has been so great that they have now added another 50 rooms to the hotel!!!

My guess is that they are trying to lure California money from the people that watch Fixer Upper, have never been here, and believe that there can be white water rafting and huge river boats on the Brazos!

Volunteer said:

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Pretty sure this is the same developer who made lots of splash about building a world-class golf course in Woodway. Even had Gary Player come out to an empty field to make the great announcement. He hit a few golf balls into the field.

Nothing happened. Well, that's not altogether true. They did spend some money. I'm sure Gary Player's appearance wasn't free.

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From what I heard, they may not have spent some money.... various bills didn't get paid.... but maybe they did later!

I like the floating behemoth hotel/party boat. What happens when the river rises and that sucker gets stuck between bridges?

.......so they tore down a perfectly good hotel for the stadium project and now they want to build 3 more hotels?

Fat Daddy said:

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That Chisholm Landing video is awesome..... and I guess the response has been so great that they have now added another 50 rooms to the hotel!!!

My guess is that they are trying to lure California money from the people that watch Fixer Upper, have never been here, and believe that there can be white water rafting and huge river boats on the Brazos!

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So was the video for the riverfront development when released what 8 years ago? And not a single thing has been built....

Lots of red flags in that article to me. Would put the probability under 50%. Hotel financing can be tricky to get, especially if it doesn't come with a flag. Other on here are hotel specialists and can probably speak more to that. But that fact that they don't have it lined up, poor health, track record of not getting things completed....

300+ rooms in that location also doesn't make a ton of sense to me.

trey3216 said:

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ABC BEAR said:

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.......so they tore down a perfectly good hotel for the stadium project and now they want to build 3 more hotels?

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That was NOT a perfectly good hotel

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Chortle, Chortle. Sometimes I have to throw comments out here to see if anyone actually reads this stuff.

cowboycwr said:

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Fat Daddy said:

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That Chisholm Landing video is awesome..... and I guess the response has been so great that they have now added another 50 rooms to the hotel!!!

My guess is that they are trying to lure California money from the people that watch Fixer Upper, have never been here, and believe that there can be white water rafting and huge river boats on the Brazos!

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So was the video for the riverfront development when released what 8 years ago? And not a single thing has been built....

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The River Front situation sounds weird to me. They cant build the development due to the soil? There is an entire major university's athletic complex built on that soil. University Tower or whatever that is called has been right next door to the development site has been there for 35 years. I'm not sure it is true that the site is unsuitable for development.

PartyBear said:

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cowboycwr said:

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Fat Daddy said:

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That Chisholm Landing video is awesome..... and I guess the response has been so great that they have now added another 50 rooms to the hotel!!!

My guess is that they are trying to lure California money from the people that watch Fixer Upper, have never been here, and believe that there can be white water rafting and huge river boats on the Brazos!

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So was the video for the riverfront development when released what 8 years ago? And not a single thing has been built....

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The River Front situation sounds weird to me. They cant build the development due to the soil? There is an entire major university's athletic complex built on that soil. University Tower or whatever that is called has been right next door to the development site has been there for 35 years. I'm not sure it is true that the site is unsuitable for development.

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With enough money you can build anywhere, so it may just be that building in this particular area is challenging from a financial standpoint. I could be that the land next to Baylor's tower might be just different enough that build costs were not too bad, or it could be that the original developer simply was willing to pay the costs involved. At any rate, IMO I doubt very seriously that the dirt is the primary reason for delay in the project. Bottom line is that the tornado debris - if indeed this is an issue - is not so deep in that area that the contractor would be unable to drill through it to rock.

PartyBear said:

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cowboycwr said:

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Fat Daddy said:

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That Chisholm Landing video is awesome..... and I guess the response has been so great that they have now added another 50 rooms to the hotel!!!

My guess is that they are trying to lure California money from the people that watch Fixer Upper, have never been here, and believe that there can be white water rafting and huge river boats on the Brazos!

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So was the video for the riverfront development when released what 8 years ago? And not a single thing has been built....

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The River Front situation sounds weird to me. They cant build the development due to the soil? There is an entire major university's athletic complex built on that soil. University Tower or whatever that is called has been right next door to the development site has been there for 35 years. I'm not sure it is true that the site is unsuitable for development.

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Exactly. The original video and plans only showed one building, the hotel right on the river, being over 3 stories. The others looked 2 stories tall and could easily be built.

The excuse about the soil is just that. An excuse. There have to be other reasons no one has built anything there when downtown and other areas are exploding.