Brooklyn Marriott Has Design Issues on All Sides

[Charles Hunter]

I doubt that the cost of moving the utilities compares to the cost that comes when the hotel has to go back to the drawing board and redesign/re-engineer everything instead of using one of their cookie cutter plans, but I could be wrong.

The only thing that has me puzzled is the little piece of property that they're essentially building around.  PA has it listed as LO Properties.

The article says the owner - LO Properties - doesn't want to sell, or is asking too much (which could be the same thing).

Depending on what utilities are down there, the cost be could be quite considerable.  Certainly much more than so design fees.

[thelakelander]

The site plan shows a block of fiber optic cable, 36" steel sewer pipe and 24" storm pipe running under Price Street. The simple way to avoid bothering with the expense of relocating all of that is to avoid it by leaving Price Street right in its place.

[thelakelander]

My lease is up at 220 in Feb.  The little lady mentioned Savannah as a possiblity.  Not my first choice but they sure wouldn't put up with this nonsense.

In Savannah, they would not force them to build a parking garage but they would make them keep the historic street grid open.

[Steve]

The other thing I don't like about this is the effectively blank wall along Magnolia. The entrance is against the parking lot fronting Forest. Part of that is the Marriott footprint, but all the more reason the site plan isn't good.

[thelakelander]

I wonder if that can be alleviated by an outdoor courtyard or seating area at the corner of Magnolia and Price? Residence Inn lobbies have areas where breakfast and happy hour drinks and appetizers are served for guests. I don't know how this model's floor plan lays out but perhaps there's a chance that this dining area could be located at the SE corner of the building.

[jaxnyc79]

Is it progress that the DDRB discussed "street activation" at a meeting?

[Steve]

Is it progress that the DDRB discussed "street activation" at a meeting?

Yes...but only if they stick to their guns. If not then no.

[Captain Zissou]

The parallel driveway next to Magnolia street kills me.  What a waste of space in an urban area.  I agree that they should put the parking on the street and then push the building to the edge of the property there.

[acme54321]

It seems like that goofy Cul-De-Sac at the end of Oak could be eliminated too and an intersection like on magnolia installed. 

[Captain Zissou]

It seems like that goofy Cul-De-Sac at the end of Oak could be eliminated too and an intersection like on magnolia installed. 

All of those dead end cul-de-sacs really bother me.  A result of the 90s/2000s plan to develop Brooklyn as a pass through to get to avondale and beyond rather than an urban neighborhood.

[thelakelander]

Forest is a COJ road now. There's nothing stopping them from making Oak a right-in right-out. However, due to Price Street and the utilities under it, the building can't be moved closer to Forest. So the question becomes how to keep 113 parking spaces without turning that triangle between Forest and Price into a parking lot?

[Steve]

35 Spaces is the number - that's what in the triangle. Not sure if Marriott will back off/allow them to be elsewhere. Also, 4 of them are handicapped - not sure on the rules there.

The frustration is that 35 spaces would fit perfectly in the lot behind the L shape...especially if you relocated the building up to the street on Magnolia (though then you'd need to add 32 more spaces back there).

These funky blocks created by FDOT really suck.

[jaxjags]

Forest is a COJ road now. There's nothing stopping them from making Oak a right-in right-out. However, due to Price Street and the utilities under it, the building can't be moved closer to Forest. So the question becomes how to keep 113 parking spaces without turning that triangle between Forest and Price into a parking lot?

Move building towards street line on Magnolia and build a 3 story structured garage with entrance off Magnolia. Have area in front of hotel facing Forest as a check-in driveway only. Give it a park like feel along with the outdoor area you mentioned facing Unity Plaza. As article said, with a rooftop pool this will be a concrete building, so I find it hard to believe that a three level concrete garage will break the project.
The Home Street projects has a three level structured parking. 220 has structured parking. All developers would settle for parking lots if given the opportunity. It's less expensive, but doesn't mean a garage kills the project. If DDRB approved what was presented then they say glad we tried.

[pierre]

All of those dead end cul-de-sacs really bother me.  A result of the 90s/2000s plan to develop Brooklyn as a pass through to get to avondale and beyond rather than an urban neighborhood.

They look so ridiculous

[thelakelander]

I'd assume a garage would kill this one unless it's subsidized. I'm of the belief that parking should first be maximized on Price and Magnolia to see exactly where things fall. The DIA has also talked about doing road diets for Forest and Riverside Avenue. Probably gain a hell of a lot of parking if both outside lanes of Forest became on-street parallel parking between Riverside and Park.