If They Can't Redo the Statler Hilton, Well, They'll Just Cover the Damned Thing Up

By Robert Wilonsky Tue., Jul. 14 2009 at 11:02 AM

Categories: News

The city's love-hate relationship with the Statler Hilton's been well documented here, so no need to rehash that never-ending story. But there is this bit of news concerning the Hotel Conrad Built on Commerce Street: Mayor Tom and the DowntownDallas-ites would love that sumbitch covered, if'n you don't mind, before the scheduled opening of Main Street Garden in October. Hence the just-announced designed competition open only to American Institute of Architects members: "A Temporary Facade: Veiling the Statler Hilton for the Main Street Gardens," a more cumbersome and dreary title you'll not find anywhere.

That link will take you to the competition blog, which contains all the pertinent details concerning registration, design guidelines and the names of the jurors (Virginia McAlester, John Maruszczak and, from the city, Willis Winters). As the site notes, the winner "will most likely be commissioned" -- and, as I understand it, the money for the facade will be provided by the city, DowntownDallas and the Hong Kong-based owners of the building. So the building gets a shroud. And what does the winner get? "A prize package courtesy of DOWNTOWNDALLAS including an in-town get away at one of our premier hotels, gift certificates, dining and admission to multiple venues in the renowned Dallas Arts District." Win, win! Ish.

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We've all seen the bumper stickers that say, "Keep Austin Weird" I saw one the other day I just have to have, it said, "Keep Dallas Pretentious"
Byron, I love Corbusier -- I drink it neat but my girlfriend likes it in Cosmos.
Hey Wilonsky, It turns out that Robert Johnson urinated on the side of this building back in 1934. You and I must have this building designated as a landmark immediately. If not, it will be a tragedy for the %.0000000037 of people who actually care. Our lives will be meaningless, and the entire world will cross the Rubicon into madness. Collective mass suicide will be the only way out.
We went thru the building 3 years ago to see if it could be converted to condos. We intended to use a mechanical parking garage similar to the ones in use in Germany to solve the parking problem. At the time the HK owners would not consider a price lower than $25 million which w/o parking was a deal killer. Our architectural scheme was similar to the 1950 loft design in Marseille by Corbusier since the rooms were narrow and ceilings low. We were adding Parisian style exterior balconies and replacing the curtainwall. If anyone likes that idea let me know and we'll rework the numbers as a rental.
a casino with one of those Vegas casino type pools like Rehab so I can get away from my wife on Saturday afternoons and hit on chicks I don't stand a chance with.
David, the city needed the parking garage so they could build Main Street Garden. Once the park is open and this building sticks out like a sore thumb, someone will figure out what to do about parking. Maybe the Atmos Complex behind it can serve as parking space. Or maybe the whole thing will be turned into a "green" residential complex (as in "green, because our residents don't have cars").
The biggest head scratcher about the Statler is that the Hong Kong ownership sold off the building's parking lot several years ago. They basically killed the building when they did that. Any new development would have to convert the ballroom or build/buy a lot of parking.
Cover it up with the City of Dallas'cover-up of the Don Hill and D'Angelo Lee mess. With $150,000 cash would make a nice cover-up.
Hey Avi, just lend them one of your moo moos, that should cover it.
I'm thinking something Calatrava-designed would be just fabulous.
Solar Panels,might pay for themselves. or a big rubber, sponsored by Trojan
What, no one's called Christo yet? http://www.christojeanneclaude.net/wr.shtml
I'm thinking something Elvis inspired since he stayed there. While they are at it they can drape the old Cabana Hotel/Jail on Stemmons with something Beatles, Raquel Welch or Doris Day.
In all seriousness, a Vertical Gardens motif would be very <i>au courant.</i>
A quick trip to Walmart, a few dozen teenagers, and we can have that place totally covered in short order with toilet paper!
A while back, the DCVB was looking for a slogan and came up with something like Live Large, Think Big. A better one: <i>Dallas. A Temporary Facade.</i>
Guess Mary Suhm will have to layoff a couple of more cops or fireman to pay for Mayor Tom's shroud of downtown.
Avi, are you any relation to Isadore?
Okay, let me understand this... The City is in a budget crisis to the tune of $200 million and about to lay off 1,000 employees. And yet it found the money for a building sized schamata??? Let the private sector put up the money and keep the City funds out of the mix.
Great postcard! Did the Statler Hilton ever look like this? No unsightly Doug's Gym just down the street? It appears to be on the outskirts of Palm Springs in that photo.
dm, that may work but it will take months to arrive because the city will order Italian shrinkwrap.
http://www.businessinsider.com/genius-company-will-shrinkwrap-vacant-condos-2009-7
How about a bigger version of the blanket thrown over the Rosa Parks statue?