New Hotel Tower Going Up in Downtown Dallas

A new downtown tower on the way will add to Dallas' growing hotel market.The 12-story high-rise under construction on Houston Street is the first major addition to the southwest side of downtown since the Omni Hotel was built.Georgia-based Equity Hotel Group is building the 167-room Courtyard by Marriott on a vacant half block at Houston and Wood streets."It's an 18-month project and so far we are right on target," said Equity Hotel Group's Bipin Hira.The developer has owned the building site for a decade.The property is right next door to the historic Lawrence Hotel.Plans for the Courtyard project include a rooftop "sky bar" with both inside and outside seating. There will also be more than 4,000 square feet of meeting space on the top floor.A separate elevator and entry will access the 12th floor bar."The first floor will be the lobby area and arrival court and second third and fourth floors will be the parking," Hira said. "From the fifth to the 11th floors are the rooms."The 174,000-square-foot building was designed by Winford Lindsay Architect. MW Builders is the general contractor.The new Courtyard is one of a handful of hotel projects planned in the downtown and area.Construction is already underway on a 159-room Hilton Curio Hotel in the historic Statler building on Commerce Street.And an AC by Marriott and Residence Inn are being built in the former Mercantile Commerce tower downtown.The 237-room Lorenzo Hotel opens early next year on the south side of downtown on Akard Street.Also a 238-room extended stay Marriott is planned in the historic Butler Brothers Building on Ervay Street.Last week developers redoing the 52-story former First National Bank tower - now called The Drever - said New York-based Thompson Hotels Group will have a 216-room hotel in the skyscraper.  Continue reading...