DallasDirt » hotels

Dallas Joule Hotel Dumps Starwood

Candy Evans — Thu, 29 Apr 2010 13:45:09 +0000

Dallas Dirt has gleaned a little inside info on what’s going on over at the Joule Hotel. Not only is the downtown Dallas luxury hotel expanding, it has severed it’s contractual hotel management relationship with Starwood Hotels. (Actually, not sure who severed who.) Word is that Starwood opted out of a five year contract after a year and a half. Denver-based Richfield Hospitality will now be managing the Joule Hotel and making sure those sheets are turned down in style. But what about my points?

The Joule Expands, Spreads Wings, Hires Local Dallas Design Firm

Candy Evans — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 15:14:36 +0000

No April Fools joke here: we knew that the Joule Hotel has spread joy down Main Street since the day it opened with those mermaids flapping in the canti-levered penthouse pool and owner Tim Headington greeting guests so graciously with Martin Scorsese at his side. Well, soon there will be more Joule joy on Commerce: last year, the hotel in the 1920′s neo gothic bank building acquired five buildings on Commerce Street where it will take a nice big stretch with more guest rooms, a ballroom, and general hotel space plus a Commerce Street entrance. (Maybe another eatery?) And Dallas Dirt has learned that Dallas-based Forrest-Perkins will be handling the design. This is interesting for several reasons. Forrest-Perkins did interiors at The Stoneleigh Hotel and was set to do the interior design on the Stoneleigh Heritage Tower, which was put on fiscal eterna hold until Stoneleigh Savior Mehrdad Moayedi swooped in and bought it in February. (You heard it here first!) Also, the interiors of the Joule were initially done by Adam D. Tihany, a well-known New York City-based interior designer who also did the interiors at Le Cirque, probably why I had deja vue a few weeks ago when I was in New York sipping at Le Cirque.

Hotels Are Hurting, We’re In A Deep Recession, But Thank God We’re In Texas

Candy Evans — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 03:42:00 +0000

The Four Seasons San Francisco is in default on it’s loans to LNR Property Corp., and the Renaissance Stanford Court Hotel on Knob Hill (across from the Fairmont) is in default on it’s loans to the tune of $89 million. California’s a real financial mess, I know, so why do we care in Dallas? Well, things usually start getting bad on the coasts and then roll our way, like this thing called the housing crisis. Supposedly this is posturing to renegotiate debt, but note this quote:

“”We’re in a deep recession and hotels are suffering the most of any real estate class right now.”

A report by Atlas Hospitality estimates that room revenues in California are down 21.5 percent in 2009 and that values are 50 to 80 percent lower than they were at the market’s peak from 2005 to 2007.”

Over at Victory Park, home to the W Hotel, the financing has also made a major change, and I cannot help but wonder, if hotels are a sort of real estate barometer, how are we doing in Dallas?.

Dallas IS A World-Class City

Candy Evans — Sun, 08 Feb 2009 17:10:41 +0000

This is a great 36-hour look at Dallas in today’s New York Times, and our city comes out shining as much as Reunion Tower. Even the Dragon Street arts district was lauded. But one sad note: Gerald Peters is shuttering its doors, as we reported on Dallas Dirt.

Stoneleigh Heritage Gets Help From P.O’B Montgomery

Candy Evans — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 00:53:14 +0000

P. O’B Montgomery & Company, a respected Dallas real estate and development firm, is now working with the Prescott-Apollo partnership that owns the on-hold Stoneleigh-Heritage Residences. (Or whatever they are now called.) Mission: figure out what to do with that sad residence shell looming behind the Maple Avenue hotel. Early December, Prescott brought Montgomery into the picture to study all market options as an advisor, not investor. Apollo and Prescott have sought financing for the Stoneleigh project since their credit source ran dry in the fall due to the Wall Street financial meltdown.

“We are looking at doing whatever makes sense,” Phil Montgomery told me today, when asked if the residences would resume construction. “The market has clearly changed.”

Prescott’s Jud Pankey says the garage is complete and open, and construction attention will now focus on the courtyard. This month’s Architectural Digest feature on the hotel and colorful designer, Carleton Varney and his mentor, Dorothy Draper, has generated national interest in the project; Varney is coming back to Dallas in the spring to create more buzz.

If another developer were going to be engaged for this project, the most likely time would be when construction financing is being negotiated, said Pankey by email.

“Phil Montgomery introduced me to Apollo almost ten years ago, and we all try and assist each other when faced with a challenge,” wrote Pankey.

What we are doing, said Montgomery, is fairly routine.

According to sources, Al Coker is no longer handling marketing for The Stoneleigh Heritage Residences; Cynthia Pharr is handling media relations.

The Stoneleigh

Candy Evans — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 22:23:00 +0000

The Gallery, Carleton Varney for Dorothy Draper & Company. Be sure to read in AD how our Peter Goodchild restored two 18th century mirrors covered with 30 years of paint.

The Stoneleigh

Candy Evans — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 22:16:54 +0000

The Gallery as created by Dorothy Draper in 1936.

The Stoneleigh Debutes In Architectural Digest

Candy Evans — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 22:13:35 +0000

The February, 2009 issue of Architectural Digest includes a wonderful story by Nancy Collins depicting the Carleton Varney re-vamp of the Stoneleigh Hotel and Spa. This is the music room. I was with Carleton in this room shortly before the Stoneleigh’s opening soiree and we shot this video.

Opening of Atlantis, The Palm: Dallas Present In Full Force Weekend Past

Candy Evans — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 22:42:49 +0000

All because Dallas interior designer Trisha Wilson’s company, Wilson Associates, did the design for the $1.5 billion dollar hotel. You bet she was there! Trisha says there were more than 2000 VIP guests, herself included, at one of the most expensive and lavish hotel openings in history. Despite recent financial news, owner/developer Sol Kerzner spared no expense. Kylie Monogue was the featured performer and she sat at the table right next to Trisha — “one of the nicest celebrities I’ve ever met,” said Trisha, adding that Kylie is tiny and had on fabulous 5 inch heels. Samantha Ronsen was the DJ for the afterparty. She was there with Lindsey Lohan, Quincy Jones and Robert De Niro. Trisha was seated with Yue- Sai Khan (her good friend, the “Oprah of Asia”, read all about their interesting friendship in the article I wrote on Trisha for DCEO Magazine). Other Hollywood celebs present include Charlize Theron, Mary-Kate Olsen and Michale Jordan plus enough royalty to bail out the bail out.

The Stoneleigh: Q&A (Sort Of) With Jud Pankey

Candy Evans — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 06:20:39 +0000

Jud Pankey was kind enough to answer my questions about the Stoneleigh last week, then our blog was down, etc. etc. So here you have it. I am truly sorry The Stoneleigh has been caught in this credit mess. I would like to personally march all those Wall Street Rocket Scientists over to that shell and tell them where to stuff their financial algorithms…

DD: What are you going to do with the shell?
Jud Pankey: The shell is going to stay as is. It will be ready to go again once we close a loan. The garage will be ready next week, so we have made some progress. We will then turn our attention to the courtyard.
DD: The parking garage is completed for the hotel, so will you let the shell sit?
Jud Pankey: Not sure what else we would do. Do you have any creative ideas, as I am all ears?
DD: Was the crane really costing $30K a month?
Jud Pankey: Yes—close enough.
DD: Will you build a smaller, scaled back condo perhaps?
Jud Pankey: No—does not make sense.
DD: Do you have any financing promises at this point?
Jud Pankey: We are working with a couple of lenders. They do exist!!
DD: Is this why Paulson (last week) said he is aiming the bail out funds at the banks?
Jud Pankey: Not sure what he said but the banks are trying to figure out risk between banks and customers. I think it is confusing for everyone, hence there is no confidence. The banks are trying to price risk and they have plenty of capital, but they are not being paid to lend money just to lend money just yet. Plus, the regulators need to encourage them to lend versus contract. It is an interesting time.

Steve Brown: Stoneleigh Heritage On Hold

Candy Evans — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 23:17:23 +0000

I asked the question last summer… amid near-weekly emails from folks saying nothing was happening at the 22 story, 118 unit luxury condo residence tower under construction behind the Stoneleigh Hotel. Now we know why: Steve Brown reports today that Prescott’s financing fell through, and the cranes are coming down, at least for now. Putting calls through to some of the first buyers, so stay tuned.

Memories… Like The Corners of The Stoneleigh Hotel

Candy Evans — Sat, 08 Nov 2008 06:46:28 +0000

Unfortunately, I did not grow up in Dallas. (Got here soon as I could.)Any child-hood hotel memories I have evoke the Drake, Palmer House, and a Howard Johnsons where we used to pig out on ice cream and crash pool parties. So any memories I have of the Stoneleigh Hotel on Maple are fresh — sweet and fun, not ancient. I remember loving it the first time I laid eyes upon the maroon-y lobby because, I think, it reminded me of an old, grand Chicago hotel, which made me feel at home. I remember fun Nancy Smith luncheons — Carlton Varney holding court in the fabulous oak-panelled Dorothy Draper dining room in the penthouse. I remember a luncheon or dinner where Linda Ivy lost one of her ginormous diamond rings, her husband Steve told her not to worry about it, but that darling girl got down on her hands and knees and hunted ’til she found her bling. I remember the last Press Club event at The Stoneleigh — a great party — what was Elizabeth Albanese doing that night?

Who cares about my memories, click here to connect to theStoneleigh memories Contest and give us yours. Help a great hotel take a walk down Memory Lane. Comments are on, especially if you have something to say about that Mistress Tunnel…

Jonas Woods W Condo Sales Price

Candy Evans — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 18:47:31 +0000

As you know, Texas is an undisclosed sales price state. But a little birdie in the know tells me the 9285 square foot unit sold for $5.8 million. Impressive reduction, but still a great net. Carolyn Shamis brought the buyer (name not yet know, stay tuned) and here’s how she did it: Carolyn heard that another agent was looking for a home for a client in Preston Hollow with land, tennis court and pool. In other words, a spread. She got on a program “where you can look at people’s backyards,” she told me, and narrowed the search down to 12 properties with the necessary criteria. Then she wrote nice letters to all twelve of those estate owners: “Dear Trophy Property Owner, I have a bazillionaire client seeking a multi-acre estate in your beautiful area up to $15 million who wishes to pay cash. Don’t be an idiot, Wall Street melted, call me.” She sent the letter out Monday, got some downright nasty responses by Friday. (“How dare you contact me! My estate is NOT for sale.”) But on Saturday — and these stories are literally why I wake up in the morning — she gets an email from one of the twelve letters who ended up being the buyer of Woods’ penthouse. And by the way, that W pad is now this buyer’s weekend home.

Do We Need Another Downtown Hotel Or Don’t We?

Candy Evans — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 15:33:48 +0000

Only the financial Gods know for sure. I’ll admit that recent financial news now has me thinking against this. There are plenty of hotels downtown,and more slated to come… maybe contract with one of them? There are 129 rooms in The Joule, located in the landmark 1920′s Dallas National Bank building. On the other hand, it would be tragic if this economic crisis put a crimp in our development just as our city is about to really spread wings.

The Joule — Greatest Party This Town Has Seen

Candy Evans — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 05:08:17 +0000

(And may see for a while to come. ) Cute Sarah Eveans beat me to posting Friday night’s Joule bash, what can I say, she’s younger, prettier and obvi handles champagne much better. (But I got a photo, from the lady’s bathroom!) Main Street was blocked off, and there was a robed gospel chorus singing to greet us as we stumbled from our autos. Oh wait, that’s just what Sarah wrote. I did see Mr. Scorsese, a short man with enormous eyebrows, and Sarah Ferguson — that diet works — as they left the patio. I also saw and chatted with…

Caroline Summers (Real Estate, of course, even though she is no longer with Staubach) and Betty (Dave Perry-Miller) and John Crawford. Down in the ballroom we saw Nick and Kevin Jonas, though I honestly thought they were junior high kids, Claire and Dwight Emmanuelson, Angie Barrett, Don and Ana Carty, he the former AAL CEO now with Dell, also the guy who designed the joint, Transylvanian-born Adam D. Tihany (THEE best hospitality designer, think Le Cirque, Osteria del Circo, basically every top restaurant in the world), Graham King, Mark Cuban, Terrell Owens (as Sarah mentioned, and I will tattle he stayed rather late) Nicholas Varney, the jewelry designer and son of my pal Stoneleigh penthouse designer Carlton Varney, Mike Modano and Willa Ford whose home is featured in D Home, Cindy and Howard Rachofsky, Lisa and John Runyon, John is curator of the $100 million Joule art collection, and of course the fabulous Charlie Palmer, and the oil man who’s footing the bill for all this (and single), Tim Headington, number 163 on the Forbes 400 List. We also caught up with several neighbors and a few physicians. That burlesque show down in the glam PM Bar (another Todd Fiscus venture) was short, my husband reported, but this from the man who fell asleep the one time a friend took him to The Dallas Gentlemen’s Club. I hear they will be offering more Vegas-style shows from time to time in PM, which, with the beaded see-through curtains did remind me of Vegas, with a strong 1930′s Hollywood a la Fiscus twist.

1930′s — how very appropriate.