Go urban hotels go!

Although I'm not a big fan of the hotel's exterior, it's definitely better than the surface lot it replaced. The hotel and the transportation center have created so much density along Market Street that now the old Merrill-Lynch building looks out of place. It would be great if they added another floor to the building, but I don't think that's going to happen.

there is a lot of action going on here -- very heartening to see!

 

the hotel is great news, sure beats a parking lot -- very good.

 

always so weird to see old midblock buildings come down. it always seems like those on either side will collapse too. bracing must be tricky.

 

I was just in Williamsport last Friday and was checking out that Merrill-Lynch refacing. Is the building connected to Penn Tower?

You should have let me know you were here!

Yes it is. Penn Tower and the Merrill Lynch building are connected, and were purchased by the owner of the new hotel and the Holiday Inn and Hampton. Not sure what his plans are for Penn Tower, but it's definitely not going anywhere. It'll probably remain an office building.

Time for an update. Things are looking great.

 

 

Court Street is finally open again:

 

 

Susquehanna Trailways' new home:

 

This will be awesome:

 

More to come soon.

the marriot looks a lot like the dorms that CSU is building

I'm not sure what those look like, but the design is growing on me. I didn't like it at first but after all the finishing touches it has gotten, it's pretty nice. I love how that little section of town seems like a little resort.

So the Church Street Transportation Center is finished and now it's getting the curtain wall glass on the south and east sides, just like the design drawing. It's going to look sweeeet.

Kohl's is about finished as well along with the reconstructed William Street.

I'm planing on taking some photos tomorrow morning after class.

 

Stay tuned.

 

I was looking through this thread, rereading all of my posts which I do from time to time, and I came across an awesome contrasting view.

 

Almost the same view; one in February of 2010 and one in July of 2011.

 

2/2010:

 

7/2011:

 

Pretty awesome I think.

I think it's good to see that spot filled in, but the cladding overall on the hotel is cheap as you can possibly get.  EIFS is just one step above in price than doing painted cinder block.  Being that the hotel is relatively modular, too bad they couldn't just use precast concrete panels faced in brick.

 

Problem is that exterior of the hotel will collect a lot of grime, and many hotel chains aren't exactly quick to repaint or wash. 

I think it's good to see that spot filled in, but the cladding overall on the hotel is cheap as you can possibly get.  EIFS is just one step above in price than doing painted cinder block.  Being that the hotel is relatively modular, too bad they couldn't just use precast concrete panels faced in brick.

 

Problem is that exterior of the hotel will collect a lot of grime, and many hotel chains aren't exactly quick to repaint or wash. 

 

Yeah the EFIS is a major downer. I wish they would have gone the brick/concrete route. It also would have matched the new deck better. And trust me, Market Street is a VERY busy street, and now with Susquehanna Trailways right across from the hotel, it'll get very dirty in no time.

I really need to update this with photos.

 

Kohl's is done and boy is it a nice store. I forgot how nice they are. The Church Street Transportation Center is done. They just need to install the glass curtain walls on the south and east sides.

 

The Marriott is done and so is the Schreyer Building facelift. They are redoing the landscaping in front of the building and it's looking great.

 

Things are changing so quickly in the downtown area and I have been way too busy to keep up.

Hopefully I'll have a photo update soon!

 

I will leave you with this.

This photo was taken in April of 2010. Completely different view of the transportation center site - it wasn't even started yet. And to think this place looked really good when they finished the bridge. It looks a hundred times better now:

Nice!

Quick little teaser to a planned update post.

 

Pine Street:

 

Here's a reminder of the project:

http://www.urbanohio.com/forum2/index.php/topic,18376.msg553788.html#msg553788

Diggin' the pavers.