Oro 2 Still Shooting for Hotel Component, Says Attorney
According to the Department of Buildings, the current plans for the second Oro tower do not include a hotel, but the land use attorney for developer United Homes’, Kenneth Fisher, who is also a former City Councilman, said two hotels are still very much a part of the plan. “The architects are working through issues…
According to the Department of Buildings, the current plans for the second Oro tower do not include a hotel, but the land use attorney for developer United Homes’, Kenneth Fisher, who is also a former City Councilman, said two hotels are still very much a part of the plan. “The architects are working through issues with the Department of Buildings,” he said. The DOB rejected an earlier plan for 38-story, 344,992-square-foot tower with 74 residential units and a hotel, and said the most current filing includes 35 stories, 235,382 square feet, 208 residential units and no hotel, according to a spokeswoman. Fisher said ultimately the first roughly 30 floors of the tower would be one or two hotels, and the top five to nine floors would be apartments. When asked if they’ve received financing, Fisher said, “That’s an answer that may change any minute. But I would say that we’re actively in negotiations with different financial institutions and we’re anticipating that our financing will be in place very shortly.” He said the hotelier is “a Hilton Family flag but it’s not necessarily going to be a Hilton.” Other Hilton brands include include Doubletree, Embassy Suites and Hampton. Or, maybe Nicky-O will give it another go.
1:24 – not much dice rolling at this point – this ship is sailing. might take a few more years than initially planned but its happening – too much money and planning committed at this point.
3:21 – you need to spend more time trying to be clever than trying to sound clever. but that’s just an aside b/c right now you’re failing grandly at both.
“When asked if they’ve received financing, Fisher said, ‘That’s an answer that may change any minute. But I would say that we’re actively in negotiations with different financial institutions and we’re anticipating that our financing will be in place very shortly.’
How ’bout a simple “no”? Ya got it or ya don’t. And THEN the status can change any minute. I love a BS artist.
I hear you. I find the debate about this location (Flatbush Avenue) to be fascinating. I am definitely biased, because I bought at ORO (and I have lived at University Towers on Willoughby Street for 10 years). The things I like about this area are the proximity to multiple subway lines (closest one is the B, Q, R at Dekalb a block and a half away) and the proximity to the bridges (coming home by cab from Downtown Manhattan via the Manhattan Bridge takes about 15 minutes). The things I don’t like are the total, complete, and quite frankly laughable lack of amenities. As an ORO buyer, I’m clearly banking on (i) the fact/hope that between Oro 1, Oro 2, Catsimitadis, Avalon and Toren we will get some decent retail (can a brother get a grocery store?) and (ii) the promised streetscape improvements will make the surrounding area a whole lot nicer. I guess its a roll of the dice, but that’s why it’s call “investing” right? As for hotel guest’s at ORO 2, one can only assume the the “Public-Private” partnership that is the Downtown Brooklyn Partnership will ensure that if private developers do their part (by building these new developments), the city will do their part in making sure that tourists, visitors, former manhattanites, etc. will see a Flatbush Ave that’s a whole lot nicer than it is now!
Whenever I hear talk about a hotel at this location, I picture those unsuspecting guests who only learn upon arrival that they are in the middle of nowhere–not really near the subway (for a tourist), upstairs from a firehouse, and next door to Ingersol. (“Spare change; spare change.”) Fine if you’re planning on cabbing it everywhere, but that’s about it. I’d even rather be on Union Street or Fourth Avenue.