Also, just to put any rumors to the contrary to rest, the video mentions that the project includes 186 hotel rooms. 

Looks better with less junk. 

According to this article, they’ve decided what brand the hotel will be:

Jackson lawyer and developer David Watkins and his partners will pay the JRA $250,000 for the King Edward when the deed transfers in a couple of weeks. Watkins, Saints football star Deuce McAllister and New Orleans developer Historic Restorations Inc. plan to invest $71 million into the 83-year-old building for a Hilton-branded boutique hotel, apartments and upscale luggage, computer and clothing stores.

Hilton-branded meaning any one of:

Hilton |  Conrad Hotels |  Doubletree |  Embassy Suites Hotels
Hampton Inn |  Hampton Inn & Suites |  Hilton Garden Inn
Hilton Grand Vacations |  Homewood Suites by Hilton
Scandic |  The Waldorf=Astoria Collection

A Conrad or Waldorf=Astoria designation would be great.  A DoubleTree designation would be less than terrific.  I’m hoping for the former, but a standard Hilton designation would be more likely (and not bad either).  Embassy Suites, Homewood or Hampton wouldn’t work with this project. 

It’s Waldorf or nothing for me.  This was once a masterpiece, not some cut-rate motel.

We are presently looking at “plain old Hilton,” though with an upscale FF&E room package (plasma screens, etc.).

Fascinating.  What else does it entail?  I’m curious.

:)  “Plain old Hilton” sounds good to me!  I think this would make the most sense in the market.  Hilton is a solid company with a good record of operations and a reputation for good service.  Conrad and WA are more than Jackson could support at this point.  This will be a giant step forward.

The Skirvin in Oklahoma City and the Capitol House in Baton Rouge are just two examples of recent restorations which have been undertaken with Hilton as a franchise.  Both are successful and both are beautiful properties. 

Hilton would work for me, too.  If it will attract visitors, I’ll take it.

Long Live the King…...........

I think it’s a beautiful, and well-built, piece of Jackson History that should be preserved.

I’ve got several photo galleries of my shots in the building.  Perhaps Pops will let me come take some more photos now that the place is cleaned out?

Demolition Walkthrough
Press Walkthrough

I’m sure a lot of these buildings were considered eyesores at first.  How do you get from “before” to “after”?  It’s called having a vision.  Without a vision, we perish.

Also, Pops:

The video linked above referenced “Condo Apartment” units.  I know the condo issue has been one that is of some concern to you and the rest of the developers due to the tax implications.

Has this been resolved favorably for condo units?  If so, how does one reserve a unit?  I’m incredibly interested in doing so.

Charlotta thanks for you post…..I’m a stickler for historical preservation (of things worth perserving that is)....this building is worth saving…..

It’s high beauxs arts architecture (same period and as the new Capitol, though at the very end of the period).  Next time your down around there, take a look at the detail around the ground floor.  That’s not cast detail its actually cut stone, the cornices, the colonades, the window surrounds.  We don’t do that anymore and if we do it costs a great deal of money.  When that thing is done it will be a real jewel in the architectureal legacy of that city, you’ll be proud.  Also if they had leveled it, it would have been a parking lot.  and years later what would have been put in it’s place would have been a pale shadow of what was there before.

I can’t wait to see this building brought back on line…and I am not surprised at the strength of the thing…..Its all riveted steel frame and concrete.  Win Win….