Good to Bad to Good at the Sieber Hotel
They say that all journalists are cynical and are harbingers of only bad news. I’m not arguing that my profession probably deserves a lot of the criticisms it gets day to day. But I’ll be the first to admit I’m the type to root for the underdog. And Marva Ellard was definitely the underdog when she bought the Sieber Hotel more than a decade ago. Once a MidTown landmark, at 1305 N Hudson, the property was a mess by the 1990s.
For whatever reason, Ellard had plenty of doubters. Two city council members seemed intent on sinking her project at one point. Other downtown developers tried to place doubt as to whether she could ever pull it off.
And yet Marva pulled it off. I had a lot of fun covering this this past decade, and in conjunction with my coverage today, I thought I’d share a pictorial journey through the good and bad times of the Sieber Hotel.
The Sieber Hotel during its “glory days.”
The Sieber Hotel – during not so glorious days (circa 2001)
Marva Ellard gets to work on the lobby.
This building will not fall!
Marva Ellard looks upward at the skylight in the Sieber lobby - maybe for some divine guidence….
Window restoration – one of the most complicated and expensive items on any historic tax credit project, begins (circa 2007)
The old mosaic tile floor in the Sieber lobby is revealed to be incredibly intact.
The former Sieber butcher shop and grocery, once barely standing during early renovations, is back in top shape by fall 2008.
The completed lobby – one of many wonderful photos shot by Paul Southerland during a recent tour.
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Comments
Wow, Steve, what a great pair of posts (the video following was outstanding) about the Sieber. Just amazing. Yo’ da’ man!
Steve, speaking of old buildings that use to be something, can you tell me the story of the building that is across the street from 1492? I think it’s called The Olser or something. It looks like perhaps it use to be a hotel or an apartment complex. Like the Seiber, it seems to have been abandoned for some time and I think it is still empty. However, the building itself reminds me of the Seiber.
Mike, if I remember correctly, that was a Banta property purchased about two-three years ago. I believe they gutted it but since Banta got out of the company, I am not sure what has happened with the progress on it.
Good update on the Sieber. Steve, any word if they are going to restore/recreate the original old metal sign on the SE corner of the building like shown in the old original photo above? The Colcord used a similar sign. I think it would help the property stand out.
Mike, as Gary said, Banta/Howard/Clagg purchased the Osler several years ago as part of the MidTown Renaissance. Had planned condos/apartments for the upper levels and office and street front retail for the lower levels. They started gutting, etc. Not sure how far they got. Since Banta left, Howard/Clagg have been trying to assemble the best team possible so I’m hopeful we’ll see something announced again in the near future and work resume.
What did the Olser use to be? Seems like it use to be an apartment complex, but I bet the thing has been abandoned for decades…
The Osler was always an office building – was used by doctors during the heydays of the old Mercy Hospital
Mainly, I think, it was an office building FOR DOCTORS. That’s where my mom’s doctor was located before I popped out in 1943 at St. Anthony’s!
WOW!! Steve, Marva is one of my favorite cousins. We totally lost contact. Please, Please, Please, Give her my email. She was a secret for so long, like someone was hiding her from me.
http://www.broadjam.com/artists/songs.php?artistID=65571&mediaID=429078&sessionID=12BCADE9DF7C4F11ADB2DCE608A7BCE0
Above is a link of a Song about our Granny Rose Ellard. I know she would appreciate. If my daughter Lisa Marie has been snooping around a lil…I apologize…she can’t help it.
*smiles* Bert
I have some old pics of when my wife and I were kids in OKC. We went exploring the Siever back in 2000. We used to day dream of buying it an restoring it back to its former glory. Awe the dreams you have at 21! 
it’s great to see such a beautiful building get another chance at life. She surely is a crown jewel of OKC. Love it.
To answer the question of what the Osler Building use to be prior of purchase in 2006. The Osler building was purchased in 1991 from the FDIC by William and Jeri Davis and brought-up to date remodeling floor by floor for administrative office-use 1st thru 6 floors including new chiller and boiler system. The 7th floor had been approved for remodel of Penthouse in which we finished off and lived for 15 years. We enjoyed living and being landlords with various kinds of tenants which included our own computer business and employees. The building was 95 percent occupied during the bombing of OKC. We took good care of the building and glad to see a good direction for it in the future! We always felt the building was a diamond in the ruff and glad of the memories we had living in such a unique building. Will always miss the “View”. However, we can always return for a visit once the Ambassador Hotel is finished. How exciting!
wonderful photos. Do you know Sieber apartments has a website?