Three big hotel chains are moving to downtown Phoenix, bringing hundreds of rooms into the urban core.
One opened a 19-story tower this month next to the city's historic high-rises. Another is under construction down the street by Arizona State University's downtown campus. And plans were approved to build a hotel west of the downtown center.
Other hospitality projects are in early planning stages. The mixed-use Arizona Center is slated for a boutique hotel, for example, though additional details are sparse. Developers recently submitted plans to add a hotel chain at 11th and Van Buren streets.
Here are a few projects to watch for in downtown Phoenix and surrounding neighborhoods.
What: The new Hampton Inn and Suites Downtown Phoenix will be the brand's first hotel in the area. Developer Mortenson is building the project.
Where: The location at First and Polk streets is next to Arizona State University's downtown campus.
Features: The 11-story hotel will have 210 rooms. Amenities include a bar and lounge, business center, meeting space and fitness center, according to a project representative.
When: Crews broke ground on the hotel earlier this year. The developer expects it to open in summer 2018.
Why: It's a strong location "to capture hotel demand from the city’s core central business district as well as from ASU and the Phoenix Biomedical Campus,” said Nate Gundrum, director of real-estate development at Mortenson, in a press release.
What: A dual-brand hotel is now open at Luhrs City Center: a Residence Inn by Marriott and Courtyard by Marriott.
Where: The tower is at the northwest corner of Central Avenue and Madison Street.
Features: The high-rise is 19 stories and includes 320 rooms between the two brands. The project also features a bistro, about 6,000 square feet of meeting space and an indoor pool, according to a project representative.
When: The hotel opened May 4.
Why: The project completes an overhaul of the historic Luhrs block by Hansji Corporation. The hotel is next to two towers from the 1920s that were renovated as a mixed-use project. Crews demolished a 1914 building on site to make way for the hotel.
What: Phoenix approved zoning this year for a construction project that will house a Holiday Inn Express, said Nick Wood, a land-use attorney representing the project.
Where: The location at the northeast corner of Van Buren Street and 10th Avenue is between downtown and the state Capitol.
Features: The hotel will have 120 rooms and a coffee shop, according to plans submitted to the city. The four stories will include meeting space, a fitness center and pool.
When: Wood said the project is starting Phoenix's permitting process but did not have a construction timeline.
Why: The site used to be the Desert Inn Motel but is now vacant. The location is prime for its proximity to downtown amenities as well as the Capitol Mall and a future light-rail line, according to development plans.
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