With the U of A taking over the Crown Plaza there is mass speculation that soon there will be a new hotel built in Downtown Akron to take its place.

 

From AkronNewNow.com

 

It's only a matter of time before a new hotel comes to downtown Akron.

 

 

Akron News Now has learned there has been a lot of interest from developers in building a second hotel.

 

Greater Akron Chamber of Commerce President Dan Colantone says his office and the city of Akron have been getting a number of phone calls and inquiries from interested developers. He expects an announcement in the not too distant future from the city and a hotel developer.

One prime piece of property that's sparked a lot of interest is the parking area for Greystone Hall downtown. Greystone owner Jeffrey O'Neil says he wants to preserve the historic building if he sells it, but a new hotel could incorporate the current structure as part of a hotel complex. 

 

Colantone calls Greystone a landmark and a prime piece of property and he's sure there's a lot of interest in what that property will look like or how it will be developed in the future.

 

Akron city officials have declined to comment on inquiries they may have received about developing a new downtown hotel.

 

Downtown Akron will lose the Crowne Plaza as a public hotel in another year after the University of Akron purchased the Quaker Square complex to be utilized as dorm rooms and meeting space.

 

 

If they were to build a hotel and use Greystone Hall as a conference center...boy the possibilities.

 

I still think Akron only needs 300 rooms or so downtown.

Looking at the future, I believe that the growth of Akron University, Goodyear and the three downtown hospitals will add to the sure to explode Medical Corridor to bring considerable more visitors to Downtown Akron. At-least that's the optimistic view I'd like to take.

Looking at the future, I believe that the growth of Akron University, Goodyear and the three downtown hospitals will add to the sure to explode Medical Corridor to bring considerable more visitors to Downtown Akron. At-least that's the optimistic view I'd like to take.

 

True...there just seems to be a push for a new hotel now, when we have trouble filling them before the sale to UA.

And BTW, its University of Akron :-)

The football stadium right on campus will also be a new "draw" to downtown.  Yes, it might only be 5-7 weekends a year, but with a handful of other events at the stadium this will only add to the need for good hotel space in downtown Akron.

Events like The Labron James Marathon, which has become huge, The Soap Box Derby, The PGA Golf Tournament, The Alcohol Anonymous Convention, etc. are all events where large amounts of people visit the city, but they choose hotels away from downtown. People are don't get excited about visiting Downtown Akron. I wish Akron would offer some incentives that would attract a multiscreen cinema and some more retail downtown. The focus on downtown living is awesome and will help, but people need something to do. Hopefully the hotel will be spectacular, which will make a difference, as well.

Where is Greystone Hall?  Im not familiar with that one.  Ive also heard rumors that it will be built near the art museum.

Greystone is caddy cornered from the Library and across the street from J.S.K center. Its beautiful on the inside.. that would make a great banquet hall for a new hotel. Oh and I was downtown today and could not find a parking spot. Parking is crazy in Downtown Akron.

I have some inside information.. A minister from the Church I attended in Cincinnati is on the Development board for Hyatt. He has been doing "business" meetings in Akron. Word is that Haytt is trying to work out a deal with the City of Akron, The Knight Center, the Akron Art Museum, and the Public Library on plans to build a Hyatt Regency Hotel accross the street from the Art Museum with a bridge connecting the the Art museum and the Convention center to the hotel as well as a bridge connecting the High/Market parking deck to the Convention center as well. They also would like the city to add on to the parking deck atleast 150 more spaces.

Hmm...interesting...:-)

 

I wonder what will happen to the Radi?

I have some inside information.. A minister from the Church I attended in Cincinnati is on the Development board for Hyatt. He has been doing "business" meetings in Akron. Word is that Haytt is trying to work out a deal with the City of Akron, The Knight Center, the Akron Art Museum, and the Public Library on plans to build a Hyatt Regency Hotel accross the street from the Art Museum with a bridge connecting the the Art museum and the Convention center to the hotel as well as a bridge connecting the High/Market parking deck to the Convention center as well. They also would like the city to add on to the parking deck atleast 150 more spaces.

 

Great - skywalks are always a way to revitalize pedestrian traffic! :roll:

Great - skywalks are always a way to revitalize pedestrian traffic!

 

This place I wouldn't mind there being some skywalks...there is no room for shops and things at any space there, im afraid.

 

It's the REST of them I don't like.

Awsome! Akron seems to be on a roll!

I've heard whispers about this idea to use the parking lot that Quaker Square owned as a hotel.  Perhaps this also adds some revamping to the Knight center.  I think its hard to get too much use out of this relatively new facility when there's so many options throughout Northeast Ohio for convention/exhibition space as well as many good options throughout Akron alone.  Its probably a good thing for a convention center and for a major downtown hotel to have a direct connection to a convention center.

 

It sounds to me that there will be a skywalk going between the convention center and art museum to connect to the Hyatt from the parking deck with branches coming off this to connect to the museum and CC.  This isn't a bad idea to have a skywalk going over 2 busy 1 way roads.  I wonder if this is the $150 million development that is being talked about by University Park Alliance...  They might want to have the Art museum architect Coop Himmelb(l)au design the skywalks to match his wings over museum and perhaps the Hyatt itself..

 

^the busy one way roads are terrible for downtown streetlife and there should be a plan to slow down traffic.

 

there's no reason any downtown should be like a freeway.

It's not downtown, but it's a start...

 

Upscale hotel coming to new Goodyear complex

125-room Wyndham facility to be built across street from technical center

 

By Jim Mackinnon

Beacon Journal business writer

 

POSTED: 11:43 a.m. EDT, Aug 22, 2008

 

A 125-room upscale hotel will become part of the new $900 million Goodyear headquarters complex in East Akron.

 

A Wyndham hotel will be built on land directly across Martha Avenue from where the Goodyear Technical Center sits, executives from the Akron tire company and from developer Industrial Realty Group confirmed to the Beacon Journal.

 

To read more...http://www.ohio.com/news/top_stories/27275379.html

 

 

So any new news? The Radisson City Center went Indie (rumor has it not by choice) and the Quaker Square Inn is also rumored to be doing well...

I have no news on a hotel.  However, there is a lot going on construction-wise on Howard/Main St in Akron.  From the north at the bottom of Howard below St. Thomas Hospital is Cascade Village construction, just before Main St at the Northside Lofts are the new Townhomes being put up.  I believe those are almost all sold out.  Further into downtown are the new apartments and restaurants still being worked on at the Whitelaw building and such by the Civic theater and finally the new student apartments in the 4 story building on Exchange and Main with a new Brubakers bar.  Add in to the mix that all the Metro buses will no longer be convening all together in the center of downtown on Main every hour after this Saturday with the move to the transit center.  This equals a whole lot less chaos downtown.

  I do know of plans to utilize the Selle Generator facility better in the coming months with a new tenant.  To me it would appear Akron's population downtown is rapidly increasing and office vacancy is rapidly decreasing.  The puzzle is that Akron is so spread out its hard to justify downtown hotels when there are nice ones in West Akron(Hilton), Fairlawn, Cuy. Falls(Sheraton), CAK(Garden Hilton?), and many in Stow/Steels Corners area.  There are plans for a new higher end hotel in the Goodyear project.  The only way I can see a new hotel coming downtown is to be slightly linked with the Firestone R&D complex and a new arena downtown in which case a 8-15 story hotel might work quite well. 

  With the banks not wanting to fund risky projects though, the only way this will happen in the next couple years is if the King of Akron wants to help bankroll it. 

 

Trust me, there IS enough business downtown to Generate probably 300-500 rooms downtown. The problem is, the management of both properties over the last several years has turned people away from downtown area, with lack of detail, not selling up the properties strengths, or just plain being cheap.

 

And sans the Sheraton Cuy Falls (which is actually a nice psedo-downtown hotel) I don't want visitors to my hometown thinking the only hotels are cookie-cutter suburban properties.

I would agree the time is ripe to develop a premier downtown Akron hotel.  I suppose a Marriot or Crown Plaza flag would make the most sense and the only place that would work downtown is at the lock 3 property.  However I did find this in the $940 Million Federal handout Akron request, not Billions as had been reported by others.

 

http://www.usmayors.org/mainstreeteconomicrecovery/stimulussurveyparticipantsdata.asp?City=Akron&State=OH

 

 

Akron OH CDBG Construction of a 100 to 110 room hotel next to the Akron/Summit Convention and Visitors Bureau to assist in attracting more conventions $14,000,000          to employ 25 people.

 

So a pretty modest request for a new hotel...   

The space between the Knight center and the art museum would be nice for a stright up and down hotel.. but it would have to have alot of exterior glass features to resemble the blocks designs.. but more space is open on market st where there is currently a surface level parking lot right across from the art museum and a minute from the knight center. I've also heard a rumor that a cinema is in the works with some modern/upscale retail in the vacant lots at rt from market st to rt 59. As mentioned to me a smaller version of the greene in dayton. One can only hope but We shall see.

Talk is dead on this from what I can tell. And now there is no hotel in downtown with national recognition (namesake) 

 

Sad

Don Plusquelic said "I guarantee there will be a major hotel announcement this year in Downtown Akron." That's what he said during his State of the City Address for this year. Of-course, the economy and any number of things may have changed that, but he said it with so much confidence that I'm still optimistic. The economy may have simply delayed some plans.

 

In addition to the events that I mentioned in my post above, we can add The Labron James Bikeathon, The Labron James National 3 on 3 or 4 on 4 (whatever) Championships and the fact that The Knight Center is expandable. With the recent addition of Infocision and a couple other businesses to DT Akron, as well as the Biomedical Corridor; I can see where it would make since to locate a hotel in DT Akron. Expecially since The Crown Plaza is going away.

 

His name is LeBron. Carry on. :-)

Announcement! New hotel in place of 2nd tower with more condos at Northside Lofts basically...  It should be pretty sweet from details!

 

http://www.akronnewsnow.com/news/itemdetail.asp?ID=39947&section=news&subsection=localnews&title=A_New_Hotel_Coming_To_Downtown_Akron_

 

Plans have been unveiled for a new $16 million development in on the north end of Downtown Akron.

 

It's a $16 million, 10-story, 120-room Marriott Courtyard Inn, to be built by the Testa Company.

The new building will sit next to the Northside Lofts and the Vegiterranean Restaurant.  The eatery is owned by Akron rock musician Chrissie Hynde.

 

Announcement! New hotel in place of 2nd tower with more condos at Northside Lofts basically... It should be pretty sweet from details!

 

Obviously the City has no idea what a successful hotel entails. Its more than just a name.  They want to get more people from out of town to come to the convention center.  Most people from out of town do not drive, they fly.  How are they going to walk anywhere from that location?  Good for Luigi's and Vegi T, I guess.

heres a quick map I did showing why it's a bad location.

 

So it's a bad location because it's a block away from the Art Museum and JSK Center?  Not to mention on CVNP Scenic Railway, Towpath Trail, and the front door to CVNP?  It's a bad location becasue it's a Pedi-Cab (yes we have Pedi-Cab service in Akron now) away from the entertainment district and Historic district?

 

I also believe there were plans for a Tunnel connecting Northside to Downtown.

According to a poster on Ohio.com:

 

"As soon as the county welfare department vacates that end of Main Street and goes to Goodyear, the buildings will be demolished and there will be new development there. This is just a first step. Not sure why the city and county don't just say so. People would be happy I think."

 

 

Glad to see more development happening at the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad station area. Should result in some more great synergies.

So it's a bad location because it's a block away from the Art Museum and JSK Center?  Not to mention on CVNP Scenic Railway, Towpath Trail, and the front door to CVNP?  It's a bad location becasue it's a Pedi-Cab (yes we have Pedi-Cab service in Akron now) away from the entertainment district and Historic district?

 

I also believe there were plans for a Tunnel connecting Northside to Downtown.

 

Are you familiar with the area? Its two blocks on a map, but its not pedestrian friendly at all. I highly doubt business people will want to walk that area.  As you can plainly see I highlighted two parking lots that are more than ample to hold the hotel.  In a perfect world that is where they would go, and that is where I was told they were planning on putting it a while back.

 

and a tunnel?  a guy was just shot to death in public in downtown.  you think a buisiness person wants to walk through a tunnel back to the hotel at night after the convention is over?

 

If you noticed its is the same building design slightly tweeked to accomodate hotel rooms. The hotel company didnt have to pay for building documents, topographical specs and such. These were already done by Testa. I'm not sure if it will be leased or owned by the parent company hotel chain. This is not the Hotel that the mayor wants. He wants one next to the convention center and He is still vying for that to happen. This wasnt the mayors push. Testa made this one happen.

There will be other buildings going up over in northside at the same time or just after this hotel.

 

and as for the tunnel idea.. very stupid. I dont even like the part of the towpath trail that goes into downtown when it turns into a semi-tunnel.. easy place to get mugged even in broad daylight.. I'd rather see a creative pedestrian bridge from two future buildings on either side of rt 59.  One centered in northside and one where the summa parking lot it... or just make rt 59 a tunnel and connect it to rt 8 as a interchange bypass and build over top..

^Agreed for most part.  I usually just walk on the little path over the tracks from Northside to get downtown.  It is hardly an arduous adventure to get over to Crave, Musica, or the art museum from there.

 

That intersection scores the top composite score in the 2 county area for crashes.  That data was over 2006-2008 when the lofts were just being built. (See table 2 on page 10 - http://www.ci.akron.oh.us/amats/pdf-temps/2006-08%20Traffic%20Crashes%20Technical%20Memorandum.pdf)  I'm sure 70+% of it has to deal with the dramatic speed drop that is needed as "America's loneliest highway" abruptly ends.

 

Hopefully AMATS will look at burying a couple lanes of 59 so that it can get past under Main St and under the Y-bridge before popping out onto MLK/Perkins.

^Agreed for most part. I usually just walk on the little path over the tracks from Northside to get downtown. It is hardly an arduous adventure to get over to Crave, Musica, or the art museum from there.

 

That intersection scores the top composite score in the 2 county area for crashes. That data was over 2006-2008 when the lofts were just being built. (See table 2 on page 10 - http://www.ci.akron.oh.us/amats/pdf-temps/2006-08%20Traffic%20Crashes%20Technical%20Memorandum.pdf) I'm sure 70+% of it has to deal with the dramatic speed drop that is needed as "America's loneliest highway" abruptly ends.

 

Hopefully AMATS will look at burying a couple lanes of 59 so that it can get past under Main St and under the Y-bridge before popping out onto MLK/Perkins.

 

 

If they would let me I'd grab a shovel and start burying rt 59 myself. Not much of a fan of using the interchange between 7am to 9 am or 4pm to 6pm. It is easier to get off at perkins sometimes and get on mlk.. now if only when I did that I wouldnt have to stop.. hmm

I heard that the pedestrian bridge was pretty much a go.  Don't know when though.

Anyone know anything about when construction is suppose to start? I thought it was suppose to be late Fall 2010...

As far as additional hotel space is concerned, UA will be running a hotel for an indefinite time and into the foreseeable future. They will not terminate their hotel business at Quaker Square after two years as originally planned. So, with the new "Testa" hotel, downtown should be just fine without any additional hotel space.

I drove by the site yesterday. No movement on construction, they don't even have a project sign up.

I drove by there today and there were a couple utility trucks in front as well as an excavator. It looked like they were marking utility lines, so hopefully they will start moving some ground!

What a difference a day makes, ha.

I guess they are still trying to rangle funding for the building. My only guess as to why they made the announcement without full funding was to try and drum up some more interest / investors.

So is the mayors plan for a hotel next to the convention center dead? I nice 8-12 story building would fit great in the parking areas between the knight center and the art museum. Add another level to the high street parking deck and you take care of parking basically

I don't think it's dead. Around the time that the Northside hotel was announced I had asked around a little about the site you are referring to. I heard that they were still trying to find someone for that site. I think the Northside hotel was not something that the city necessarily sought out, but more the developer did.

Could someone take photos of the Northside hotel site construction? I'd love to see what's going on down there. Thanks!

Nothing is happening right now... I think the developers were waiting to see if the BioInnovation Institute about a block away received all the funding they had requested (which they did and renovations are under way to create a new headquarters).

Last month the city made public a proposal bid request for a new hotel to be located near the convention center. The deadline for proposals is the 10th of this month. The city has made available land it owns for development of this hotel. The four city owned sites are:

 

1) Surface lot between Knight center and Akron Art Museum

2) Empty lot at the corner of Main and Mill streets

3) Mill street surface lot across from Quaker Square surface parking

4) Greystone building and surface lot

 

Site pictures and more info available at the City of Akron website.

http://www.ci.akron.oh.us/ed/

 

 

 

Is this taking place of the marriott courtyard that is suppose to go next to north side? Has anyone heard anything about it?

Is this taking place of the marriott courtyard that is suppose to go next to north side? Has anyone heard anything about it?

 

This is a new hotel venture by the city. The courtyard in northside is a done deal and construction is soon coming.

Good to hear! I wasn't sure what was going on since they announced last summer the new hotel would begin going up in the fall of 2010.

I was back in town for the weekend, apparently the city center hotel is now...The Ramada Plaza Hotel.