Thousands of apartments, thousands of square feet of new retail space and millions of square feet of office space are all under construction in Uptown and the surrounding areas right now. It’s a clear indicator of how fast this city is growing and will continue to grow.
Another market is booming with construction as well: Hotels.
The market has taken a hit lately with tons of event cancellations, but that’s an argument for a different time. The fact of the matter is the future seems bright for this market. Uptown and its surrounding areas (especially South End) need more hotel rooms. It’s a constant source of feedback for the city and its event planners.
Well luckily developers have taken notice and are helping the city out. Let’s take a look at whats planned and is already under construction.
Under Construction:
Springhill Suites
Description: All suites hotel
Location: 5th Street and Light Rail (across from the Spectrum Center)
Number of rooms: 195
Cool features: Funky and unique design. Cool rail and street presence. Solid infill project
Planned completion: Q1 2017
AC Hotel
Description: Upscale/swanky hotel with great views
Location: EpiCentre
Number of rooms: 184
Cool features: INCREDIBLE rooftop bar. AC Lounge on the 5th floor. Solid tower design/skyline compliment
Planned completion: Q3 2017
Photo courtesy of McKibbon Hotel Group and Vision Ventures
Residence Inn
Description: Same as the other Residence Inn just with a high rise feel
Location: EpiCentre
Number of rooms: 116
Cool features: See AC Hotel
Planned completion: See AC Hotel
Kimpton
Courtesy of OxBlue
Description: Bringing some boutique to CLT (along with the Ivey’s), Kimptons are known for their unique interior design, attention to detail and impeccable service.
Location: Church and 3rd
Number of rooms: 216
Cool features: Best design for a hotel in the city. INCREDIBLE rooftop bar. Ground floor restaurant/bar. Amazing presence overlooking Romare Bearden Park and Third Ward
Planned completion: Q3-Q4 2017
Embassy Suites
Description: All suite hotel. Fancy.
Location: Caldwell, Brevard and MLK
Number of rooms: 250
Cool features: Fancy first floor bar. Two retail spots (Suki Akor is taking of them).
Planned completion: Q4 2016
Ivey’s Boutique Hotel
Photo via CBRE
Description: Bringing some boutique to CLT (along with the Kimpton), the rooms here are going to be top of the line. Love the fact that it’s essentially a hidden hotel.
Location: 5th and Tryon
Number of rooms: 42
Cool features: Sprucing up 5th Street sidewalk. Sprucing up the Ivey’s building. Adding 8,500 square feet of retail.
Planned completion: Q4 2016
That’s all for under construction. Next up is what is planned. Some are still way far out, some may be happening sooner than you think (they are in no particular order).
Tryon Place
Description: Not too much is known other than it will complement the incredible Tryon Place project
Location: Stonewall and Tryon
Number of rooms: Up to 300
Cool features: TBA
Planned completion: TBA
Kimpton II
Description: Much needed South End hotel. Second Kimpton location.
Location: Cleveland and Worthington
Number of rooms: 128
Cool features: Restaurant. Rooftop bar.
Planned completion: TBA
S Tryon – South End hotel
Description: Much needed South End hotel.
Location: Tryon and Kingston
Number of rooms: 120
Cool features: Complimentary corner to the Wilmore neighborhood. Approximately 4,000 square feet of retail. Solid street presence.
Planned completion: 2017
Home2Suites
Description: All suites hotel
Location: Caldwell/South, Stonewall (next to the Whole Foods)
Number of rooms: 156
Cool features: Lots of retail
Planned completion: 2018
Crescent Stonewall Station Hotel II
Description: Second hotel on the Stonewall Station/Whole Foods site
Location: Caldwell/South, 277 (next to the Whole Foods and South of the Home2Suites)
Number of rooms: TBA
Cool features: TBA
Planned completion: TBA
West Elm Hotel
Description: Much needed South End hotel.
Location: Site bounded by Camden, Tryon, Worthington and West (on part the parking lot)
Number of rooms: 150
Cool features: Restaurant/bar, hotel café, rooftop space
Planned completion: 2018
Observer Site
Description: This project will no doubt have a hotel of some kind
Location: Observer Site (Tryon, 277, Mint and Stonewall)
Number of rooms: Potential for 1,000
Cool features: I’m sure a lot.
Planned completion: TBA
Planned – Hopefully in our lifetimes
Carolina Theater Hotel
Description: Super luxury hotel on top of the Carolina Theater renovation (if that ever gets started, yeesh)
Location: 6th and Tryon
Number of rooms: 200
Cool features: Incredible tower design and skyline addition
Planned completion: TBA
EVEN Hotel – Brooklyn Village
Description: Fitness focused hotel brand.
Location: S Alexander and Stonewall
Number of rooms: 150
Cool features: TBA
Planned completion: TBA
Staybridge Suites – Brooklyn Village
Description: All suites hotel
Location: MLK and McDowell
Number of rooms: 150
Cool Features: TBA
Planned completion: TBA
Grand Bohemian
Description: High End boutique hotel
Location: Church and Trade
Number of rooms: Approximately 150
Cool features: Art Gallery. Rooftop bar.
Planned completion: TBA
Canopy by Hilton
Description: Dual branded hotel
Location: First Ward somewhere
Number of rooms: TBA
Cool features: TBA
Planned completion: TBA
Homewood Suites
Description: See Canopy
Location: First Ward somewhere
Number of rooms: TBA
Cool features: TBA
Planned completion: TBA
As you can see, there are a lot of hotels in the works. It’s fantastic for this city and will surely boost our tourism presence. I hope to put a lot of the “planned” ones in the “under construction” section soon. I also really like that a common theme amongst them is adding rooftop bars. Needed.
