International hotel brand plans downtown location

International hotel brand plans downtown location

Madrid-based AC Hotels by Marriott says its guests “experience essential European-inspired style.” Photo via fb.com

A commercial real estate firm has confirmed plans for an international hotel chain in one of its downtown buildings.

Sam Cummings, managing partner of Grand Rapids-based CWD Real Estate Investment, confirmed the firm will lease part of the building at 50 Monroe Ave. NW to AHC+Hospitality for a 130-room hotel, AC Hotels by Marriott.

The Business Journal confirmed with AC Hotels officials last year the brand planned to open a hotel in Grand Rapids by 2018.

Cummings said the project will head to Michigan Brownfield Authority on Feb. 8 and hopes to have full approval by March, resulting in construction beginning this spring and possibly being completed in 2018.

Cummings said the exterior of the building will be restored to as close to original as possible, which is a century old and was covered with panels in the 1980s.

The hotel will have a bar and breakfast. It will not have a restaurant.

AC Hotels

Founded in 1998, AC Hotels has more than 80 locations in Europe, North America and Central America.

Marriott acquired the brand in 2011, and AC Hotels opened its first U.S. location in New Orleans in 2014.

American AC Hotels are in markets such as Boston, Chicago and Washington, D.C.

50 Monroe

CWD purchased the building in 2012 and plans for a hotel on the site first emerged three years ago.

Originally, a new building was planned for the property’s parking lot on Louis Street NW, but Cummings said the existing building is mostly vacant and in good condition. He said there are still hopes to develop on the parking lot in the future.

Plans include separating the property, including a west building, which will keep the 50 Monroe address and contain the AC Hotel.

The east portion of the building will remain office space and receive a new Ottawa Avenue address. Current tenant Town Square Media will remain as anchor tenant.

Frederick Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park may collaborate to bring a piece of art to the project, according to a December Grand Rapids Design Team agenda.