The District signs deal for a riverfront hotel on the Southbank

[thelakelander]

The developers behind The District — an ambitious mega-development with a Zen-like ethos planned for Jacksonville's Southbank — inked a deal this week for a hotel with up to 200 rooms, which would make it the first riverfront hotel constructed in downtown since 2001.

Impact Properties, a Florida hotel builder and operator that does business with Marriott and Starwood branded hotels, has signed a sale and purchase agreement with The District team and put down a deposit. The hotel — whose brand wasn't disclosed — is in the design phase.

The hotel "will have a very cool and edgy vibe," said Michael Munz, a partner in The District. "It's not a brand that is in Jacksonville at this time."

Full article: http://jacksonville.com/news/metro/2017-07-13/district-signs-deal-riverfront-hotel-southbank

[Jim]

Not a current brand.   What mid-tier brands that we do not have would make a good fit there?

[Adam White]

The developers behind The District — an ambitious mega-development with a Zen-like ethos planned for Jacksonville's Southbank — inked a deal this week for a hotel with up to 200 rooms, which would make it the first riverfront hotel constructed in downtown since 2001.

Impact Properties, a Florida hotel builder and operator that does business with Marriott and Starwood branded hotels, has signed a sale and purchase agreement with The District team and put down a deposit. The hotel — whose brand wasn't disclosed — is in the design phase.

The hotel "will have a very cool and edgy vibe," said Michael Munz, a partner in The District. "It's not a brand that is in Jacksonville at this time."

Full article: http://jacksonville.com/news/metro/2017-07-13/district-signs-deal-riverfront-hotel-southbank

Yes, I'm sure its ethos is very "Zen-like". When I think "Zen", I think "commercial development". The two go hand-in-hand.

[thelakelander]

Not a current brand.   What mid-tier brands that we do not have would make a good fit there?

They have 30 brands and quite a few that aren't in Jax. If I had to guess, something like an AC Hotels probably fits the vibe the District is striving for. I don't think that brand has a presence in the area.

[ProjectMaximus]

I was thinking EVEN Hotel which had been rumored for Brooklyn awhile back and is a wellness-focused hotel brand. But they are with IHG so would be a departure from Starwood/Marriott.

[Jim]

Home2 Suites looks to have more under construction than currently operating.  That kind of expansions is aggressive.  I'm starting to think that's a high likely candidate.

[jaxjags]

Why not dream big - W Hotel.

[pierre]

Will we all live long enough to see it built?

[Steve]

I could go on forever on this one as Starwood Preferred Guest is my go-to loyalty program, with Marriott as my backup....

Of the 30 Marriott/Starwood hotel brands that aren't in the area (counting Ritz-Carlton @ Amelia and Renaissance @ WGV as in the area):

(Pre-Merger Marriott)
Editon
Bvlgari (sort of Marriott)
JW Marriott
Delta
Gaylord
Protea
AC
Moxy

(Pre-Merger Starwood)
St. Regis
W
Westin
Le Meridien
Element

Some of my feeling has to do with the fact that I can't fathom Marriott keeping all 30 brands once the integration is complete (and at this point it appears nowhere close). If it's a select service (Courtyard Marriott, Four Points Sheraton type), My money is on AC, Element, or Moxy (in that order). If it's a full service, my money is on Westin, Delta, or Moxy (in that order). I'd love a W but I can't see a W happening before a Westin.

[thelakelander]

Will we all live long enough to see it built?

Lol, I see the begin construction date has been pushed back to 2018. So it will probably be 2020 at best before anything is completed at The District. Let's hope the economy doesn't fall into a down cycle by then.

[thelakelander]

Westin....back in the day, that was the hotel brand proposed for the Riverwatch site. We ended up with a parking garage instead of the Westin and Cameron Kuhn's Riverwatch Tower.

[KenFSU]

Interesting to note that the District already has a letter of intent signed with a movie theater, is closing in on one with an office tenet, and is in talks with a grocery chain as well. Sounds like a pretty good start to me.

It's also been interesting to see how closely Munz and Rummell's plans mirror those of Shad Khan's across the river at the Shipyards (hotel, entertainment, dining, residential, marina, office space).

In the event that both are eventually built out, it will be interesting to see how if they synergize or cannibalize each other.

[JaxAvondale]

My guess is that it will be the new West Elm hotel concept.

https://www.hospitalitynet.org/news/4078485.html

[thelakelander]

I don't believe West Elm is a Marriott/Starwood brand or has an association with Impact Hotels. Why do you think that will be the brand?

[MusicMan]

Has 'The District' broken ground on it's own buildings yet?