WESTLAKE, TEXAS — Hillwood and The Howard Hughes Corp. (NYSE: HHC) have launched a 130-acre mixed-use development at Circle T Ranch, a 2,500-acre master planned community in Westlake that is part of the larger 18,000-acre AllianceTexas development. The project, which is situated at the junction of State Highways 114 and 170, will include more than 2 million square feet of office, retail and entertainment space and will be anchored by the 500,000-square-foot corporate campus for Charles Schwab Corp. The planned mixed-use development will include 1.2 million square feet of combined Class A mid-rise office space with retail and entertainment uses, as well as a 200-room hotel and residential options. The project will also include land for parks, open space and creeks. Nature trails and a fitness center in the retail district will offer individuals additional health and fitness options.
Hospitality
NORMAN, OKLA. — The four-story Best Western Plus Norman has opened at 3100 Medical Park Place. Located adjacent to the Norman Regional HealthPlex, the 116-room hotel includes seven extended-stay suites with kitchenettes. Amenities include a 700-square-foot conference center, fitness center, heated outdoor pool, grilling area and an electric car charging station. Designated as a rider-friendly hotel in Best Western’s national partnership with Harley-Davidson, the hotel also features a bike wash station. Developed and operated by Wichita, Kan.-based Hospitality Management LLC, a Martens Co., the $13 million project employs 25 people. Linsey Kennedy is the hotel’s general manager, and Jodi Helms-Jones is director of sales. This is Hospitality Management’s third Best Western property and its fourth hotel overall. The company operates the Best Western and EconoLodge hotels in Blackwell, Okla., as well as the Best Western Plus in Arkansas City, Kan. Wichita-based Krehbiel Architecture and Conco Construction handled the design and build of the project.
ASHEVILLE, N.C. — Hilton Worldwide has opened Hilton Garden Inn Asheville Downtown, its 700th Hilton Garden Inn hotel worldwide. The 140-room hotel is located at 309 College St., within walking distance of Pack Square, art galleries, breweries and shopping. The hotel will feature a rooftop bar, 24-hour convenience store called The Pavilion Pantry and a farm-to-table restaurant called Iron Hen Cafe. Other amenities include complimentary Wi-Fi access, a 24-hour business center, fitness center, indoor swimming pool and spa. Winston-Salem, N.C.-based Quality Oil Co. LLC manages the Hilton Garden Inn Asheville Downtown, which joins Hilton Garden Inns operating in all 50 states and in 31 countries.
BURLINGTON, MASS. — Nordblom Co. has completed the disposition of a hotel development site with the 3rd Ave development, an urban, retail-walking street lined with restaurants, cafes, retail boutiques connected with pedestrian walkways and public green space in Burlington, a suburb of Boston. The site will be home to Massachusetts’ first Archer Hotel, a new collection of boutique hotels with locations in New York City, Napa, Calif., and Austin, Texas. The new hotel will feature 147 rooms. Denny Meikleham and Alan Suzuki of HFF represented the seller in the transaction.
ROCKVILLE CENTRE, N.Y. — Q10|New York Realty Advisors has arranged a $7.5 million permanent loan for Best Western Mill River Manor, located at 173 Sunrise Highway in Rockville Centre. The 10-year non-recourse loan features a 4 percent interest rate for the first five years. The full-service hotel features a banquet facility, on-site parking and a swimming pool. Jeanne Cronin and Zeev Douek of Q10 secured the financing for the undisclosed borrower.
CHICAGO — Laurus Corp. has completed a $7.6 million renovation of the 362-room Chicago Renaissance O’Hare Suites Hotel. The 15-story building features a restaurant and bar, Starbucks coffee shop, business center, fitness center, indoor heated pool, whirlpool spa, 13 conference suites, a 5,000-square-foot ballroom and approximately 21,500 square feet of meeting and event space. The hotel is located at 8500 W. Bryn Mawr Ave.
DALLAS — Drever Capital Management has announced the new name for 1401 Elm St., a 50-story, 1.5 million-square-foot tower occupying an entire city block in the Dallas central business district. The building, originally the First National Bank of Dallas, will now be known as The Drever. The building is being redeveloped into a combination of residential, hotel, spa, retail, office and restaurants with an expected delivery date of 2018. The building’s entrance faces Elm Street and is bordered by Akard Street, Pacific Avenue and North Field Street. Project specifics include a planned 236-room hotel, 27 floors of multifamily with 348 residential rental units, office space, a spa and wellness center, restaurants and entertainment options. On-site amenities for The Drever will include an outdoor terrace rooftop deck, infinity pool, fire pits, fitness center, dog concierge, dog park and public art throughout the interior and exterior of the building. When completed, the eight-story base of the tower will include more than 27,000 square feet of ground-floor retail space, 44,000-square-feet of office space, the hotel, residents’ lobbies and a ballroom. A wraparound amenity deck with sightlines to surrounding buildings, including a pool, a spa and exercise room, will be on the ninth floor. …
BOSTON — Claremont Brookline Suites has opened the Homewood Suites by Hilton Boston/Brookline. Located at 111 Bolyston St., the 130-suite hotel features an indoor pool, fitness center and complimentary hot breakfast. Claremont Brookline Suites developed and owns the property.
MIAMI — Hilton Worldwide and Baptist Health South Florida have signed a franchise license agreement to open Hilton Miami/Dadeland, a 184-room hotel located on the Baptist Hospital campus in Miami. Interstate Hotels and Resorts will operate the hotel, which is slated to open at 9100 N. Kendall Drive in late 2018. CallisonRTKL Inc. designed the hotel, which will feature Cuban tile and pineapple-themed wall art and textiles, which complements the motifs of the Baptist Hospital campus. The hotel will feature a 6,200-square-foot ballroom, 2,000 square feet of meeting space, 24/7 business center and a health and wellness center with a fitness room and heated outdoor pool.
SAN ANTONIO — Homewood Suites by Hilton San Antonio Airport is now open. Baywood Hotels Inc. developed and owns the 112-room property, which is located at 8531 Broadway St. The hotel offers studio and one-bedroom units, featuring fully equipped kitchens and separate living and sleeping areas. Guests also receive a complimentary breakfast, evening social Monday through Thursday, Wi-Fi access and grocery shopping service. Community amenities include a fitness center and indoor pool, and the hotel provides a free shuttle service within a three-mile radius.