Uptown
The Marketplace is a proposed hotel and entertainment district to be located adjacent to the Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex in downtown Birmingham. The $70 million project would be developed by National Ventures Group LLC of Atlanta, Georgia with $57 million in public bonds issued by the BJCC authority and backed by an extension of the city's existing 14% lodging tax, with no additional incentives from the city.
The project is set to include 303-room Westin Hotel and space for as many as 20 restaurants, nightclubs, retailers and other tenants. The 10 or 11-story hotel would be owned and operated by the BJCC through its existing contract with Starwood Hotels, operator of the Sheraton Birmingham. The two hotels would share a back-office.
National Ventures hired Rabun Rasche Rector Reece Architects of Atlanta to design the project. The developer hopes to break ground in November 2010 and to open the hotel in 2012.
See also
- The Forge, an unbuilt proposal for the same site
References
- DeButts, Jimmy (March 26, 2010) "Lodging tax extension eyed to spur entertainment district." Birmingham Business Journal
- Tomberlin, Michael (May 2, 2010) "$70 million hotel, retail plan proposed near Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex." Birmingham News
- Bryant, Joseph D. (May 10, 2010) "Birmingham Mayor William Bell to unveil hotel, retail BJCC plans." Birmingham News
- Bryant, Joseph D. (June 9, 2010) "Developer shows new sketches of proposed Westin Hotel." Birmingham News