NORMAL, IL—CA Ventures and Tartan Realty Group have just begun Phase 1 construction on One Uptown on the Circle, a multi-phased mixed-use retail and hotel project in the Central Illinois city of Normal. The partners will first construct a 114-room Hyatt Place Hotel. Plans for Phase II include a mixed-use retail and restaurant space, apartments and heated lower grade parking.

The new project will occupy a location on the 'Circle,' the focal point of Normal's new “Uptown” neighborhood. The area already includes Uptown Station, a new high-speed multi-transit station, the recently-opened Illinois State University Art Gallery, children's museum, farmer's markets and festival space. The municipality and private corporations have already invested more than $150 million.

“The Circle embodies Normal's commitment to growing a new kind of community for Central Illinois and the addition of One Uptown will only add to its vitality,” says Normal Mayor Chris Koos.

The $27 million Phase I project includes an eight-story tower which will house the Hyatt and 1,600-square-feet of retail space. The select-service hotel, across the street from a Marriott Hotel and Conference Center, will also have a 2,300-square-foot outdoor terrace connected to a 1,500-square-foot meeting and event space. Although Hyatt Place has a prototype design, One Uptown will add a two-story public space, bringing transparency to the ground floor.

Officials from the joint venture say they decided to build a new venue in Normal partly due to the area's new high-speed rail transportation system. It has increased traffic and created a positive economic impact, they say. And with only one other hotel in the area, there was a need for more lodging options.

“The additional Hyatt Place rooms create the opportunity to handle larger bookings, thus bringing in more visitors to the area,” says Doug Reichl, owner of Chicago-based Tartan. “In addition, the new multi-model station will make it more convenient for the convention travelers to visit.”