Concord to Build Ohio Marriott Hotel

COLUMBUS—The City of Westerville, a northeastern suburb, has just secured an agreement with Concord Hospitality to build a full-service Marriott Renaissance hotel and conference center at Westar Place, the site formerly known as ALTAIR Business Park. Municipal officials also say that Continental Realty/Continental Real Estate will act as their development consultant and brokerage team for the site, a 62-acre tract located east of I-71 along Polaris Parkway acquired by the city in May for commercial development.

Since then the city has worked closely with planners, developers and economic advisors to plan for office and retail development, as well as hotel and conference space along the underdeveloped portions of the Westar area. The land sits between Cleveland Ave. and Africa Rd. south of Polaris, an area already home to several corporate headquarters and businesses in the health care, technology and financial services sectors.

Officials expect these developments will attract more than 3,000 jobs to Westerville and add up to one-million-square-feet class A office space. The proposed Renaissance hotel and conference center will be the centerpiece of this effort. Concord will also operate the hotel and expects to begin construction in 2015.

"The Westar Place project is a great example of the kind of strategically planned, well-balanced mixed-use urban development that considers the current needs of the community and the projected demands of future generations," says Mark Laport, president and chief executive officer of Concord. "Renaissance is the right combination of a familiar brand with best-in-class traveler amenities and distinctive design that I believe will resonate well with the community and help attract businesses to this visionary town center."

According to Laport, the eight-story, 224-room hotel will feature nearly 20,000-square-feet of meeting and convention space for the businesses that will locate in the development. The full-service hotel also will offer the in-room dining options, as well as a three-meal restaurant. Furthermore, Concord will design it to meet LEED standards.