Downtown Tucson Convention Hotel Project Competed for by Seven Developers

In what's hoped to be a revitalizing spark for downtown Tucson, seven developers have submitted plans to the City to build a more-than-700-room convention center hotel.

Possible Future Downtown Tucson Development Map

In what would be a milestone for the future of Downtown Tucson, city officials anticipate the hotel would draw more conventions to the area. The added profitability from these conventions would help pay off the proposed 12,300-seat arena planned nearby.

Assistant to the City Manager, Jaret Barr, who's heading the selection process, attributed the developers' interest to two factors.

1) There are few locations nationwide that include 40 acres in an urban downtown right near a major highway.

2) The extreme shortage of Downtown hotel rooms.

Tax-exempt financing will be instrumental in the construction of the hotel which would include convention and ballroom space, a spa, restaurants and retail shops.

Barr mentioned a soon-to-be-named five-member selection panel will narrow the field of seven for the official bidding process. Here are the competing developers and their proposals:

–Phelps Development LLC/Hilton Hotels: expand the existing Hotel Arizona to more than 700 rooms with a new 30-story tower.

–Downtown landowner Allan Norville and JW Marriott Starr Pass Resort and Spa Developer Chris Ansley/Marriott: hotel, offices, restaurants, shopping and a gem museum in the area between the TCC and I-10.

–Southwest Value Partners, a real estate investment firm founded by Phoenix Suns owner Robert Sarver, and Park Place Mall owner General Growth/Intercontinental Hotels: hotel and retail development west of TCC.

–Bourn Partners: no hotel; redevelop La Placita Village.

–Gaylord Hotels: hotel west of the TCC, and the company takes over operating TCC.

–Dallas-based Garfield Traub Development/Sheraton: hotel and retail west of TCC.

–Faulkner USA, of Austin, Texas/Hyatt: hotel on public land near the TCC.