These computer-generated “collective views” show the approximate shape of the new hotel planned for West Front Street from various angles. The 140-room development is expected to cost approximately $62 million.
This aerial photo shows the location of a new “luxury boutique hotel” planned for West Front Street in Traverse City. Yellow lines indicate property lines.
TRAVERSE CITY – A new 140-room “luxury boutique hotel” is coming to West Front Street in Traverse City.
The four-story building will occupy a long vacant lot between the Record Eagle office building and J&S Hamburg. The name or brand of the new hotel has not yet been announced.
Great Lakes Capital, a private equity development firm based in South Bend, Indiana, expects construction to begin in the third quarter of 2025 and a grand opening in early 2027. The project is expected to cost approximately $62 million.
“Despite the region being a year-round tourist destination, there is tremendous unmet demand for luxury hotels,” GLC officials said in a slide presentation.
“Taking advantage of GLC’s hospitality department and Traverse City’s passionate foodie scene, the hotel will feature an outstanding signature restaurant, French cafe, private whiskey club and outdoor space along the river.”
Openings, closings, acquisitions, relocations, and other updates from the Grand Traverse Area business community:
A variety of event and meeting spaces are also included in the hotel’s plans. A parking space will be provided under the building.
Eric Helzer of Advanced Redevelopment Solutions presented an update on the hotel plans at the Grand Traverse County Brownfield Redevelopment Authority’s Thursday morning meeting.
GLC is also working on projects with global engineering firm TRC and various government agencies.
environmental purification
The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy has determined that the soil and water on the site are contaminated from past business use. The second phase of EGLE’s environmental site assessment was largely completed this summer.
One of the previous occupants of the site, Grand Traverse Auto, had underground storage tanks that may have leaked oil into the soil. Founded in 1911 by Milton Bryant, Henry Ford’s brother-in-law, the car dealership moved from downtown Traverse City in 1996. It was sold in March 2009 to Fox Grand Traverse in Garfield Township.
Officials said contaminants from a nearby downtown dry cleaning store may have leached into the hotel’s groundwater.
Officials said the new hotel will likely have a vapor mitigation system built into the building itself.
“EGLE has completed most of the soil and groundwater testing,” said Anne Jamieson Urena, Brownfield Redevelopment Agency Director. “Under the proposed schedule, restoration work is expected to begin next spring.”
Because of these contamination issues, the site is considered a “brownfield” for redevelopment, and authorities are involved.
Earlier this year, the Brownfield Redevelopment Authority applied for an EGLE “grant/loan agreement” on behalf of the developer to pay for site cleanup costs.
GLC’s other collaborators on the hotel project include global engineering firm TRC and various government agencies.
Not all brownfield projects involve contaminated sites. Some properties are simply run-down or functionally outdated.
The Brownfield Redevelopment Authority’s goal is to facilitate the redevelopment of these properties in Grand Traverse County, address contamination cleanup, and facilitate the creation of new jobs and employment opportunities.
hotel construction boom
Hundreds of new hotel rooms are planned or currently under construction in Grand Traverse County, from East Bay Township to the commercial corridor along Route 31 in Garfield Township.
Officials estimate there are already more than 5,000 hotel rooms and short-term rental accommodations in the Traverse City metropolitan area.
East Bay Township’s newly rebranded “Beach District” has one of the highest concentrations of hotels, motels, condominium complexes and hotel development in the state, with the largest concentration of hotels, motels, condominium complexes and hotel developments in Michigan, excluding the City of Mackinaw. More per capita than any other region in the North.
And the building boom continues.
Two new hotels are planned for the property next to the Traverse City Tourism Bureau at 101 W. Grandview Parkway, across from Open Space and Clinch Park Marina.
The other will be built on vacant land between Traverse City State Park and Hampton Inn.
past experience
Founded in 2005, Great Lakes Capital has extensive experience building luxury hotel properties under a variety of hotel brands, including Autograph by Marriott and Hilton Tapestry.
Five such hotel projects are currently underway in Muskegon, Michigan. Omaha, Nebraska. Rogers, Arkansas. and Cedar Park, Texas.
GLC also invests in multifamily housing, industrial buildings, mixed-use developments, offices, and medical/life science facilities.
Since its inception, the company has completed more than $7 billion in commercial real estate investments, according to its website.
