Groundbreaking for $25 Million Hampton Inn Expected Soon, Latest Hotel in Growing Crossroads District Market

By Kevin Collison

A seven-story Hampton Inn hotel on the northeast corner of 16th and Main is expected to start construction in October, a project that is reinforcing the Crossroads reputation as the hip place to stay downtown.

“It’s a perfect fit, right on the streetcar and near the incredible restaurants in the Crossroads,” said Leif Busby, a representative of the project developer, Windsor Aughtry of Greenville, S.C.

“I can’t overstate what a neat area that is and we’ll also be in close proximity to the Power & Light District. When we were touring Kansas City with our lenders, they said we only have one criticism, ‘we didn’t know it was that cool of city.'”

The 132-room Hampton will be built on property currently used as a surface parking lot. It is one block from the new 261-room Courtyard Marriott/Residence Inn at 1535 Baltimore, and two blocks from the planned 800-room convention hotel at 16th and Wyandotte.

It’s also near the 112-room Home2Suites by Hilton at 20th and Main, and the 125-room Aparium Hotel Group project at 21st and Broadway, both under construction.

Busby said his firm explored doing a project in downtown Kansas City for seven years before moving forward. The $25 million project is being done without tax incentives. It will include retail space along 16th and Main streets.

“We wanted to be on the south side of downtown close to entertainment and with easy access to the central business district,” he said. “Our model is we want to be in a city that’s revitalizing.”

The vehicle entrance for will be off Main behind the hotel and then exit into the alley to 16th Street.

The Hampton Inn will have a pedestrian entrance off Main Street. The vehicle access will be off Main and behind the hotel, with the exit through the alley onto 16th Street. Parking for 100 cars will be available on the southeast corner of 16th and Main.

Busby said the hotel caters to both business and recreation travelers. A complimentary breakfast is included with the stay. He added a number of the rooms will feature balconies.

“We think the architecture bridges the gap between the high-rise business of downtown, and the art galleries and residences in the Crossroads,” he said.

The developer believes there will be a good market for all the new hotel rooms coming on line in the Crossroads area and downtown in general.

“We think it’s a growing market and will bring in new business over the next 10 years,” Busby said. “We feel our hotel fill a niche, it’s a new-build, and guests like that.”

Once construction begins, completion is expected in 16- to 18 months.