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A rendering of the new Kimpton Hotel, set to open later this year in the historic Schofield Building on the corner of East Ninth Street and Euclid Avenue in downtown Cleveland. (Rendering courtesy of Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants)

(Courtesy Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants)

CLEVELAND, Ohio - Cleveland's Kimpton Hotel will open in the second half of this year, says Brian Intihar, vice president of CRM Real Estate Services, which is developing the property at the southwest corner of East Ninth Street and Euclid Avenue.

"Everything is coming together," he said. "It's been a labor of love for a number of years."

The project has been in the works since 2009 at the historic Schofield Building, built in 1902 and designed by local architect and sculptor Levi Scofield, a Civil War veteran who also designed Cleveland's Soldiers' and Sailors' Monument and the Ohio State Reformatory in Mansfield.

Restoring the original brick facade - which was covered with metal in the 1960s - has proven to be particularly time consuming.

The 122-room hotel - a name for it has not been determined - will feature a restaurant, though Mike DeFrino, CEO for Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants, couldn't say whether the restaurant would be Kimpton operated.

"Cleveland will also offer all of our well-known amenities from a nightly hosted wine hour to complimentary bikes and yoga mats," he said.

He said of the location: "The Schofield building is in the heart of Cleveland's business district, on 9th and Euclid, within easy access to popular landmarks and attractions like Quicken Loans Arena and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. It's in a prime location to experience everything Cleveland has to offer."

In recent years, Kimpton has branched out from major city centers, as demand for boutique-style properties has increased.

"Our interest really piques when there's a market that's on the cusp of transformation and revitalization - both Cleveland and Pittsburgh have that unique draw," said DeFrino. "These are up-and-coming destinations our guest want to travel to and we're excited to introduce our brand to a new audience."

Intihar said he and his partners sought out Kimpton to operate the property in part because of the chain's commitment to historic renovations.

Among Kimpton's historic makeovers: The former Tariff Building in Washington, D.C., built in 1839 and now a Hotel Monaco.

CRM also was drawn to Kimpton because of the hotel chain's devoted, almost cult-like following, said Intihar.

The Kimpton chain, with 64 properties in 30 cities, is largely credited with launching the boutique hotel movement, popular in Europe for decades, in the United States in the 1980s.

"When we first appeared on the scene in the '80s, 'boutique' and 'lifestyle,' was a little-known concept in the U.S.," said DeFrino. "Now, its appeal is in unprecedented demand everywhere we look. Boutique is the hottest buzz word in the industry."