Downtown Columbus' newest hotel will be a 12-story, upscale building in the Hilton chain. The Downtown Commission today approved plans for a new Canopy by Hilton hotel at 77 E. Nationwide Blvd. The 168-room hotel will replace a two-story HER real estate building and feature a rooftop bar. The new hotel, which will cost $36 million to $40 million, will be sandwiched in between the Lofts and the Crowne Plaza hotels.

Downtown Columbus� newest hotel will be a 12-story, upscale building in the Hilton chain.



The Downtown Commission today approved plans for a new Canopy by Hilton hotel at 77 E. Nationwide Blvd.



The 168-room hotel will replace a two-story HER real estate building and feature a rooftop bar.



The new hotel, which will cost $36 million to $40 million, will be near the Lofts and the Crowne Plaza hotels.



Indus Hotels announced in January it planned to build a Hilton Garden Inn at the site across from the Greater Columbus Convention Center.



But David Patel, president of Indus Hotels, said Experience Columbus officials told him that one reason Columbus fell short in its bid to win the Democratic National Convention next year was a lack of upscale hotels.



Construction is expected to start in June, Patel said. Demolition of the HER building should begin by April.



He told the commission that 20 Canopy-brand hotels have been approved nationwide.



The new hotel will join other luxury hotels that have gone up, including Le Meridien Columbus and the Joseph in the Short North. A 150-room Marriott Autograph hotel will fill the 5th through 10th floors of the landmark LeVeque Tower Downtown next year.



Is there enough interest in Downtown hotels? �Columbus is transforming into a big city,� Patel said.



The Downtown Commission also approved the buildings planned for the $40 million office and residential project at 650 W. Nationwide Blvd. on the former Hollywood Casino Columbus site.



Borror Properties and Ruscilli Construction plan to locate their headquarters on the 5-acre site. They�ll also build a 300-unit apartment building there.



The project also includes a 2.5-acre park just east of the Olentangy River. The property now is owned by Nationwide Realty Investors, the developer on the Arena District.



The commission also reviewed plans the Day Companies have for the redevelopment of three buildings at 72-84 N. High St. � including the long-vacant Madison�s store � which will be turned into offices and apartments and possibly first-floor retail space.



Day Companies President Ricky Day said he didn�t know how many apartments yet; a tax-credit application anticipated 32.



The developer also wants to demolish the former Experience Columbus building at 90 N. High St.



@MarkFerenchik