Bowdeya Tweh

btweh@enquirer.com

A new Fairfield Inn & Suites in Clifton Heights could be ready to open in early 2016, a representative from a hotel development company said Friday.

The 115-room limited service hotel would be part of the U Square at the Loop development just south of the University of Cincinnati's main campus. The Cincinnati Planning Commission approved the hotel development plan Friday.

Oxford-based Hotel Development Services LLC will build the Marriott property at the northeast corner of Market and McMillan streets.

David Wespiser, managing member of Hotel Development Services, said work to prepare for the $10 million construction project could begin late this year. Vertical construction would likely begin early next year.

"I think this is perfect for the area," said Councilwoman Amy Murray at the Planning Commission meeting. "In college areas, you want a hotel (nearby for parents.) I think this will be a great addition to the neighborhood."

The hotel would be Uptown's newest one since the 132-room Hampton Inn & Suites opened in 2011 in Corryville.

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The site, now owned by USquare LLC, for the proposed six-story, 76,000-square-foot building is now used for surface parking. The main entrance will be off Market Street.

Mount Adams-based Towne Properties, Downtown-based Al. Neyer and the Clifton Heights Community Urban Redevelopment Corp. have worked as partners on the more than $78 million project. Developers envisioned U Square having a hotel since the launch of construction in 2012. Project planning has been more than a decade in the making.

U Square has 161 apartments, nearly 80,000 square feet of retail space, 40,000 square feet of University of Cincinnati office space and more than 700 parking spaces.