Construction is pictured above on the TownePlace Suites by Marriott, a four-story, 81-room hotel on 2.6 acres near the intersection of Wilson Street and Rutgers Avenue, close to JCPenney, on Friday, Jan. 5, 2018. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)
Construction work is under way at TownePlace Suites by Marriott, a four-story, 81-room hotel on 2.6 acres near the intersection of Wilson Street and Rutgers Avenue, close to JCPenney. Here are photos of the construction work this month.
Oak Ridge Today last reported on the hotel in August 2016, after the Oak Ridge Municipal Planning Commission unanimously approved an amended site plan for the hotel.
The TownePlace Suites will be owned by Chander Bhateja, who is also the developer and franchisee. Bhateja, an Oak Ridge resident, owns three hotels in Knoxville and others in the Southeast, Oak Ridge Today reported at the time.
TownePlace Suites is at Main Street Oak Ridge, the 58-acre project to redevelop the former Oak Ridge Mall as a mixed-use development that could also include retailers, restaurants, and residential units. The hotel property, which is separate from the property being leased by RealtyLink, the South Carolina-based developer of Main Street Oak Ridge, is owned by Series C of NP Road Partners LLC of Oak Ridge, according to state records, and Bhateja is the registered agent of NP Road Partners LLC.
TownePlace Suites could cost about $10 million, according to our earlier report. It’s not clear if that estimate has changed.
Bhateja said earlier that hotel guests follow brands, and there is no Marriott brand in Oak Ridge.
The former mall has been demolished except for Belk and JCPenney. Since then, nine new stores have joined Belk and JCPenney at Main Street Oak Ridge: Dick’s Sporting Goods, Electronic Express, maurices, PetSmart, Rack Room Shoes, rue21, T.J. Maxx, Ulta, and World Finance Loans & Taxes. Two more businesses are under construction: The Spa Lounge Lash & Nail Studio and Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers. And construction work started this month at the new American Museum of Science and Energy at Main Street Oak Ridge.
There are also two new businesses on South Illinois Avenue in front of Main Street Oak Ridge: Panda Express and Mattress Firm.
More information will be added as it becomes available.
See our previous Main Street Oak Ridge stories here.
See a Main Street Oak Ridge site map here.
Construction is pictured above on the TownePlace Suites by Marriott, a four-story, 81-room hotel on 2.6 acres near the intersection of Wilson Street and Rutgers Avenue, close to JCPenney, on Saturday, Jan. 6, 2018. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)
Construction is pictured above on the TownePlace Suites by Marriott, a four-story, 81-room hotel on 2.6 acres near the intersection of Wilson Street and Rutgers Avenue, close to JCPenney, on Saturday, Jan. 6, 2018. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)
Construction is pictured above on the TownePlace Suites by Marriott, a four-story, 81-room hotel on 2.6 acres near the intersection of Wilson Street and Rutgers Avenue, close to JCPenney, on Saturday, Jan. 6, 2018. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)
Construction is pictured above on the TownePlace Suites by Marriott, a four-story, 81-room hotel on 2.6 acres near the intersection of Wilson Street and Rutgers Avenue, close to JCPenney, on Saturday, Jan. 6, 2018. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)
Construction is pictured above on the TownePlace Suites by Marriott, a four-story, 81-room hotel on 2.6 acres near the intersection of Wilson Street and Rutgers Avenue, close to JCPenney, on Saturday, Jan. 6, 2018. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)
Construction is pictured above on the TownePlace Suites by Marriott, a four-story, 81-room hotel on 2.6 acres near the intersection of Wilson Street and Rutgers Avenue, close to JCPenney, on Saturday, Jan. 6, 2018. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)
Construction is pictured above on the TownePlace Suites by Marriott, a four-story, 81-room hotel on 2.6 acres near the intersection of Wilson Street and Rutgers Avenue, close to JCPenney, on Saturday, Jan. 6, 2018. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)
Construction is pictured above on the TownePlace Suites by Marriott, a four-story, 81-room hotel on 2.6 acres near the intersection of Wilson Street and Rutgers Avenue, close to JCPenney, on Friday, Jan. 5, 2018. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)
The Oak Ridge Municipal Planning Commission unanimously approved an amended site plan for TownePlace Suites by Marriott, a planned four-story, 81-room hotel on 2.6 acres near the intersection of Wilson Street and Rutgers Avenue, close to JCPenney, in August 2016.
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