A unique hotel concept is planned in Huntsville adjacent to Joe Davis Stadium as a continuing transformation of the once-doomed site into a major economic development.

The city council on Thursday will vote on the concept that would build a dual-brand Hilton hotel with more than 200 rooms overlooking the stadium on the east side.

Formerly destined to be torn down after decaying into eyesore, the abandoned baseball stadium has been revived by a more than $30 million facelift of the city-owned facility that has attracted a minor league professional soccer team to the Rocket City. In September, the council approved plans for a $145 million mixed-use development outside the stadium that, pending council approval, would now include the hotel concept.

The hotel development agreement is with Wisconsin-based BREG HSV LLC. The proposed hotel would be built between the stadium and Memorial Parkway.

It would also be the first hotel at John Hunt Park – the city’s version of New York’s Central Park that spreads over about 400 acres with an array of attractions and plans for a major outdoor musical festival.

According to an exhibit included with the agreement, plans call for essentially two hotels in one. The hotels would be Tru By Hilton and Home2 Suites – both brands under the Hilton hotel flag. The agreement calls for at least 200 rooms altogether with meeting rooms as well. The exhibit said 134 rooms will be part of the Home2 Suites and 106 rooms will be part of the True By Hilton. The building will have five floors.

Hilton has more than a dozen dual brand hotel concepts across the country. One such concept was announced two years ago in Hoover.

In a 2020 news release announcing Tru By Hilton and Home2 Suites dual brand concepts in Ohio and Virginia, Hilton touted the advantages of the unique approach.

“The multi-brand concept provides larger and enhanced communal areas and amenities than what would be standard at a standalone property, benefiting both business and leisure travelers,” Hilton said in the 2020 news release. “The hotel has a mix of unique offerings – each catering to the needs of their respective guests – including designated lobby and dining areas. The property also offers a variety of shared amenities, including indoor pool, Spin2 Cycle fitness center and outdoor terrace with firepit. Additionally, the hotel offers 729 square feet of flexible meeting space.”

The cost of the project was not included in the development agreement. The city agreed to rent four acres adjacent to the stadium to the hotel developer at a cost of $100,000 per year, the agreement said. The rent increases 3 percent every five years.

The agreement calls for the hotel to be completed by March 31, 2026. Construction must start within a year.

Got questions about Huntsville? Use this form to Ask the Lede.