Over the last few months, Saint Louis University has been building a new hotel on Olive Boulevard. Hotel Ignacio, located next to Triumph Grill, should be finished in February and is expected to open in March of 2011. The building of Hotel Ignacio was first introduced during the commencement ceremony last year by University President Lawrence Biondi, S.J.
“Hotel Ignacio not only meets an identified community need, it fits perfectly with our vision to see our campus encompassed by a neighborhood that’s both vibrant and dynamic,” said Biondi, according to a press release from the university last April.
SLU is partnering with the Lawrence Group, a private development company located in St. Louis, to build the hotel. SLU also worked with the Lawrence group on the John Cook School of Business, the recreation complex and the
education union at the Medical Campus.
According to Steve Smith, CEO of the Lawrence Group, the building of this hotel will create a more lively area around campus and provide several benefits for SLU.
“What happens off-campus is important to students. The more interesting the area, the better for the university,” said Smith.
SLU is also working with the Lawrence Group to develop the area even further. So far, the group has completed 25 apartments across from the site of Hotel Ignacio, which will provide housing for both students and non-students.
“We’re also working on adding a new boutique retail store that will be opening in September that will go with the hotel,” said Smith.
“There are also plans for a new sportsthemed restaurant, new retail space and a café in the apartment complex. The hotel, however, will be the high profile center of Locust.”
Hotel Ignacio gets its name from the founder of the Jesuits, St. Ignatius of Loyola. The building will have 51 rooms and feature a business center, spa and fitness center.
What makes the hotel unique, according to Smith, is that it will exhibit a collection of art from SLU.
Triumph Grill, also owned by Smith, will collaborate with Hotel Ignacio to provide food service, including room service and catering.
The hope for the hotel is that it will primarily provide a place to stay for visitors to the university.
“The hotel will be a great amenity for visitors to the school. For parents of students, prospective students, anyone visiting the Chaifetz Arena, people visiting professors, the hotel is a great place to stay,” says Smith.
Peter Pierotti, Director of Real Estate for SLU, said that in addition to providing temporary residence for SLU visitors, the hotel will benefit the area in a myriad of other ways.
“[The hotel] puts what was an ugly building into a useful, active building. This will also strengthen our borders. When we have boarded up buildings, crime increases in the area,” said Pierotti.
SLU has owned the building where Hotel Ignacio is being built for about six years, but the plans for the hotel have only been in production for about a year.
“The reason the property was purchased was for the [Chaifetz] arena. From what I understand, the university was trying to buy the Drake [Plaza Apartments], but the property got too costly,” said Pierotti.
The arena was not built on the property, but SLU still owned the building.
Hotel Ignacio is the University’s way of finally putting the building to use.
Pierotti also stated that there was talk by SLU students that there was not a lot to do in walking distance around the university. He hopes that the development will help to rejuvenate the area and bring in more investors and developers to add new stuff to do nearby campus.
Funding for the building of the hotel is coming from several different places and is a mix of private and public payments.
“The whole development is being paid for with University funds, partner funds, new market tax credits, federal historic tax credits and state historic tax credits,” said Pierotti.
The apartment complex across the street is also being funded by tax income and market credit.
SLU also owns the Water Tower Inn, located on Lafayette Avenue near the Medical Campus. The Water Tower Inn features 62 rooms and a several facilities similar to those being built in Ignacio, according to SLU’s website. Despite already owning a hotel, Pierotti said that no changes are planned for the Water Tower Inn.
“It’s a different market. The Water Tower Inn is pretty full and we determined there was a need for [a new hotel]. There is nothing within walking distance from the university or Chaifetz. This is a totally different hotel,” said Pierotti,
“The Water Tower Inn is an economy property. It’s the barest hotel essentials. Ignacio is nicer and we want to offer visitors that choice.”
Junior Breahna Nelson agrees that there is a need for a closer hotel.
“It’s good for undergraduate parents. We need more hotels in the area. I’m kind of excited, though I don’t know much about it. It’s a good idea.”
Overall, the general consensus on Hotel Ignacio is that it will be very beneficial for the surrounding area and Midtown.
Vincent Schoemehl, the president of Grand Center Inc., a center for the arts that hosts about 1,500 events annually, said that the development would certainly be an improvement.
“Adding a boutique hotel and apartments will bring lots more people into the community, which is a definite improvement,” said Schoemehl, “It’ll surely help Grand Center, SLU, and even the city as a whole.”
Jeanne Spoto, a spokesperson for the new City Diner by the Fox, located on Grand Boulevard, is optimistic about the development in the Midtown area being spurred by the hotel.
“There was talk of [the building of Hotel Ignacio], but no guarantee. We were hopeful from the get go,” said Spoto, “The Grand center is doing a lot already…all to make it more friendly.”
The City Diner plans to offer deals to students in the future to promote this friendly atmosphere.
“This is a real symbiotic relationship between the hotel, the apartments, and the Grand Center District,” said Schmoemehl, “The university has been very involved over the years. This has been a long time project, renewing both the campus and the Grand Center.”
