Elyton Hotel
The Empire Hotel (Marriott) is a 117-room boutique hotel opened in late 2016 in the historic Empire Building at 1928 1st Avenue North. It is operated as part of Marriott Hotels' "Autograph Collection", and in tandem with the Fairfield Inn in the former Alagasco Building adjoining it.
A new restaurant for the project is being developed by chef Chris Hastings.
In 2012 investor John Tampa of Georgia-based Ascent Hospitality purchased the mostly-vacant former office building, with the intent of redeveloping it as a hotel. Financing opportunities instead led him to propose low-income apartments for the property, but those plans also stalled.
In November 2014 the website of New Orleans, Louisiana architects John T. Campo & Associates, suggested that the building would be converted into a Marriott Autograph Hotel. That suggestion was confirmed in April 2015 with Ascent's announcement of a $45 million project to develop a luxury hotel in the Empire Building and a 120-room limited-service hotel in the nearby Alagasco Building. A small building which had formerly housed a Junior League Thrift Shop at 1916 1st Avenue North was demolished as part of the project.
References
- Poe, Kelly (November 21, 2014) "Marriott could be coming to downtown Birmingham." The Birmingham News
- Poe, Kelly (April 20, 2016) "Empire Hotel developer to demolish old Junior League building." The Birmingham News