KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — A new nine-story hotel could soon be built in downtown Knoxville, near Krutch Park. It would be built on a plot of land behind the current YWCA Knoxville location — a parking lot owned by Vector Hospitality. The company is located in Georgia, near Marietta.
According to design board documents, the project would result in 176 hotel rooms. The building would be a four-story structure built over a five-story parking garage, totaling nine stories. Developers plan for the building to include space for a meeting room, a lounge, a lobby bar, a street-facing cafe, an elevated bar with outside space, a fitness center as well as retail space.
It would be named the "Tempo by Hilton" and would have frontage on the 400 block of W. Church Avenue, the 600 block of Walnut Street and the 600 block of Market Street.
Documents expect to build two retail spaces on the corner of Walnut Street and Church Street, and the cafe space along Market Street.
"The block features several historic brick masonry buildings including the YWCA, the General Building, and is across the street from the midcentury Walnut Building. All three blocks feature heavy pedestrian activity and the design will continue to engage via the streetscape via public and commercial space on all three elevations," the documents said.
It said many of the project's elements are designed to be pedestrian-friendly as well.
According to Vector Hospitality, the company is also working on the "AC Hotel by Marriott" in downtown Knoxville. In a release, Vector Hospitality said it would be a total of seven stories tall and include 162 rooms. It is slated to open in Fall 2025 at 427 Walnut St. and 416 Locust St. with a rooftop bar, according to the release.
The Knoxville-Knox County Planning Commission's Design Review Board is expected to discuss the Tempo by Hilton project on Feb. 21.
