UPDATE March 6: During the March 5 City Council meeting, the Water Street District site plan in downtown Naperville was approved. With a 7-2 vote, the council moved forward the plan for the 2.4 acre project that will include a 166-room hotel and a 524-parking deck, 25 spaces less and lower than one of two proposals.
Councilman Joe McElroy reminded residents the approval was the first step. Now ordinances will be written, likely to take a month according to representatives in the Transportation, Engineering and Development (TED) Department. Then financing the project will be addressed.
When the Water Street District appeared on the agenda, several business owners with properties along Aurora Avenue also addressed the City Council, asking for assurances that every effort will be made not to disrupt their businesses, some that provide emergency medical services, during the construction period. Councilman Grant Wehrli asked Bill Novack, Director of TED, to be sure that existing businesses would take priority over the developer.
Other residents who have addressed City Council during the most-recent planning stages of the Water Street District, sometimes with opposition, expressed appreciation for the public process that has presented a better plan for downtown Naperville.
Thanks for taking time to watch City Council meetings, workshops and other public forums saved in the archive on the City’s website. The videos of the City Council meetings are organized by agenda items and available around the clock.
The following overview of the Water Street District was posted on February 14, 2013.
The Naperville Riverwalk Hotel, proposed for the Water Street District now being considered for Downtown Naperville, will bring the community the high-end amenities of an urban boutique hotel. Developer Marquette Companies unveiled renderings of the hotel facilities at a recent Community Open House and Downtown Naperville Alliance merchant presentations.
Visit www.positivelynaperville.com/water-street-plans to see a comprehensive set of plans.
“By aligning with a major franchisor with a robust frequent guest program and international reservation system, we can ensure that our hotel will be equally attractive to the business and leisure traveler. It also allows us to be rate sensitive, delivering a more luxurious experience with an approachable price point, suitable to our Naperville market,” said Nick Ryan, Managing Director, Marquette Companies.
“Our spacious and well-appointed rooms and suites will offer both comfort and style to business travelers, family groups and bridal parties,” Ryan said. “We look forward to providing accommodations for Downtown Naperville Girls’ Weekend events, the future Naperville Marathon, the numerous guests, alum and families of North Central College, not to mention wedding parties at Naper Settlement and the many guests of Naperville companies and residents, who will love staying in walking distance of all the downtown attractions.”
The hotel will contain approximately 166 rooms, including Riverfront King Suites and Honey moon Suites. The second floor lobby will feature a great room with fireplace, as well as four intimate meeting rooms that can accommodate approximately 15 people per room or be combined for up to 60. Discussions are taking place with the Naperville Heritage Society, so that displays on the history and culture of Naperville may be featured in the lobby, giving guests a glimpse into the history of Naperville. A pedestrian bridge will give hotel guests access from the lobby to the Loggia Building with additional Riverfront rooms and suites as well as a proposed Rooftop restaurant.
Other amenities planned include a swimming pool with waterfall and an adjacent full service spa. Surrounding the hotel, the Water Street District will offer a variety of restaurants, retail shops and Naperville’s signature Riverwalk. Downtown businesses north of the DuPage River can be accessed via Main St
. and the covered bridge at Webster St. Expansion of the Riverwalk on the south side of the river will feature brick pavers, an art wall and seating, and will be reached by a broad staircase leading from the Plaza and fountain area between the Loggia and Theatre buildings.
A 500-space public/private parking facility will be adjacent to the hotel, providing parking for the Water Street district and additional downtown visitor parking.
Marquette has engaged the management services of Crescent Hotels and Resorts, a nationally recognized top-10 hotel management firm operating hotel and resorts throughout the U.S., Canada and the Caribbean.
According to Crescent CEO Michael George, “This hotel will be a hub for the community. Guests will enjoy the high caliber service of one of the elite operators in the hotel industry. Due to Crescent’s expertise with operating high end hotels and resorts nationwide, the Naperville Riverwalk Hotel will benefit from Crescent’s high level of service training and dedication to guest satisfaction, in an extraordinary hotel experience within Naperville’s vibrant downtown.”
If approved, the Naperville Riverwalk Hotel is expected to open to guests within 24 months. For more information on the Water Street District, visit www.waterstreetcommunityinfo.com.
