Design Review Board reviews proposed 7-story Moxie hotel at South Central and Summit Hill

A project team presented plans on Monday for a seven-story hotel at the corner of South Central and Summit Hill that would operate under the Moxie by Marriott brand and include about 175 guest rooms and active ground-floor social spaces.

S2, the project presenter, told the Design Review Board the building would front Summit and South Central, with a vehicular entrance and valet drop-off from State Street under the building. “We are basically, gonna have a 7 story hotel with approximately 175 guest rooms, and it's branded as a Moxie by Marriott,” S2 said, adding the brand emphasizes lively lobby bars and social spaces.

The team described a preexisting 15-foot-wide easement and a 15-foot vertical-clearance requirement for a utility or sanctuary line crossing the site; that easement creates a paved central swath the design intends to use for temporary outdoor activation on event days. S2 said the easement prevents building within the 5-foot build-to setback in portions of the lot and that primary guest vehicle access will be limited to State Street.

Board members pressed the team on materials and street engagement. S3 praised the masonry emphasis and asked whether the brick is full-depth; S2 confirmed the project will use full-depth brick and said the team had worked price estimates with suppliers to avoid later change. “We are using full depth of brick,” S2 said.

Several board members urged the team to bring real material samples to the formal hearing. S3 advised presenting adjacent local bricks and warned against “flashed” finishes that appear painted. “When you come present to the board, if you're like, hey, we're actually doing brick, maybe have a couple of material swatches of adjacent brick around the city,” S3 said.

S2 described the façade palette as predominantly brick and fiber cement with accents of metal panels and corten steel intended to echo the nearby warehouse district’s window rhythms. The team also proposed a corner mural and said they had spoken to city staff (Michelle Hummel was mentioned) and hoped to commission a local artist to create a piece that signals the entrance to the old city.

The board questioned circulation, safety and micro-scale details. Members noted a sidewalk gap on the State Street side where the guest entrance would be located and suggested the team consider pedestrian routing and lighting. S4, who said they live near the site, raised concerns about State Street congestion on stadium event days and asked whether valet operations could spill onto that street; S2 described plans for stacking, the ability to route cars to a service entry when needed and an anticipated periodic peak in demand.

S2 confirmed the rooftop amenity (level 7) and ground-floor bar are intended to be open to non-guests, saying the Moxie brand intentionally draws public visitors and uses the lobby and bar as active check-in and social spaces. The team also noted a required 10-foot easement between the proposed building and an adjacent two-story structure (used for egress), finishing with an assurance that drainage would be handled internally to avoid puddling in alley areas.

The board closed by reiterating priorities: a pleasant, safe pedestrian experience, durable materials that age well and material samples at the next formal, in-person hearing. S2 said the team will bring material samples and appear in person for the formal Design Review Board hearing.

The Design Review Board did not take a formal vote during the workshop; the applicant was asked to return with physical material samples, clarified drainage and lighting plans, and refined pedestrian/valet circulation details before a formal hearing.