The developer of Rentschler Field and a Greenwich hotel operator have been chosen to build the first hotel in West Hartford, in a coveted piece of real estate near Blue Black Square.
The town has signed a letter of intent with Delamar West Hartford LLC to build a 100 to 120 room, luxury boutique hotel at 90 Raymond Rd. that will serve as a gateway to the popular retail, dining, and entertainment center located in West Hartford’s central business district.
Delamar West Hartford is a joint venture between Greenwich Hospitality Corp., which operates several Connecticut hotels including the Delamar Greenwich Harbor Hotel and the Delamar Southport, and The Matos Group, an East Hartford real estate development firm currently developing Rentschler Field.
The property, to be called The Delamar Hotel West Hartford, will be a two-sided gate tower aimed at attracting corporate and leisure travelers.
Initial plans call for 83 guestrooms and 18 one, two and three bedroom suites. The hotel will have open views through the lobby, and site and landscape designs that aim to create a pedestrian friendly experience funneling patrons to Blue Back Square.
It will have three court yards with extensive landscape design featuring “green elements,” including storm water gardens, porous pavements, rainwater harvesting and native plant selections for water efficiency and storm water cleansing.
Other perks planned for the hotel include a restaurant, multi-service spa, fitness center, 2,700-square foot ballroom, 700-square foot boardroom, and a rooftop deck with bar and pool.
Ron Van Winkle, West Hartford’s town manager, said the town received more than a half dozen strong proposals from qualified hotel developers, but Delamar West Hartford’s vision “best met the objectives and aspirations of the town.”
“We were very impressed by the Delamar team, the luxury boutique hotel they envisioned, and their proven success in towns very like West Hartford,” Van Winkle said.
The next step in the process, Van Winkle said, is for the developer to complete its due diligence and then prepare submissions to the town council and other commissions and boards for regulatory approvals, hopefully by spring.
