Naperville's Water Street District to include Hotel Indigo
The mystery surrounding the hotel at the center of the Water Street District in downtown Naperville was solved Tuesday as developers of the mixed-use destination announced Hotel Indigo as their choice to open in 2015.
Described as an “upscale, boutique hotel,” Hotel Indigo's Naperville location will have about 160 rooms and will anchor the Water Street development of shops, restaurants and offices along the south bank of the DuPage River.
The Marquette Companies, the Naperville-based real estate firm developing Water Street, chose Hotel Indigo to provide a luxury stay for guests at an “approachable price point,” said Nick Ryan, managing director.
People who stay at the new hotel — whether families of North Central College students, Naperville Marathon runners, participants in local weddings or guests of businesses in town — will know they're in Naperville the moment they enter, Ryan said.
“By design, the brand is refreshingly local, reflecting the culture, people and personality of the community,” Ryan said about Hotel Indigo in a written statement. “When you walk into our lobby, you will get the Naperville vibe immediately. We're proud of that.”
Developers say local history experts soon will be enlisted to help produce the “Naperville vibe” in elements of the hotel's art, photography and architecture, including interpretive photographic murals of local icons in guest rooms and public spaces.
“Because we plan to involve the Naperville Heritage Society the history and culture of Naperville will be featured in the lobby, giving guests a glimpse into the life of Naperville,” Jeff Prosapio, project manager for Marquette, said in a written statement. “We understand how special and unique Naperville is, and we want to celebrate that.”
Highlights of the hotel's design include a second-floor lobby with a fireplace, a bistro-style dining area, a wine bar and a health facility; banquet accommodations, three meeting rooms for 15 to 60 people, a pedestrian bridge connecting two sections of the hotel and a rooftop restaurant.
Naperville's Hotel Indigo will be the brand's fourth location in the area. It already operates lodgings in Chicago's Gold Coast and in Vernon Hills, while a third location is set to open near Chicago's Millennium Park next year. A Hotel Indigo also opened in 2005 in Palatine but closed in 2011. News of the hotel's inclusion in Water Street plans drew early positive reactions from Naperville's business community, with Naperville Area Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Mike Evans calling Hotel Indigo “chic” and praising its multigenerational appeal.
“I think it'll be a great addition to the lineup we already have in our hotel portfolio,” Evans said Tuesday.
Also included in plans for Water Street are a variety of restaurants, shops and an expansion of the Riverwalk featuring an art wall and seating areas. Developers still are negotiating with possible future tenants, some of which could be announced in the coming months.
Marquette plans to break ground on the development early next year.