August 29, 2017
Big Plans for Morrison Hotel
$110 Million South Park Effort Includes New 12-Story Building
DTLA – In November, developer the Relevant Group announced plans to transform the Morrison Hotel in South Park. The project is moving forward, as last week Relevant revealed new details — including the creation of a 12-story building — and said it intends to start construction in early 2018.
Relevant Group Managing Partner Grant King said the 103-year-old building at 1246 S. Hope St. will become a 245-room luxury hotel with the new building and upgrades to the existing four-story structure. He said the project is budgeted at $110 million.
The Morrison Hotel is intended to complement large hotels opening near the Convention Center such as the Park Hyatt at Oceanwide Plaza, King said.
“We’re not competing on size and scale, but there’s a niche we think we can fit into,” he said. “People want more of a lifestyle boutique feel in the area.”
The hotel is famous for appearing on the cover of The Doors’ 1970 record Morrison Hotel. King said the building would be designed as an “ode” to the band’s frontman, Jim Morrison. The idea, he added, is to avoid kitsch and instead feature an understated approach.
Renderings show a new 12-story building behind the existing hotel structure. Amenities would include an 8,230-square-foot roof deck with a pool, bar and restaurant. Plans also call for 24,000 square feet of public space at street level. Designs show a patio with trees and tables.
King expects to charge nightly rates of more than $300.
The Relevant Group, whose projects include the Dream Hotel in Hollywood that opened in July, has not yet selected an operator. The project’s food and beverage program are also yet to be determined.
The hotel was built in 1914 and operated for most of the 20th century. It served as low-income housing before becoming vacant in 2008.
King said that the Relevant Group was drawn to the project by the activity in South Park and at L.A. Live. He added that the hotel is being done with a planned overhaul of the Los Angeles Convention Center in mind.
The hotel is expected to open in 2020, King said.