Midtown building to get Marriott's first U.S. conversion to 'apartment-style' concept

The first U.S. location of Marriott International Inc.’s new foray into what it calls “apartment-style accommodations” for travelers is coming to Detroit.


Bethesda, Md.-based Marriott is bringing Apartments by Marriott Bonvoy to The Plaza, the former Hammer & Nail office building on Woodward Avenue that was redeveloped into apartments by Detroit-based developer The Roxbury Group in 2016. As a result of the change, the 72-unit apartment building is being converted into about 92 units for longer-term travel accommodations. Leases for the existing apartment units will be honored, said David Di Rita, principal of The Roxbury Group.


The conversion is expected to be complete next year and set to involve reconfiguring some of its two-bedroom units.


Di Rita said there has been “a continuing evolution of the marketplace” as he has fielded inquiries from various operators of less traditional apartment/hospitality companies — think Sonder, Roost and Mint House and others — about converting The Plaza, which is just north of Detroit’s Whole Foods Inc. grocery store at Woodward and Mack avenues.


“It’s something we’re starting to evaluate, not specific to The Plaza but to our portfolio generally,” Di Rita said. “In our ongoing relationship with Marriott, they introduced Apartments by Marriott to us as a possibility for somewhere in our Detroit portfolio and The Plaza struck us as a really nice fit.” That includes being 100% residential already as well as the unit layout and site location. Unlike hotels, Marriott Bonvoy properties don't provide amenities like daily housekeeping or meeting spaces, but do offer things such as private bedrooms, separate living rooms, full kitchens, and washers and dryers, the hotel chain says.
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