MEDFORD — The city’s focus this month is on Medford Square with construction slated to begin on a new hotel and a meeting on long-term plans for the area scheduled for Sept. 13.
Work on the eight-story, 124-room “boutique”-style luxury hotel at 101 George P. Hassett Drive in Medford Square is scheduled to get underway this fall with the hotel’s opening anticipated in the fall of 2018.
The project developer and owner is RudraH Hospitality LLC, which operates hotels in both Massachusetts and Rhode Island, including a Holiday Inn Express in North Attleboro and a Fairfield Inn & Suites in Milford.
The architectural firm planning the project on the 8,398 square foot lot is Northeast Collaborative Architects (NCA) of Providence.The hotel project is expected to cost between $25 million and $30 million.
Mayor Stephanie M. Burke announced the RudraH project during her February State of the City speech, promising the city, with input from residents, has big plans for Medford Square.
Medford is already the home of two brand hotels, the 157-room Hyatt Place Boston, located on Riverside Avenue, also in close proximity to City Hall and the 152-room AC Marriott Hotel at Stations Landing alongside Wellington Circle.
The RudraH hotel project got off the ground at the start of the year when sources confirmed land for the project and existing buildings — a vacant office building and two smaller, unattached vacant buildings — purchased for $1.5 million by RudraH in a deal brokered by Medford-based Andrew Realty.
During her February speech, Burke said the new hotel is expected to feature a rooftop function room and conference center as well as a skybar with clear views of Medford and the Boston skyline. Burke indicated the new hotel would bring an estimated $600,000 in tax revenue to the city.
Burke will lead the Wednesday, Sept.13 discussion on the draft master plan for Medford Square. The public meeting is scheduled from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Medford Senior Center, 101 Riverside Avenue.
The Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC) is helping the city map out a vision for Medford Square. Working with residents and business owners, MAPC and city officials have focused on ways Medford Square can be approved and compiled suggestions for improving the area.
The master plan will review ideas for additional economic development in Medford Square, preserving and enhancing historical and cultural landmarks, open space and recreation and transportation options, according to MAPC’s website.
“The city of Medford seeks to update the Master Plan for the central business district and heart of the city to attract people to live, work and play and strengthen the Square as a destination,” MAPC states on its site.