Hilton Home2 Suites back on track for northwest Muncie

MUNCIE, Ind. − A long expected Hilton Home2 Suites hotel, aimed for Bethel Avenue near Hampton Inn & Suites, appears back on track in Muncie.

Mayor Dan Ridenour told the Muncie Redevelopment Commission earlier this month that some additional zoning variances needed by the hotel were agreed to by the Metropolitan Board of Zoning Appeals at the end of July, and construction is now expected to begin in October or November.

Developers for the franchise first obtained variances for the planned extended-stay hotel in October 2018, according to The Star Press. At that time, prior to the pandemic, the company was planning to start construction in the summer of 2020.

Afterward, in 2021, developers obtained variances from the board, but Ridenour told The Star Press that they had to return to the board this year because Hilton had made some changes to the site design of their Home2 Suites brand.

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The mayor told the commission that the inn, which specializes in extended stays, would have 102 rooms.

"They are in the process of getting the building permit put together," he said.

Original plans stated the project would be a four-story structure.

Also during the Redevelopment Commissioner meeting, Ridenour said developers for a new Holiday Inn Express had submitted for its building permit. That 105-room hotel is to be built along Hometown Boulevard off Nebo Road behind the Greg Hubler Hyundai auto dealership.

The mayor said construction was expected to start this month or in September.

The current Holiday Inn Express in Muncie at 4201 W Bethel Ave. will undergo a name change, he said.

David Penticuff is a reporter for The Star Press. He can be contacted at dpenticuff@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Muncie Star Press: Hilton Home2 Suites back on track for northwest Muncie