Westfield to bring city's first boutique hotel, luxury multifamily homes to downtown area

Jake Allen, Indianapolis Star
·2 min read
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Westfield has received funding for a transformative project, called Park & Poplar, that would bring additional commercial development, housing options and enhanced parking to its downtown.
Westfield has received funding for a transformative project, called Park & Poplar, that would bring additional commercial development, housing options and enhanced parking to its downtown.

The city of Westfield plans to bring a boutique hotel, luxury multifamily homes and more parking near the Midland Trace Trail as the rapidly growing community continues to transform its downtown area.

The boutique hotel would be a first for Westfield, which in recent years has attracted multiple economy hotels as the youth sports industry has boomed.

Park & Poplar, a $164 million mixed-use redevelopment project, will be situated along the Midland Trace Trail and will allow pedestrians to more easily walk between Grand Junction Plaza and Westfield’s restaurants, according to the city.

The project is expected to establish a central business district in Westfield with office spaces and a public parking facility along the Midland Trace Trail, in addition to the boutique hotel.

In neighboring Hamilton County communities, boutique hotels have already opened, with the Hotel Nickel Plate reshaping downtown Fishers and the Hotel Carmichael in Carmel. Hotel Carmichael has exceeded occupancy and revenue projections, and the developer is considering an expansion.

The Park & Poplar project was selected by the Central Indiana Redevelopment Authority for a $4 million grant through Indiana Economic Development Corporation READI 2.0 funding. It's not yet clear how the costs of the rest of the development will be split up.

The city has not yet chosen a developer for the project, nor did the city share any details on what the boutique hotel would look like or who would manage it.

"We are excited about the potential of Park & Poplar to invigorate downtown Westfield," said Mayor Scott Willis in a news release Thursday. "This project will meet current community needs and contribute significantly to the revitalization and walkability of the area, creating a premier destination for our residents." 

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In total, $500 million was awarded to 15 regions throughout Indiana for projects that support quality of place and quality of life initiatives through READI 2.0. The Central Indiana Redevelopment Authority was awarded $45 million of these dollars.

The redevelopment authority then selected Park & Poplar and 20 other projects throughout Central Indiana for grant funding, including Carmel’s Monon Square, Nobleville’s Innovation Mile and the redevelopment of old City Hall and the Circle Centre Mall in Indianapolis.

Contact Jake Allen at jake.allen@indystar.com. Follow him on Twitter @Jake_Allen19.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Westfield to bring boutique hotel, multifamily homes to downtown