Marriott plans $30 million, 134-room Element by Westin extended-stay property overlooking Pear Blossom Park and Lithia & Driveway headquarters

A long-awaited 134-room hotel overlooking Pear Blossom Park should start taking shape this year.

The four-story Element by Westin, a Marriott extended-stay hotel, would front Fourth Street, with a view of the downtown park Park and Lithia & Driveway headquarters.

The 2.77-acre site is located between North Bartlett Street and Apple Street.

Colorado-based Western Hospitality LLC is the developer of the hotel, which features 10% more rooms than an earlier proposal, and the height of the building has dropped from five stories to four.

The Medford Site Plan and Architectural Commission approved the project in April, leaving only a few steps left before construction could start.

“It’s looking really good,” said Harry Weiss, a consultant for the Medford Urban Renewal Agency.

He said the project, which has been in the works for almost five years, should be ready to start this year, with an 18- to 24-month construction time.

Some of the amenities at the hotel would include an outdoor patio, a pool and spa for hotel guests, a large meeting room, lounge spaces, a bar and seating area, guest dining spaces, a guest fitness room and food service.

Up to 125 parking spaces would be available for the hotel.

Total cost is close to $30 million, with $25 million wrapped up in the building itself, Weiss said.

The project had stalled during the downturn in the hotel industry caused by the pandemic.

To help attract the hotel, MURA has agreed to pay up to $1 million for the project’s building and development fees, including system development charges.

MURA will provide an additional incentive not to exceed $749,999 once the developer has spent $4 million toward the project.

MURA installed a new gas main on Fourth and Bartlett streets to get rid of an existing gas main that bisected the hotel site. MURA also demolished buildings on the property, which is currently owned by MURA.

Weiss said an appraisal is underway to determine the value of the property. A previous appraisal pegged the value at $1.5 million.

Under the agreement with MURA, Western Hospitality has agreed to pay up to $1.75 million for the property.

If the appraisal is higher than $1.75 million, negotiations would be triggered between MURA and Western Hospitality.

Weiss said Western Hospitality has until August to purchase the property.

As part of the development, some of the minor streets will be closed to make way for a parking lot. Third Street, behind the hotel, will be closed, but the north half will be used as a driveway for Living Waters Church.

The eastern half of Apple Street will be a driveway for Sole Savers Auto Sales.

To make it easier for pedestrians to cross Fourth Street, a rapid-flashing beacon will be installed at the northeast and southeast corners of North Bartlett Street.

A pull-out area will be built in front of the hotel on Fourth Street for guests.

The future hotel property was obtained by MURA in 2021, when it swapped its parking lot at 54 N. Riverside, next to the former Inn at the Commons. At the time, the property was owned by Lithia Real Estate.

Downtown Medford has been without a large hotel since the Inn at the Commons was converted into an apartment building in 2021.

Reach writer Damian Mann at dmannnews@gmail.com