TUCSON, Arizona -- Tucson-owned Nor Hotel Properties, LLC. has acquired DoubleTree by Hilton Tucson – Reid Park, at 445 S. Alvernon Way, for $10 million ($34,843 per room) with plans to begin a large-scale renovation of the 287-guest- room-hotel. The plans include renovation of the 25,000-square- feet of meeting space, the hotel lobby, bar, and two restaurants during the next 18 months.
For Nor Hotel Properties principal, Allan Norville, a longtime Tucson philanthropist and developer, and his grandson Dan Norville, this venture is as much sentimental as it is commercial. When Mr. Norville and his wife Alfie moved to Tucson from Chicago in 1964, they stayed at the Alvernon Gardens Motel, which was then located where the current DoubleTree by Hilton stands. “I have wonderfully fond memories of our time at the Alvernon Gardens,” said Mr. Norville. “It was the place to be. Our kids learned to swim at this hotel. We all roamed the Alvernon Gardens and the Rose Garden and felt a connection then as if this was our home.”
“We are pleased to continue our investment in the Tucson community and bring this mid-town treasure back to a place of prominence,” Mr. Norville said. “We plan to create a vibrant, memorable place that business and leisure travelers and area residents will enjoy for many years to come.” Renovation is underway to the hotel lobby, bar and two restaurants. The hotel ballroom, meeting rooms and courtyards will be remodeled next summer, and the hotel’s guest rooms will be completed by the fall of 2018.
We are excited to offer a one-of-a-kind hospitality experience, which includes contemporary design features incorporated throughout the property, blended with a heartfelt approach to personal service at an established, Tucson landmark,” said Dan Norville, principal of Nor Hotel Properties. Nor Hotel Properties has retained Marin Management, an established hotel management and consulting company, to manage the hotel operations. Marin currently manages operations for 35 independent and franchise hotels brands throughout the U.S. Nor Hotel Properties will retain all current DoubleTree by Hilton Tucson – Reid Park staff, with plans to expand hotel operations, events and bookings over the next year. The company also plans to hire local contractors and consultants to complete the hotel renovations.
The seller, Miami Florida- based, LNR Partners, was also the loan servicer.
In addition to Nor Hotel Properties, Allan Norville also owns and manages Nor-Generations, LLC (NOR-GEN), which is developing an 8.5 acre mixed-use site in downtown Tucson that includes plans for a hotel, retail, arts and residential spaces adjacent to NOR-GEN’s Gem and Jewelry Exchange Show (GJX) site, near I-10 and Congress.
To learn more, see RED Comp #6454.