Hotel Vandivort enters reconstruction phase

On the gutted ground floor of the former Vandivort office building, new owners John and Billy McQueary yesterday unveiled renderings in a ceremony to commence the construction phase for their boutique hotel concept.

Since acquiring the 107-year-old building last fall through MBH LLC, the McQueary brothers have set crews loose on demolition work to set the stage for a multimillion-dollar development of Hotel Vandivort on East Walnut Street. John McQueary said next week contractor Larry Snyder & Co. is expected to begin reconstructing the property into 50 guest rooms, including the addition of four floors to square off a north corner of the 305 E. Walnut St. building.

“Hotel-theater packages are in our near future,” said Ron Spigelman, the marketing and development director for shows at next-door neighbor Landers Theatre.

Landers is among the businesses Urban Districts Alliance Executive Director Rusty Worley said would feed off the potential activity at Hotel Vandivort. He said there are five live theater venues, 36 restaurants, 23 pubs, 20 retailers and 16 movie screens operating in center city.

“We want this to be an economic spark downtown,” McQueary said, noting the concept is designed to create unique, social spaces and emphasize a local experience.

The first floor is designed with a restaurant and bar, a lounge area with a fireplace and a library with a coffeehouse theme, said Karen McQueary, John’s wife, who is handling the interior designs, in conjunction with the work of Springfield architecture firm Bates & Associates and Colorado interior designer Studio R Interiors.

“We’re trying to make a design statement,” she said, “to adopt that big-city, high-style statement unique to boutique hotels.”

While Springfield hotels already operate some 6,000 rooms across the city, Springfield Convention & Visitors Bureau President and CEO Tracy Kimberlin said the boutique hotel concept would fill a void in the market.

“Boutique hotels have become very popular across the country,” Kimberlin said. “In my view, (Hotel Vandivort) is going to become a fixture downtown.”

In Springfield, Kimberlin said CVB stats show occupancy rates are better at hotel rooms with average daily rates above $90. Hotel Vandivort rooms are expected to start at $120 per night.

“The more expensive properties have been those running the highest occupancy for several years,” he said. “They’re opening at a good time because the economy is coming back, and we do have pent-up demand.”

Once operational, Hotel Vandivort would employ 50 to 70 part- and full-time staff, John McQueary said.

“See you in about a year,” he told the crowd.