A dual brand Hilton opened near the Indianapolis Canal Walk across from IUPUI.
the Hampton Inn by Hilton and Homewood Suites by Hilton Indianapolis Canal IUPUI is located in 414 W. Vermont St. on the historic site of Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church, which was founded in 1836. The location of the church on Vermont Street was built in 1869.
The church was the oldest African American church in Indianapolis and played a key role in Indianapolis history. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1991. The Church hosted nationwide black conventions and welcomed fleeing enslaved people, recruited black troops for the U.S. Civil War, and established a school, according to the Indiana Historical Bureau.
The Indianapolis section of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People was established in the building.
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In its final years, the church struggled raise enough money to finance necessary repairs.
Sun Development & Management Corp. based in Indianapolis, bought the site in 2016who vowed to retain elements of the original 3-story structure in the design of the 231-room hotel.
The hotel was designed and built around the existing religious structure. The property developer and hotel manager said in a press release that the guests will be greeted in a remnant of the church.
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The hotel will market to business and leisure travelers.
“The combination of these two category-leading brands and their distinctive, yet distinct identities under one roof furthers our commitment to offer quality accommodations that meet a variety of styles, travel needs and desired prices,” said General Manager Angela Ramirez in a press release.
The 7-story hotel consists of 123 Hampton Inn rooms and 108 Homewood suites and 11,000 square feet of meeting space, including an outdoor rooftop terrace. The property will have communal amenities such as a 24-hour fitness center, two courtyards, a BBQ and an indoor pool.
Both hotel brands offer free breakfast. A Starbucks and McAllister’s Deli are slated to open later this year.
Nearby, the American College of Sports Medicine works with a local developer redesign its campus along Canal Walk to a mixed-use development with offices and a 125-room hotel.
Contact IndyStar reporter Alexandria Burris at aburris@gannett.com or call 317-617-2690. Follow her on Twitter: @allyburris.
