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McKissack-Designed building to become historically preserved hotel in downtown Nashville

Historically Preserved Hotel Slated for Downtown Nashville

Nashville-based Imagine Hospitality continues progressing with plans for a historically preserved hotel in the historic Morris Memorial Building. Therefore, with plans to convert it from an office building to a hotel. The site is three blocks from Downtown Nashville’s award-winning historic Hermitage Hotel. The developer believes the Morris Building could be an opportunity to create a similar success. Thus, given that most hotel projects are new construction. The project is at the corner of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd and 4th Avenue North.

Most hotels in downtown are new construction and we have a unique opportunity to develop a hotel in this great location. The Morris Memorial Building was designed by famous African American architects McKissack & McKissack, and we thought it would be a perfect place for a hotel.” -Kal Patel, Owner of Imagine Hospitality

Neoclassical Design, Built in the 1920s

The National Baptist Convention, U.S.A., Inc. built the Morris Memorial Building in the mid-1920s for the Sunday School Publishing Board, serving the world’s largest African American religious denomination. The building is named for Reverend E. C. Morris, president of the National Baptist Convention at the time of planning. According to public records, the property last sold for $10 million. The developer has not yet released the name of the hotel brand.

Located in the Historic Black Business District, this neoclassical building illustrates the work of Moses McKissack.  He and his brother Calvin founded McKissack and McKissack, a black architectural firm established in 1905.  The firm became one of the first organized and staffed by African Americans in the United States. In 1990, Deryl McKissack established her own practice, McKissack & McKissack. She was the fifth generation of her family to carry on the building tradition.  Today, the firm has corporate offices in Chicago & Washington D.C.

A Destination for Visitors and Locals

The developer continues to work with its team of architects, contractors, interior designers, and development historian to bring this iconic building back to its former glory and become a destination for locals and visitors.  Here’s a quick rundown:

Overall, the project will retain its current height; level 6, which is currently setback will frame the crown of the building. The smaller adjoining building structure on Dr. MLK Blvd appears to be demolished to make way for windows for new hotel rooms. 

Preliminary Plans

The preliminary plans include a 2,566 SF speakeasy on the basement level. The area plans for a large seating area featuring private booths, a stage, bar, and a VIP lounge. The hotel lobby has entrances that connect the interior space along MLK Blvd and 4th Avenue North. The lobby area has a lounge facing 4th Avenue, as well as hotel rooms. The following five floors should consist of hotel rooms, including the sixth floor expansion and a fitness center.

We anticipate starting construction in the 4th quarter 2025.

Dedicated to Transforming Hotel Investments

At Imagine Hospitality Management Inc., we are dedicated to transforming your hotel investments into thriving, profitable assets. Our commitment to achieving profitability in hotel assets – also known as maximizing hotel asset profits – is unwavering. We leverage our expertise in the industry to maximize your returns. With a focus on financial success in hotel properties. And enhancing the financial performance of hotel assets, we bring a wealth of experience. Whether you are a hotel owner looking to optimize your investments. Or a stakeholder seeking to navigate the complex world of the hotel industry. We have the solutions you need to build a sustainable business.

Note: We give full credit for the write-up of this blog post to the writers of the original article at City Now Next. You can read their full article and see the fantastic images they shared at the link below.

Historic Hotel, Historic Transformation, Imagine Hospitality, McKissack-Designed Building, Morris Memorial, Nashville TN