A $50 million investment by a South Korean luxury hotel chain is the latest hospitality-based development proposed in Westfield.

The proposal for L7 Westfield by Lotte — a 228-room hotel and a 10,000-square-foot, 220-seat restaurant — was introduced to the Westfield City Council in January. A public hearing was held before the Westfield Advisory Plan Commission this month.

The developer is seeking a planned unit development amendment to accommodate a five-story luxury hotel and separate restaurant on 5.75 acres in the southwest corner of the Lantern Commons subdivision on 161st Street between U.S. 31 and Union Street.

Matt Skelton of Church Church Hittle + Antrim, representing developer Andmore Partners LLC, said the site would be home to the newest hotel from Lotte Hotels and Resorts — the largest hotel group in South Korea.

Skelton said although a 2021 update to the PUD anticipated a hotel, it did not contemplate the magnitude of a high-end, full-service establishment.

“Now that an end user has been selected, we’re able to fully design and understand and analyze how those standards apply to such a development,” he said. “The site construction — if everything goes according to plan — could begin as early as this fall. We expect the hotel and restaurant facility to take somewhere between 12 and 18 months to be fully completed.”

Skelton said the typical occupancy rate for Lotte hotels is about 70 percent.

APC member and Westfield City Councilor Victor McCarty said the initial PUD called for a strip mall-type development. McCarty said the 2021 update to the PUD and the new hotel proposal represent something that better fits into Westfield’s aesthetic.

“I just want to share my appreciation for Lotte to choose Westfield, just for them to recognize Westfield out of the many, many, many cities across the country,” he said. “It just really speaks volumes to what all we have going on here. In terms of the architecture, I appreciate the brick as well as the black siding as well, as it’s reminiscent of what’s already on the south side of 161st Street. I think it’ll complement very well.”

As the amendment proceeds through the channels for approval, Westfield Mayor Scott Willis and other city leaders are planning a visit to South Korea next month to meet with representatives from Lotte.

“We are excited about the upcoming visit to South Korea, where we look forward to building relationships with their leadership to explore future partnerships,” Willis said. “This includes a meeting with the Lotte Group to discuss hotel development opportunities. Additionally, we are eager to establish a sister city program with a like-minded community, envisioning a collaboration that fosters cultural exchange, education, economic growth, and tourism.”

Hotel amenities and other specifics would be included in the detailed development plan should the PUD amendment be approved by the full council.

Skelton said while a landscape plan is not finalized, developers are confident the landscaping will adhere to current standards without the need for a variance.

“We’re not proposing to alter any of the standards that already apply to the site,” he said. “All the landscaping and buffering standards, the parking lot landscaping standards, all those will have to be complied with. There’s not a physical plan, but we understand, and we’ve retained a landscape architect. They’ve gone through the city standards. They understand how it applies to the site and they’re confident that we’ll be able to meet those standards. I think we should be in good shape. “

The hotel as proposed also would provide connectivity to some of the city’s greatest recreation assets.

“This path (from the hotel) would lead to the Monon Trail,” McCarty said. “So, it’s just a connecting point there. Say that someone does want to come off of the Monon and cross 161st and U.S. 31 and come down here to the restaurant/hotel, they would be able to do so, the same if they’re coming down from the Natalie Wheeler Trail on Union Street.”

The site will not include one popular amenity. APC member Stephanie Carlson asked if there was an option for a rooftop bar or restaurant.

“I just always look at rooftops as potentially usable space,” she said.

But Skelton said rooftop spaces can double the cost of projects, which can make those considerations not feasible in the long run.

“That is not the current design,” he said. “The current design (includes) a covered outdoor seating area at the ground level. There is room for one large restaurant user or two smaller ones. There is plenty of outdoor seating, it’s just not rooftop seating (because) you don’t just have seating on a rooftop. There’s another floor with refrigeration areas and storage areas and areas for servers and elevators up and down. All new flooring, ductwork, the whole nine.”

There were no comments during the public hearing Feb. 3.

The APC waived the workshop meeting on the project. The proposed amendment will return to the APC in March for consideration before being advanced to the full city council.

The L7 Westfield Lotte hotel development would include a five-story hotel and separate restaurant. (Image courtesy of City of Westfield)

HIGH-END WESTFIELD

The proposed 228-room L7 Westfield by Lotte would be built and operated by South Korean-based Lotte Hotels and Resorts, the hospitality arm of Lotte Corp.

The L7 brand is one of five hotel designs. According to their website, L7 hotels are “lifestyle” hotels located in urban areas that focus on the unique traits of their locations.

The Westfield location would be the second L7 hotel in the United States. The L7 brand has locations in Chicago, South Korea and Vietnam. Additional U.S. locations for Lotte properties include New York and Seattle.

Learn more at lottehotel.com.