The Fort Worth City Council approved an agreement with Niles City Resort L.P. that is planning to construct an Armour Hotel on the site of the former Armour Meat Packing Plant in the Fort Worth Stockyards.
The hotel will kick off the first phase of a three-phase development, which will be positioned above the Historic Armour-Swift steps overlooking Exchange Avenue. The Armour will be a locally owned, independent hotel licensed under the Hilton Curio collection. The partnership with Hilton Curio will allow guests access to their global reservation system and Hilton Honors program.
“This gives us flexibility to design the hotel the way we want,” said Nile City principal Phillip Murrin. “But we will be connected to the Hilton reservation systems and earn points through the Hilton Honors program.”
The Armour Hotel will join The Stockyards Hotel, Hyatt Place and the new Marriott Courtyard Fort Worth Historic Stockyards hotel in the Stockyards area.
The Armour Hotel is intended to attract leisure and business travelers. It’s amenities will include a full-service restaurant and bar with indoor and patio dining areas; a swimming pool, fitness center, a meeting room and a coffee bar. It will also have parking lot space
The four-star hotel will be built out of red brick and the design will be in keeping with the Armour plant that was built in 1902 and operated for 60 years.
“It will have an industrial theme that pays homage to the history of the site as the Armour packing plant,” Murrin said. Further details will become available when the building is designed.
The developers chose the costlier approach of a red brick façade rather than using stucco or other materials to as a nod toward preservation as well as striking presence for the hotel that will be perched prominently on the hill overlooking the Stockyards.
The council approved a maximum $1 million tax incentive through a 15-year, 380 agreement with the city. Niles City is committing a $21 million capital investment with a minimum of 40 full-time employees and all-masonry facade designed to reflect the historical and architectural heritage of the Stockyards.
In return for their commitment, Niles City is asking the city of Fort Worth to enter into a 15-year agreement that would reimburse the developer 40 percent of the city’s incremental property taxes, capped at $1 million for a 21-1 private-to-public ratio.
The hotel will be a five-story, 121-suite property with two-story penthouses constructed of a brick and steel exterior; reminiscent to the area. Hotel amenities will include a full-service restaurant and bar with outside seating, meeting rooms, pool and spa, fitness facilities and coffee bar.
Niles City Resort, L.P. is a joint venture between Philip Murrin, Max Reising, Don Jury, and John Martillo, whom are all long time Fort Worth land and business owners.