Shuttered Southfield hotel to undergo $12M renovation

Southfield — A former Holiday Inn hotel in Southfield that has been closed since 2009 is about to undergo a more than $12 million renovation and become three separate hotels.

The hotel, located at 26555 Telegraph Road, is one of the most recognizable landmarks in the city. Over the next two years, the 190-room facility will be completely renovated from floor to ceiling in addition to having its iconic round tower preserved

The project includes $12.1 million in private sector investments and will bring 71 new jobs to the city.

The Southfield City Council approved the request for a commercial exemption certificate to assist in the redevelopment from New Zealand investment group Kiwi Hospitality Detroit LLC.

“We are excited that a New Zealand investment group will soon be revitalizing this important landmark property in the city,” Mayor Donald Fracassi said in a statement. “Their proposed renovations will greatly improve not only the former Holiday Inn, but the entire surrounding area.”

The hotel complex sits on 7.32 acres of land and includes three buildings comprised of a 16-story tower, a five-story building, a two-story building and 600 parking spaces.

Kiwi Hospitality’s plan includes redeveloping the property as three separate hotels with 417 rooms. The plans include convention, event and banquet spaces. A restaurant space of about 4,000-square feet will be renovated in the ground floor of the hotel and another restaurant at the top of the hotel will be redone and offer patrons views of the city.

Kiwi Hospitality plans to work with the Southfield Michigan Works Department to fill the positions at the hotels, which include nine managerial and professional roles, 15 technical jobs, four sales positions, three clerical jobs, 20 positions for unskilled laborers and 10 service industry jobs.

The hotels will provide employees with healthcare, heavily discounted on-site meals, uniform allowance, employee/friends and family subsidized lodging, flexible schedules, paid vacations, and paid sick leave.

Ajay Soeny, Kiwi Hospitality’s group operations manager, said buying the property made sense because the city of Southfield is growing into the business center of the metro area.

“In coming years, Southfield is going to be recognized as a hub for business, executive business and business dealers, so it will be a place where great things are happening,” said Soeny.

lrazzaq@detroitnews.com

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@laurenarazzaq