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Suites hotel to rise at I-694 and Lexington interchange in Arden Hills

For the Minnesota Star Tribune

November 17, 2017 at 5:42AM

(The Minnesota Star Tribune)

Address: 3920 Northwoods Dr., Arden Hills

Type: Hospitality

Rooms: 139

Developers: Hawkeye Hotels, JR Hospitality

Architect: Base4 International

Details: Iowa-based Hawkeye Hotels and partner JR Hospitality of Eagan are continuing their development push in the Twin Cities with plans for a new Marriott Springhill Suites hotel in Arden Hills.

The hoteliers have submitted plans for at least three other metro-area hotels in recent months, including a Holiday Inn Express & Suites in Bloomington, a Home2 Suites in Eagan and a Fairfield Inn in Shakopee.

Jay Bhakta, president of JR Hospitality, said a spring groundbreaking is expected for the 139-room Arden Hills hotel, which is slated for a 2-acre parcel in the southwest quadrant of the Interstate 694-Lexington Avenue interchange. The spot currently holds a one-story office building, originally built in 1988 as an insurance claims office, that will be razed as part of the plans.

It will join a bustling suburban commercial area anchored by the Land O'Lakes corporate campus located just north of the freeway. Recent development around the I-694/Lexington intersection includes a Raising Cane's restaurant, a Trader Joe's grocery and a revamped Green Mill restaurant.

The 79,000-square-foot hotel will be five stories tall and feature an indoor pool, fitness center, meeting room and lounge area. Springhill Suites guest rooms include a bit more space than other chains, boasting separate areas for sleeping and working as well as in-suite microwaves and refrigerators.