New CentrePointe designs include five more floors for apartment building

This architect view of the new CentrePointe concept is from the intersection of Limestone and Vine streets. Developer Dudley Webb said the changes were driven by Marriott, which wanted to add extended-stay suites to the apartment complex. RABUNRASCHERECTORREECEANDCMMI

Developers of the long-anticipated CentrePointe development have submitted new designs for the downtown project that include five additional floors on an apartment building.

New designs for the development, which includes an office tower, a hotel and other retail space, also show changes to the facade of the hotel.

The Courthouse Area Design Review Board, which ensures that new development meet design guidelines for downtown, is expected to review the changes at its next meeting on May 14. The project has been before the review board at least three times in the past 12 months.

Including financing costs, the price tag for the entire CentrePointe project, which includes Vine, Main, Limestone and Upper streets, is estimated to be $393.9 million. The project has been controversial since 2008, when an entire block of historic buildings was razed but construction on the new development did not begin until late December 2013.

The downtown project has been repeatedly delayed because of problems with financing.

Dudley Webb, one of the project's developers, told the Herald-Leader that the latest changes were driven by Marriott officials, who wanted to add extended-stay suites to the apartment complex.

"We are going to add 110 Marriott extended-stay suites which will now be the first five floors of the apartment complex," Webb said.

The apartment complex was originally to be seven floors and will now be 12, according to the new designs. The bottom floor is to be retail shops. The top six floors are to be apartments.

The Marriott chain had initially said that its luxury brand, J.W. Marriott, would occupy the hotel structure that faces Vine Street. Webb said that Marriott has since decided to make it a Marriott hotel, which is still a full-service hotel. The hotel is to have 205 rooms, which was the initial plan.

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New CentrePointe designs include five more floors for apartment building