Building on its mission to "redefine the art of hospitality," the 21c Museum Hotels will work with the Cincinnati Center City Development Corporation (3CDC) to restore the historic Metropole Hotel of downtown Cincinnati.
The 21c team will restore the Metropole building, recently listed on the National Register of Historic Places, following federal standards for historic rehabilitation. The space will become an 8,000-square-foot contemporary art museum open to the public free of charge, with a 160-room hotel and Proof restaurant and bar serving contemporary cuisine made with locally grown ingredients.
The first 21c Museum Hotel – located in Louisville’s West Main Street Historic District – has proved vital to the life of that city and has helped to further raise national recognition for Louisville’s downtown arts and theater district.
Moreover, 21c Museum Hotels was named sixth best hotel in the world and number one hotel in the U.S. in the November issue of Conde Nast Traveler.
21c Museum Hotel officials hope their latest project can revitalize the cultural tourism of Cincinnati. "When we consider locations for 21c Museum Hotels, we focus on how we can enhance the cultural and civic life of the community and encourage tourism," said Steve Wilson, founder and chairman of 21c Museum Hotels.
Cincinnati locals hold high hopes for the restoration project as well. "21c will bring local residents and visitors downtown and provide a major boost for our reputation as a destination for the arts," said Dick Rosenthal, an emeritus trustee of the Contemporary Arts Center.
In addition to helping the artistic life of the community, the museum will create jobs for locals. The restoration will create about 540 construction jobs and about 160 permanent employees with the opening of the hotel, restaurant, and gallery.
The total project cost is an estimated $48 million, and, together, 21cMsuem Hotels and 3CDC will cover 95 percent of the cost.
Wilson says, "21c is a catalyst for art and civic programming and the response from the public has been tremendous. We look forward to being part of Cincinnati’s downtown revitalization."