A landmark redevelopment project is poised to reshape downtown Prescott’s skyline, as plans advance to reinvent the historic Old City Hall site into a sophisticated mixed-use development. The ambitious proposal, unveiled at a November 14th City Council meeting by Territory Holdings’ managing partner Steven D. Shumway, envisions transforming the 1.3-acre property at 201 S. Cortez Street into a modern urban destination.
The 2.2 million dollar property purchase by Stroh Architecture, will replace the 1962-era structure with a 75,000-square-foot complex featuring a boutique hotel. The development plans call for 70-75 rooms, complemented by restaurant facilities, meeting spaces, and retail areas. A modest parking structure providing 114 spaces will support the venue’s operations.
Architectural sensitivity remains paramount in the design approach. The structure’s height will be capped at 48 feet—maintaining a respectful profile below the neighboring Courthouse’s 67-foot stature. Traditional materials like brick and stone will be incorporated throughout, creating a visual dialogue with the surrounding historic district.
The project has already cleared its first major hurdle, securing approval from the Prescott Preservation Commission in September 2024. The City Council’s recent 6-1 vote marks another significant milestone in the approval process. The development satisfies key criteria under SUP 24-001, incorporating premium materials and emphasizing architectural integrity while ensuring all mechanical systems are seamlessly integrated into the design.
Community response has been mixed, with residents expressing both support and concern. Key issues raised include potential traffic impacts, the displacement of 60 existing public parking spaces, and safety considerations for pedestrians, particularly children accessing the nearby library. Questions also persist about the allocation of the planned parking spaces between hotel guests and public use.
The development team has addressed several community concerns during council proceedings, confirming plans for accessibility features and electric vehicle charging stations. While the project meets downtown business district requirements, including the minimum 10,000-square-foot floor area specified in SUP 24-001, some details—particularly regarding public parking access—remain under discussion.
As downtown Prescott stands on the cusp of this significant transformation, the project represents a delicate balance between progress and preservation. The development team continues to refine plans to address community feedback while maintaining their vision for a modern, mixed-use facility that honors the area’s historic character.
The project’s evolution will likely continue as final details are resolved, marking a new chapter in Prescott’s ongoing story of careful urban development within its cherished historic district.
18 thoughts on “* Historic Hotel Development Set to Transform Downtown Prescott – Jana Valenzano”
Still concerned about parking. It seems that it’s being brushed aside. Seriously do need to treat parking issues with more concern.
This is very small part of renewing Prescott’s appearance to visitors. Gurley St and Miller Valley Rd south of the hospital are in complete disarray and the Prescott management team needs to address those areas with incentives to bring them back to the hometown feel they once had.
Definitely an issue that keeps getting ignored.
Electric charging stations are eye sores and should not be placed on public streets! They do not fit in with the towns look!
I agree 100%. This is Historic Downtown not 21st Century downtown.
You could go down and cut off the cables!
Whats wrong with leaving historic Prescott, historic Prescott? That is part of its charm! Modernize the inside don’t destroy the outside!
A charging station downtown? Seriously? Never saw a horse at a charging station. Where did they get plugged in? Put horse hitching posts back and use bicycle racks. Make it a walk around town not some billionaires new bundle.
Wonder where this grand scheme originated from?
Hummmmm.
tearing down an historic building to build a new one is ridiculous. people come to Prescott because of its history and how it feels. we don’t need to modernize it!
Let us keep our small town. Go to the big cities and build your billionaires playground.
I personally have never been offered a job from a poor person. I have worked for several billionaires and a number of millionaires.. If you think capitalism does not work then move to Ukraine or Russia or China. And even Russia is now more a capitalist country. Some people get wealthy from their ideas but it usually helps everyone. Get down and kiss the ground you were born on, the USA.
This beautiful little town square will be destroyed by the grossly irresponsible leadership that can’t seem to say no to developers. This is a very sad decision, and the serious parking problem and overcrowding promoted by our “city leaders” will help ruin our lively city. How very sad and shortsighted.
City council ran on a no devlopment platform. Once in they deep sixed that idea. You are stupid if you beleive a politician. I personally will not support any business that locates in the hotel development. I have no proof but what kind of kick backs are council getting from the developers?
Charm, old time values, makes Prescott feel peaceful and different from other large environments.
This idea would work better in big cities.
I thought the draw to Prescott, is keeping it livable without, feeling that we are in a big city.
Remodel the inside. Update it, make it fun, comfortable and appealing for small town living.
There are not enough parking spaces as is, when there are events and fairs.
Add a parking garage, to help citizens and guests to not become angry and frustrated, because they can’t find a place to park.
Add a charging station at a gas station.
Let’s not forget, what brings people here, it is not a fast pace, big city feel.
Let’s continue to create Prescott with fore thought for all, not for one.
Hey all of you folks who are complaining about the new monster hotel that is going to be build downtown, get a clue, the City Council and the Planning and Zoning people don’t give a damn about how you feel. Complain as you will, write what you want, they don’t care about you or anyone else, they only care about the money they got for that piece of property and the money, money, money that awful hotel will bring to the City, so very sad but true. What I don’t understand and would like to see done now is the make Cortez a single lane street. It is too narrow and parked cars backing out is very dangerous for the traffic. But there again, that would only make downtown safer, and that wouldn’t bring in any money for our leaders to waste. I agree with everyone who has left a comment, Prescott is pretty much long gone and will become just another big city for the tourist to drive through but no one will want to live here.
I hope you are wrong, Augusta, but I sadly must agree with you. The Prescott city fathers have tossed aside
their vision of saving the valuable history that had been offered by Prescott—especially to tourists and new residents who have viewed Prescott as one of the last bastions of history that included the Earp brothers and Doc Holliday. It is a travesty that the “new-agers” have
apparently been successful in placing Prescott on the bonfire of modernity. A sad chapter in the town’s history, and it makes me wonder what will be the next despicable sacrifice made for no discernable reason.
I am afraid the only way to stop all of the bad changes and development that is happening to our beautiful Prescott is for us citizens to join together and rise up and get an initiative going where we gather enough signatures to get any large change or new development in Prescott on the ballot for the residents who live here to vote on. A handful of old retired city council people and the Prescott Planning and Zoning Commission should be stopped from destroying our beautiful town. It won’t be until we all get sick and tired and stand together to stop our money hungry leaders from what they now have a free reign to do and don’t care what the people think or want.
Retired city council people tried to stop this nonsense. Apparently you have not been here very long. You got totally snookered by the present council. They want growth and tourism at any cost to the residents. Money, money, money. All they really care about is more sales tax money and fees to the citizens.
Prescott is one of the last examples of what makes a
town unique. It has a history that has honored the making of the country—yet there are those who blindly consider all history as being passe and not worthy of any type of attention or consideration, thanks to the constant misrepresentation from the national mainstream media (MSM) pundits who have no idea of what was important about the past, due to their never having lived in it. Ask them a question, and expect to be met with a thousand-yard-stare. The education system has also contributed to a pervasive national ignorance, and the shunning of parental control and influence is a prime factor in their continuing indoctrination of the young. Those who indoctrinate completely reject anyone who challenges their deeply-flawed opinions, labeling them as “Systemic Racists,” or worse. Instead, they should be looking into their own ranks to root out the lies and innuendo that they are responsible for spreading to the rest of a society that had been the beacon for freedoms for decades. Sadly, such freedoms to think and evaluate are now part of history. I only hope the trend will soon be reversed, with Prescott leading the way.
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