Old Town is rapidly becoming the home to towering – by Scottsdale’s standards, at least – hotels.

While plans for the nine-story Winfield Hotel have stumbled, the Remi opened last year, with guests on the 12th floor and those at the rooftop bar and pool able to look down on the bar-hopping crowd in the Entertainment District.

In 2024, the much-delayed Caesars Republic Scottsdale Hotel opened the doors of its 147-foot high, 265-room luxury accommodations.

While a planned hotel in Museum Square would be even taller, the newest Old Town hotel is half as high.

The six-floor AC Hotel Scottsdale Old Town plans a Feb. 26 opening. The Marriott brand hotel will feature “clean-lined European design, curated social space and seamless functionality tailored to modern travelers seeking authenticity, walkability, and cultural immersion.” 

AC Hotel Old Town room rates range from $189 (off season) to $499 (peak season).

Previously, 7110 E. Indian School Road – just west of Scottsdale Road – was home to a modest Howard Johnson motel and adjacent event center.

In early 2024, the city issued a construction permit “to allow for a new mixed-use development including a hotel, dwelling units, commercial uses and public art.”

 

The plan is anchored by two, six-story buildings: a 176-unit apartment (or condo) building and hotel with 168 guest rooms and a restaurant.

The Howard Johnson and a four-story event center called the Venue were demolished, but the site still features the Kimsey Triangle building – what the developer calls “cherished Ralph Haver architecture.”

According to an ad for retail and restaurant space, “the project integrates the historic Kimsey Building, blending Scottsdale’s rich history with modern luxury.”

Though as noted above the hotel is much shorter than other new ones around Old Town, the height of the buildings caused much debate, a few years ago.

In 2021, many expressed outrage over the developer’s request for buildings double the allowable Old Town zoning.

But on April 6, 2021, City Council voted 6-1 to approve the Kimsey project. The lone vote against came from Councilwoman Kathy Littlefield, wife of Bob Littlefield, a former councilman who rallied opposition to the project.

Agreeing with her husband, Kathy Littlefield explained her council vote against the Kimsey:

“The vast majority of citizens do not want our Old Town destroyed by replacing it with an out-of-code tall, dense building in the very heart of your city.”

With a nod to a then-hot referendum opposing the Southbridge II development, Littlefield proclaimed she would not go against “Scottsdale citizens from all areas of the city, who told us loud and clear that they did not want high dense buildings in our downtown.”

Then-new council members Tom Durham and Betty Janik and Mayor David Ortega – who all campaigned against reckless development – seemed to be on the fence about the Kimsey development in the weeks leading up to the vote.

But last-minute support by dozens of neighboring businesses apparently gave the three newcomers faith in the project.

Durham gave his approval to the development, even after belittling some of its supporters: “Tonight we heard from a number of people who have never seen a project they didn’t like and frankly, I don’t listen to their comments that much.”

Explaining his vote for the project, Durham said he was troubled by vacant buildings in Old Town – echoing Janik, who declared Old Town “is on life support.”

Describing “a blighted situation” in Old Town, Ortega also voted for the Kimsey, which will tower 76 feet above its neighbors.

Before his vote, the then-new mayor said the six-story buildings were “the price we are paying by eliminating the nuisance buildings …This is an important investment and for that, I will support the motion but I expect nothing but quality and performance.”

Council members Solange Whitehead, Tammy Caputi and Linda Milhaven also voted for the Kimsey.

The 2021 development agreement included a stipulation that the original 36-foot height limit would return if construction did not begin within five years.

Before voting for the project, Caputi noted the many speakers in favor of what she called a “lifeline.”

“This project will save businesses and create jobs downtown,” Caputi stated. “This area is dying.”