Outdated motel near downtown Chandler transformed, set to debut in May
Apr 22, 2022, 4:35 AM | Updated: 5:44 am
PHOENIX — A motel in Chandler that has been around for more than half a century received a much-needed renovation and is getting set to open its doors once again with a fresh look.
The Aloha at 445 N. Arizona Ave. has been reimagined into a 26-room boutique motel that looks to be a place to stay for people who want to explore downtown Chandler and the surrounding area, the city said in a press release on Wednesday.
An opening ceremony will take place May 7 from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., concluding a renovation project that began in 2019.
“We are excited to see The Aloha reopen and give visitors to our community a unique place to stay,” Mayor Kevin Hartke said in the release.
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“This is a great example of thoughtful redevelopment, preserving the best aspects of a classic Chandler property while giving it new life.”
Local design-build company J-Squared Construction was hired by investors John Hylton and Bill Simmonds to redevelop the hotel that was constructed in 1950 and sported a traditional u-shaped motor court with rooms surrounding a swimming pool, the city said.
“We knew that redeveloping The Aloha would be a challenge, but we saw potential,” Hylton said in the release.
“It had a funky Hawaiian vibe that we wanted to keep, while creating an option for travelers looking for something more than a typical desert motel. We envisioned a fun boutique destination, convenient to all the amenities that downtown Chandler has to offer.”
Design firm Goodlooks preserved the hotel’s mid-century charm but updated it with a multi-colored façade and a new mural based on the double meaning of the word aloha, the city said.
Visitors inside the room will be greeted with a retro beach vibe featuring vintage Hawaiian photos from local collector Douglas Abrahamson, the city said, along with local artist Randy Slack’s photography of his VW bus “Myrtle.”
Aardvark Partners was picked to manage operations of the renovated hotel.
For more information on The Aloha, click here.
