A South Downtown hotel project that’s been called an important historical save and “jewel” of redevelopment has been held up by construction issues but is hardly D.O.A., according to sources involved with the project.

The Origin Hotel Atlanta, a Wyndham Hotels and Resorts property, is turning a 1950s office building at 166 Pryor St. into a boutique hotel with 121 guest rooms and suites with a private event space on the top floor, plus an onsite restaurant and bar. It’s located about a block south of Underground Atlanta, or two blocks west of the Georgia State Capitol building.

Nearby residents have reported recently that interior renovations are ongoing and that exterior improvements were underway in recent days.

Exterior work spotted last week at the 166 Pryor St. building in South Downtown. Submitted

Wyndham officials referred all questions to local franchisees, who haven’t responded to inquiries. But Detric Fox-Quinlan, owner of the all-day Butter + Scotch restaurant concept that’s signed on to operate at the Origin hotel, said both the hotel and restaurant are now on pace to open later this spring or summer, following complications.

“We’re still working,” Fox-Quinlan, who also owns the celebrated Che Butter Jonez restaurant, wrote to Urbanize Atlanta via email Monday.

“The construction crew ran into a few hurdles that have delayed us significantly, both for our restaurant Butter + Scotch, and the hotel as a whole,” said Fox-Quinlan. “But construction is back on track and everything promises to be absolutely beautiful upon completion. We've had to resubmit our alcohol license application because of the delays, and the hotel has recently added an event space and have submitted an application for alcohol as well. Based on their application, they've given summer as their ‘go live’ date, pending no more issues.”  

The building stands at the intersection of Pryor and Mitchell streets, roughly two blocks east of where developer Newport revived downtown’s historic Hotel Row before handing over its portfolio to foreclosure. Tech-focused Atlanta Ventures has since purchased those properties and taken over redevelopment.

The Origin Hotel Atlanta's location where Pryor and Mitchell streets meet, in the context of South Downtown. Google Maps

A 50-foot art installation in the hotel’s lobby will serve as “a graceful nod to the neighborhood’s thriving arts community,” while bike rentals will be free for hotel guests. Plans for the loft-like aesthetics are described as a combination of high concrete ceilings and exposed brick walls with “signature details like toile-patterned wallpaper featuring Atlanta landmarks,” per the Origin website.

It joins other hotels under the Origin brand in Austin, Lexington, Baton Rouge, and Red Rocks (Colorado), among others.

Mississippi-based The Thrash Group paid $16 million for the six-story office building two years ago, when plans were announced to complete a stalled renovation and open the former offices as a unique downtown lodging option. Officials noted the hotel’s proximity to two MARTA stations—Five Points and Garnett—as a selling point at the time.

The 1950s building in question, where Pryor and Mitchell streets meet. Google Maps

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