Developers considering chain hotel for John Sevier center

The historic John Sevier center in downtown Johnson City may become the home of a chain hotel by the time developers finish its restoration, which is expected to be complete by summer 2028. Representatives from developers Lansing Melbourne Group (LMG) and 1st and Main met with the Johnson City Development Authority board Friday to present their vision for the 100-year-old building. In December, city officials said the goal was to turn the center, which was most recently used for low-income housing, and its attached parking garage into a boutique hotel. 1st and Main owner Rory Dowling said even though his team is looking for a chain company to service the hotel, the design will still be flexible. "We have ongoing conversations—really good ongoing conversations—with IHG, Marriott and Hyatt right now, all three of which are very interested in being a participant on this project," Dowling said. "But it really is a boutique feel and all three of those groups will allow us to really be very creative… they all have said, because of the nature of this project, they will be flexible and give us the ability to do what we want to do." Plans for the center include three retail spaces: two for dining or coffee and one for shopping, according to Dowling. He said the hotel will have three entrances and there are plans to restore the two-floor ballroom and will create an open space at the center. In November, city officials also said the hotel would have a rooftop bar and 136 rooms. Dowling said, if approved, the National Park Service could cover anywhere from 15 to 20 percent of the $65 million project's cost in historic tax credit. He added that his company has been successful in securing these credits for other similar projects. "We're going to be trying that same strategy here with John Sevier to keep the public investment as minimal as possible," Dowling said. It's unclear what that public investment will look like at this stage. LMG is set to entirely purchase the property from the city sometime during Quarter 4 2026 and break ground soon after. JCDA Board Chairman Jack Simpson expressed his enthusiasm for the sale. "I'm hoping early Q4 [2026]," Simpson said. "But we do have a monkey on our back, and the monkey will no longer be on our back at that point," Simpson said, citing the building's monthly mortgage payments. Residents finished moving out of the Sevier center in December into the new Tapestry at Roan Hill facility. The Sevier center was originally built in 1924 and was turned into low-income housing in the 1970s.