Groundbreaking begins on $101 million Marion Square hotel

CHARLESTON, SC (WCSC) - Thursday at noon will mark the ceremonial beginning of the Marion Square Hotel Project at the site of the old Charleston County Library.

The $101 million project will go in the heart of downtown Charleston, right across the street from St. Matthews Lutheran Church on the corner of King Street and Marion Square.

The building is expected to be eight stories and have 185 rooms.

Bennett Hospitality, who is over the construction of the project, has had to clear many hurdles to get the plans off the ground. It's been tied up in lawsuits with the Charleston Historic Society.

The Society opposed its construction, saying the height of the building would compromise the historic nature of downtown Charleston.

The library closed more than 10 years ago and the building was demolished in 2013. Later in 2013, the State Supreme Court blocked a lower court decision that would have stopped construction entirely.

Mayor Joseph P. Riley, Jr. and other Charleston leaders will be at the noon groundbreaking.

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