In the Tall City, the Sky’s the Limit!

Anchoring the Tall City, Midland's downtown is home to the most impressive skylines in West Texas along with our central business district, Centennial Park, the Bush Convention Center, the Omni Midland Hotel, the Tapestry Hotel, and much more.

Downtown Midland has been a long-time favorite of both Midlanders and visitors as the destination for both work and play. Community favorites such as the Yucca Theater and Centennial Park accompany the impressive Bush Convention Center and a large (and growing) list of locally owned and operated businesses. The Omni Midland Hotel and the Tapestry Hotel will soon join this booming area offering more than just a place to rest your head. 

Midland Development Corporation and Downtown Midland

The Midland City Council, along with the Midland community, have indicated that revitalizing downtown Midland is a priority in growing the city. Downtown is the economic heart of the city, anchored by major employers including Diamondback Energy, ConocoPhillips, and Permian Resources. Downtown represents $67.3M in property values per city block, more than triple the value in other areas of Midland. 

The Western United Life Building

In 2018, the Midland Development Corporation purchased the block where the Western United Life Building sat vacant and alone. Renovation was not feasible, so in 2023, the building and the remaining structures on the block were demolished to make room for something new for both Midlanders and visitors to enjoy. 

To learn more about the Western United Life Building, please read our research on the building's history. 

After the building was demolished, the MDC and the City of Midland issued a request for proposals for a project that would align with the goals of revitalizing downtown Midland. In January 2024, the MDC and the City of Midland entered into an agreement with Midland Downtown Renaissance to bring Hotel Santa Rita to life. 

Omni Midland Hotel

Downtown lacks a convention center hotel to serve travelers for business, leisure, and events. Business travelers look elsewhere for quality hotel rooms - outside downtown, or out of Midland entirely. This amounts to millions of dollars in lost economic activity. Weddings, galas, and corporate board meetings bypass downtown. Signature events and conferences have abandoned Midland entirely because of unsatisfactory accommodations.

This is Midland's challenge, and a group of Midlanders, including local investors, major downtown employers, and Midland foundations have partnered for the solution. The proposed project features 135 rooms in a full-service hotel that retail space, 8,000-10,000 square feet of meeting space, and an 800-space parking garage. Parking has been an issue in Downtown Midland for both locals and visitors; the structure will provide a parking option for the hotel, the public, and other downtown businesses. 

Total project costs are estimated at $168 million. Public funds will represent about 35% of the cost of the project while other private funds are committed for the remaining balance. A master development agreement with the City of Midland and the Midland Development Corporation includes $45 million from the MDC for infrastructure and construction costs. The City of Midland will provide property tax rebates and hotel occupancy tax rebates for ten years. These incentives are estimated to be worth $13.3 million.

The Omni Midland Hotel project comes to the downtown area without debt as it is funded entirely by equity. Midlanders will provide the equity, and Midlanders will be accountable for the project and its results. Incentives outlined in the master development agreement will be provided based on performance. 

This project will generate a financial return for taxpayers of an estimated $67 million in added tax revenue over the next 22 years (two years of development and the first 30 years of operations). There will also be continued tax revenue for the life of the hotel. That's approximately $9 million in tax revenue exceeding the initial tax dollar investment in the project over the first 20 years of operation. The taxes that will be generated by the hotel are property taxes, sales taxes, and hotel occupancy taxes. 

Midland leads the nation in energy production, job growth, and per capita income. Our city has the opportunity to unleash economic potential downtown, with a hotel project that will serve Midlanders and visitors alike.

In September 2024, Midland Downtown Renaissance announced their partnership with Omni Hotels & Resorts with a name change from Hotel Santa Rita to Omni Midland Hotel.

Have questions? Take a look at our FAQs.

More information on the project can be found at www.hotelsantaritamidland.com and on Facebook and Instagram. 

Midland Tapestry Hilton Hotel

Downtown Midland has been on a path of growth for several years now. With an uptick in events and programming held in the area to join the business culture of the Central Business District, downtown is busier than ever. Visitors to Downtown Midland are seeking quality accommodations to use while visiting our community’s Bush Convention Center and Centennial Park. 

The Midland Tapestry Hilton Hotel will bring 80 rooms to downtown Midland, offering more options for visitors and locals.  With these additional rooms, downtown Midland will also see a new upscale restaurant and bar, a fitness center, and a market pantry. 

The total project will be 34,000 square feet and includes extensive renovations to the existing structure and new construction of a six-floor structure. 

As a type A development corporation, the Midland Development Corporation can use funds for site improvements for qualifying projects like this one. 

2024 Downtown Masterplan

In December 2023, the MDC board of directors and the Midland City Council approved a scope of work for a new downtown master plan, with work to be completed by Parkhill. The most recent downtown master plan was completed in 2007. With that plan’s major initiatives completed, a new master plan is needed to guide a holistic vision for downtown. 

The completed plan can be viewed here. 

Questions

Any other questions may be directed to the MDC executive director at sharris@midlandtxedc.com.