Hayes Commons

What's in store for the old hotel?
	First, a brief history. Located on the North side of Michigan Ave. in Downtown Jackson's West end the 123,000 square foot Hotel Hayes was designed in 1925 by Holabird & Roche Architects out of Chicago, and was built the following year. Originally designed with over 200 hotel rooms, a grand 2 story ball room, the Drum Room(restaurant), guest lounge and dining room, sandwich bar, coffee shop and, petit bar. The hotel was since purchased by Consumers Energy in the 60's and used as their corporate offices until their new building was built next to the old post office in Downtown Jackson in 2004. The longest running tennant is the Christian Science Reading Room since 1946.
On December 11, 2007 the Jackson City Council unanimously approved to proceed with purchase negotiations for the Hotel Hayes with the Hotel Hayes Development, LLC group. The overall vision for this building entails mixed use tennants, such as store front retail, restaurant, office and professional space, market rate apartments, and executive suites. One of the many goals for the Hotel Hayes Development, LLC group is to maintian the existing architectural attributes that are prevalent throughout the building, and where future design allows, restore those features to their original grandeur. As is the intent with the painting of Downtown Jackson featuring the Hayes in its prime. A painting by local artist Leland Beaman in a mural style painted directly on the wall. This painting is located in the first floor lobby, and will be seen by visitors as they enter from the Hayes Ave entrance. Some may remember a time years ago when they entered the building from the main entrance off of Michigan Ave. and were greeted by 15 foot high marble walled vestibule with ornate woodwork outlining the perimeter. Then, after stepping through the second set of double doors face a grand staircase nearly 14 feet wide and spanning up to the second floor. Adorned with an 18 foot ceiling with Georgian Revival style woodwork and architecture. These stairs lead up to the second floor lobby which like the grand staircase, has decorative wood work abound in the same style.
	One of the best-known features of the former Hotel Hayes is The Drum Room. Hotel Hayes Development, LLC intends to restore this well-known downtown hotspot to its former glory. We look forward to the day that local residents can return to The Drum Room to say that it looks better than ever. Some of the lower floors of the former Hotel Hayes still have marble and terrazzo floors, intricate ceilings, and ornate details that can, and will, be restored to their original beauty. Local subcontractors will be given the first opportunity to display their craftsmanship and pride in their work on this project so they can say they participated in this terrific endeavor. This project has generated a great deal of interest and since the Jackson City Councils unanimous approval for Hotel Hayes Development, LLC to move forward with negotiating a purchase agreemt with the City there are talks with several entities about leasing space and becoming a part of the growing West end of Downtown Jackson. For more information about leasing, or general questions about the project itself, you can contact Bruce Inosencio here.