First look at the redesigned Lichtin Plaza, updates on future Omni Hotel

RALEIGH, N.C. (WTVD) -- Mayor Janet Cowell joined city leaders, parks employees and tourism officials to open the Martin Marietta Center's new Lichtin Plaza, described as the first step in reimagining the southern end of Fayetteville Street.

Officials said the plaza is designed to serve as a more accessible and convenient entrance to the performing arts center.

Key upgrades include:

• Dedicated drop-off lane

• Added wheelchair accessible ramps into Raleigh Memorial Auditorium

• Enhanced green space and new flexible gathering space

Across the street, construction continues on a future Omni Hotel, which representatives said is slated to open in 2028. New renderings show the hotel will include 600 rooms, a 20,000-square-foot ballroom and 60,000 square feet of meeting space.



"I think the connection to the Martin Marietta Center for the Performing Arts, the connection to the Convention Center, and to be, again, at sort of the center of town, that serves a great purpose for us and for the city," said Jeff Doane, chief commercial officer for Omni Hotels.

Cowell said the project will help address demand for additional hotel space in the city.

"So we all know that we've needed more hotel rooms. I remember when Dreamville was here and we maxed out every hotel in the county. So making sure that we are taking the hotel motel tax, reinvesting that into these kinds of projects to build our tourist capacity," she said.

City leaders said the size of the new Omni Hotel will also allow Raleigh to host multiple convention center events at the same time.



The project will be the third Omni Hotel in North Carolina once it opens.



SEE ALSO | Raleigh Convention Center shares first look at new expansion project