Ellis Building Hotel Conversion: Aperture buys site for $10.3m; Marriott Tribute Portfolio rooms planned

A historic office building in downtown Phoenix is set for a new chapter as the city continues to repurpose older commercial properties for hospitality. The Ellis Building, a six-story structure dating to the early 20th century, has been acquired by hotel developer Aperture Hotels, which plans to transform the property into a boutique hotel under Marriott’s Tribute Portfolio brand. According to reporting by The Arizona Republic, published through the USA Today Network, and property information from real estate database Vizzda and brokerage NewGen Advisory, the building sold for $10.3 million, with the transaction closing on October 6, 2026. The redevelopment follows years of unsuccessful attempts to find a viable new use for the historic property.A century-old building finds a new purposeLocated at the intersection of Second Avenue and Monroe Street, the Ellis Building contains approximately 61,000 square feet of space. Constructed in 1922, it originally served as an office building, with two additional floors added in 1928.The property remained associated with city offices for decades before Phoenix sold it to Equus Development Corp. in 2019. Subsequent redevelopment plans sought t...