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Eugene developers have secured a deal with Hyatt Hotels for it to occupy part of a new mixed-use building planned at Oakway Center.

Steve Korth, owner of McKay Investment Co. LLC, on Friday applied to the Eugene Planning and Development Department for a permit to begin site work at 100 Oakway Center. The parcel currently is a parking lot.

Oakway Center, slightly northwest of Autzen Stadium and near downtown Eugene, is a shopping center anchored by national chains such as Old Navy, Trader Joe’s and P.F. Chang’s. It’s also home to local boutiques and restaurants.

鈥淲e wanted to bring in the Hyatt brand because we think it will be an attractive brand complement to the niche we are trying to fill,鈥� Korth said. 鈥淥ur location is conducive to people visiting the downtown area or attending University of Oregon functions, so it’s a strategic opportunity for this type of hotel.鈥�

The builder, Chambers Construction, in January will break ground on the seven-story mixed-use building with one level of underground parking. The tentative plan is for 124 hotel rooms and about 350 parking spaces. Korth said the team is hoping to open by summer 2016.

The design calls for one ground-level floor of commercial space, with three levels of parking above. Floors five through seven will be hotel rooms, Korth said.

鈥淚t’s a design we’ve seen in other markets that fits a lot of uses together,鈥� he said. 鈥淲e’re in retail, so we wanted to be able to add more retail, but needed to create more parking for the hotel and for the center as a whole.鈥�

The 21,000-square-foot ground floor will have room for approximately seven retail or restaurant spaces and a drop-off lobby. From there, hotel guests will take a private elevator to the main lobby on the fifth floor.

The hotel will be in a horseshoe shape, allowing for an open plaza area on the fifth floor. Korth said the hotel will have an indoor pool that will open entirely to the plaza area.

Designs for a hotel on the site were drawn up about six years ago, but Korth shelved development plans in the face of the economic downturn. He said a recent market study suggested that the area was ready for a hotel and more retail space.

鈥淲e have a greater comfort in the economy,鈥� he said. 鈥淎nd we’ve been full at Oakway for years, so we saw a need for more retail and more parking.鈥�