Former Bears Player - Israel Idonije - Adds Plans for Hotel to Motor Row Project?

Israel Idonije has been an active investor in the South Loop in the past and his biggest plans are for a project called FBRK (pronounced "fabric") in Motor Row.

Crain's Chicago had a recent post about a new, tech incubator plan that he's launching further north in the Loop.  While reading about that, we saw an update on the plan in Motor Row:

The idea spun out of a project Idonije and former Bears teammate Julius Peppers have been developing on Motor Row, where a venture of theirs paid $10 million last year for the former Hudson Motor Building at 2222 S. Michigan Ave. They plan to turn that five-story building into FBRK, a co-working and member club space designed to foster collaboration in specific industry sectors including tech, nonprofits, sports and art. They've since added plans for a 109-room boutique hotel to that project, which Idonije aims to open in 2021.

Besides the updated open date, what's interesting is that this is the first time we've heard about the plans for the boutique hotel.  Not sure what that is, but intriguing.

The greater Motor Row area has seen a flurry of activity in recent years.  It still has a ways to go, but seems to be moving in a good direction.