City to hold Hotel Del Sol Demolition Ceremony October 29

The City of Yuma will hold a demolition ceremony marking the start of the historic Hotel Del Sol's redevelopment on Thursday, October 29, at 11 a.m. in the parking lot north of Hotel Del Sol (200 E. 3^rd Street).

The project will transform the historic site into a centralized transportation hub, bringing rail, bus, and other transportation services together in Downtown Yuma. Once complete, the facility will improve transportation connections for residents, visitors, and the regional workforce.

"The redevelopment of Hotel Del Sol marks a major step, decades in the making," said Mayor Douglas Nicholls.

"The project is pivotal for Yuma's transportation system and redevelopment of our downtown," Nicholls continued. "The Hotel Del Sol's history will live on in the multimodal center and future reuse of the building. I appreciate the work of staff and partners to bring this project to fruition… from working to preserve Yuma's history, to ensuring the hotel brings beautification to our downtown area, to the fact we've been able to fund nearly the entirety of the project through state and federal grant funding."

Originally built in 1926 as the Hotel Del Ming, the hotel served travelers arriving in Yuma by train. Nearly a century later, the redevelopment will continue that connection to transportation while preserving key historic architectural elements into the new facility. These include portions of the north and east façades, historic signage, and wrought iron balconies.

Planned improvements include new pick-up and drop-off areas, improved traffic circulation, reconfigured parking to support bus operations, and dedicated spaces for ticketing, waiting areas, restrooms, and transit services. The center will serve Amtrak, Greyhound, Yuma County Area Transit (YCAT), paratransit, taxis, shuttles, and rideshare users.

"Our focus is on delivering a transportation center that serves the people who rely on these services every day," said Acting City Administrator Jay Simonton. "The Hotel Del Sol project will help build momentum for continued redevelopment in our historic downtown."

CORE Construction will complete the project, which is expected to take approximately 18 months.

"CORE is thrilled to see the historically significant Hotel Del Sol Renovations move from vision to reality after years of collaboration with the City of Yuma," said Emerson Ward, vice president of CORE Construction. "We recognize the extraordinary efforts of the City and YCAT to secure grant funding for the project, as well as the team's careful work to document and preserve select character-defining elements. We are honored to help revitalize this landmark property for the community and downtown Yuma."

Due to closures along portions of Gila Street and 3rd Street, attendees can access the event site via Maiden Lane from either Giss Parkway or 1st Street. Parking near the event site will be limited, and attendees are encouraged to carpool when possible.

The City will continue to share updates throughout construction, including project progress, traffic impacts, and key milestones. For more information, visit yumaaz.gov.