More than three years after Bridgeport's Holiday Inn abruptly closed, a new six-story hotel will be constructed in the city.

After it closed, the city's former hotel was converted into luxury apartments, leaving Bridgeport without a major hotel.

True North Hotel Group, a hotel management and development group, partnered with RCI Group, a property developer, to break ground on a new Residence Inn by Marriott at Steelpointe Harbor on Wednesday. Gov. Ned Lamont, city officials, lawmakers and hotel executives were among those in attendance.

According to executives, the hotel will feature 142 rooms with views of Steelpointe Marina, direct access to I-95, Metro-North, and Amtrak, and the ferry.

"To attract a brand like a Marriott Residence Inn to come here was a huge achievement," said Robert Christoph Jr., president of RCI Group.

The Marriott hotel is just one of the latest additions to the area. Starbucks and new luxury apartments, known as The August, are some of the recent additions to the neighborhood.

"This is just phenomenal waterfront development, urban revitalization, job creation, tourism, next to housing. The local, state and national priority is housing. This is the premier waterfront site I'd say anywhere on the northeastern seaboard," said Bridgeport Mayor Joe Ganim.

Construction is expected to start in a few weeks.

"It's always been part of our vision to be part of the community, not just an isolated island known as Steelpointe, but part of the community, whether East Side, East End, Downtown, Black Rock; part of the community. And every time we bring something here, we look to benefit the whole community of Bridgeport," Christoph Jr. said.

The hotel is expected to be completed in the next 18-20 months.