Ground work on the new downtown hotel project has started.

Thomas Construction of Grove City has moved equipment onto the site at the corner of East Jefferson and South McKean streets and started to break up the pavement.

Thomas is the general contractor for the city’s neighboring parking garage project, but also is handling the excavation work for the 76-room Marriott Springhill Suites hotel.

“It’s exciting,” said Mayor Tom Donaldson. “We’re trying to make downtown Butler better.”

The previous parking lots at the site have closed and the parking meters were removed. The section of Birch Street between Cedar and McKean also closed for good as it will become part of the Centre City property.

Foundation work on both structures is expected to begin by winter.

The Centre City project includes the hotel, parking garage and the Rite Aid pharmacy that is already completed at the corner of Main and Cunningham streets.

Developer J.S. Capitol and the city redevelopment authority will own the $8.2 million hotel through a public-private partnership. The city will own the about $5 million garage.