A groundbreaking has been set for Kent State University's downtown hotel, but its developers have yet to finalize a brand for the new inn.

The hotel, a collaboration between the Kent State Foundation and Columbus developer The Pizzuti Companies, is scheduled for a Sept. 19 groundbreaking.

With that ceremony five weeks away, both parties remain in negotiations with the hotel's potential flag.

Gene Finn, executive director of the Kent State Foundation and vice president for institutional advancement, said there's no definitive answer yet on the brand.

"We’re still in discussions," Finn said. "But certainly by the groundbreaking we’ll know whether we’re going flag or doing independent."

In May, Don Wheat, vice president for public and private projects for Pizzuti, said they were "very close" to closing the deal on a flag for the as-yet unbranded hotel, which has a budget of between $15 million and $16 million.

But Finn said there's also a possibility of simply not linking the Kent State hotel with an existing brand, such as Hilton or Marriott.

"Because it’s going to be a somewhat boutique hotel, it’s always been an option, so they’re just trying to figure out the best financial scenario," Finn said.

The 95-room hotel and 300-seat conference center cleared its last public hurdle in May when the Kent Board of Zoning Appeals granted a variance to the project.

Kent State has since cleared the land for the hotel, but the sign package for the facility has yet to be submitted to the city for approval.