The McCormick Place Hyatt Regency, the convention center’s sole hotel, is moving forward with construction of a second tower.

Long-discussed in the Motor Row district and by McCormick Place officials, the new complex will add 461 rooms to the existing 800-room hotel.

The Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority, which runs McCormick Place, said it was leading construction of the second tower. They’re expecting construction to be complete by mid-2013.

Jon Kaplan, a spokesman for the Pier and Exposition Authority, said in an email to Chicago Journal that they feel the expansion will benefit the neighborhood.

“The investment in the community is a very good and positive move,” Kaplan said. “The expansion of McCormick Place, in general, has helped revitalize the Chinatown, Motor Row and Bronzeville neighborhoods in the past decade. Certainly, the construction of this hotel tower will provide construction jobs and the expansion of the hotel will ultimately require additional staff as well.”

Ald. Bob Fioretti (2nd) has recently begun a push to have the neighboring Motor Row district on South Michigan Avenue rezoned and repurposed as an entertainment district, in part to capitalize on convention center traffic. A brewery is already making plans to set up shop on the strip.