The Joseph/Short North project draws Le Meridien

The Short North’s established art scene proved key when Starwood Hotels and Resorts agreed to hoist its Le Méridien flag over The Joseph hotel under construction at 618 N. High St. That’s the word from Serge Rivera, the Starwood co-president of the Americas who spoke on behalf of the luxury brand Thursday morning at a formal shovel-and-dirt ceremony with various elected officials and those representing developer Pizzuti Cos.