The Crowne Plaza Union Station has agreed with the city on a plan to build an enclosed walkway from the hotel to the expanding Indiana Convention Center.

The climate-controlled connector will open next year and replace a canopied, open-air walkway.

“All the agreements have been concluded” for hotel operator General Hotels Corp. to build the connector, which will stretch about 80 feet over Capitol Avenue, said Doug Allison, general manager of the Crowne Plaza.

The cost hasn’t been determined, he said.

The connector will lead to an elevator and stairway that will let people enter and exit the convention center along Capitol.

That portion of the convention center is being rebuilt in a $275 million expansion to be finished next year.

The Crowne Plaza includes 273 rooms and operates the Grand Hall and Conference Center in the historic train station.

Leasing activity in the Grand Hall for weddings and other events this year has been almost even with last year, despite the declining economy, Allison said.

He said Union Station should benefit from the arrival of a Cadillac Ranch Western-themed restaurant in vacant space on the east end of the building.