The Journal Star reports that the Civic Center Authority will be deciding today whether to “enter into land negotiations with an unidentified developer” to build a hotel adjacent to the Civic Center.
Isn’t there already a hotel near the Civic Center called the Hotel Pere Marquette? Granted, it’s not immediately adjoining, but do they really think that the extra block is driving convention-goers away? I mean, everyone went apoplectic at the threat of an Embassy Suites going up right across the river. If convention guests are willing to commute from across the river, it doesn’t look like proximity is the main problem.
I’m guessing the Pere was looking forward to the Civic Center expansion. More events at the Civic Center means more guests at the hotel. Only now, if the Civic Center Authority approves this development, all those extra guests will be going to the new Civic Center hotel.
Of course, that’s capitalism, so more power to them. Still, I can’t help but think this hotel is misplaced. Wouldn’t it be better, say, down on Museum Square? You know, like the Heart of Peoria Plan suggested?
Huh (*shakes head*). The Heart of Peoria Plan . . . how passé.
It’s a joke. You can’t tell me that the current rooms are all well utilized. This is a money issue and the Civic Center will get some at the expense of the other hotels in the area. Over and above that issue, I appreciate that green space. Having City Hall showcased was one of the original design elements of the Civic Center in the fist place. If the hotel is absolutely necessary put it in the lot behind the theater, take back some of the parking given to Cullinan across Kumpf and build a walk way over Kump.
The Civic Center gets lease money from their hotel (not the Pere Marquette), and, probably a cut of the profit, too.
If it’s built on Civic Center land, it’s not subject to real estate tax, so they don’t have to share with other governmental agencies. Look for the concession to go to some well-connected developer. Follow the money
I think those who ‘obviously’ know so much more than we look at selected points each year — IMEA, March Madness, Bradley parents’ weekends and graduation, etc. , and see that hotels are completely sold out and say “We need more hotels.” Kind of the same theory that says “There’s maybe 20-30 minutes each day or a couple of weeks total in the year where the interstate is crowded, so we need six lanes to accomodate that extra traffic.”
But let’s look at this from another angle. Let’s just suppose that everything is on the up-and-up, that the Civic Center Authority is really looking out for the best interest of the city in providing convenient hotel space (and possibly more convention/banquet facilities?) and not just out for a quick buck. Dare we ask what exactly it will look like? Will it follow traditional architecture design of the Pere for example (and be, as some on WMBD radio are concerned, just another nondescript, big box building), or will it resemble the Civic Center — lots of steel and glass and once again jettisoning the Heart of Peoria plan?
Don’t forget there is a ‘nicer’ hotel going up right across the river by Steak N Shake. Sure it’s East Peoria but redundancy is redundancy.
And that parcel is so SMALL! Where is the parking??