Mayor Jones unhappy with Urban Renewal Authority over proposed hotel downtown. (Charleston: extended stay, 2014)

[Chriscross309]

Charleston Daily Mail | Mayor questions downtown hotel deal

The plans have changed for the proposed hotel site, as the company now wishes to build a Homewood Suites on the site instead of a Hilton Garden Inn. Mayor Jones feels that CURA got played by the developers and should have never agreed to this developed bid as opposed to the other option which was mixed use.

I have to agree with Mayor Danny on this one, this was a lame deal that is just going to hurt the hotel market in downtown. If this company really wants to build a Homewood Suites (which is a suburban extended stay hotel), then they can do so at North Gate Business Park, Kanawha City, Southridge, or Mink Shoals. Plenty of space and market for an extended stay hotel around the metro, but this is a poor move by CURA. Currently 7 hotels downtown, with new Marriott Courtyard opening soon making it 8
.

[elewis7]

Board chair Jack Cavender added that the authority can prevent KM Hotels from putting an unsatisfactory project on the site.

“The development agreement has to be approved,” he said. “In other words, they just cant put anything.”

I agree with everything the Mayor is saying. Cavender has done some good things with CURA, but I disagree wholeheartedly with this proposal and the handling of it. The way things are now, that quote doesn't carry too much weight.

[Chriscross309]

Here is another article:The Charleston Gazette | Mayor blasts CURA over downtown hotel plan

[Chriscross309]

Originally Posted by elewis7

I agree with everything the Mayor is saying. Cavender has done some good things with CURA, but I disagree wholeheartedly with this proposal and the handling of it. The way things are now, that quote doesn't carry too much weight.

I honestly think that this criticism will prompt change within CURA. In all honesty, the group has either worked very slowly on projects, or they have simply fallen through the cracks. They have had a good record in the recent past, but progress has stalled in recent years. Example 1); East End Grocery Store Example 2); Slack Plaza redevelopment.