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city council will consider incentive package for the planned high-rise Wyndham Luxury Hotel and Conference Center. In addition the city would build a parking deck that the hotel could use. The hotel is one of three publicly announced hotels that are planned for downtown. The News & Record hinted there is even rumored fourth. Roy Carroll is planning an 8 plus story hotel across from the ballpark and a 150 room mid-rise hotel and conference center is planned for the downtown university project. Two of the hotels will be open in time for the opening of the 3,000 seat downtown performing arts center and adjoining urban park. There will be a lot of big construction cranes downtown in 2014 and 2015, the most development activity downtown has seen in years. Three downtown apartment projects are already under way and two small office buildings and an indoor carousel will be built within the time frame as well.
Some details about the proposed Wyndham hotel according to the News & Record:
• 8-stories.
• 180 rooms.
• Would be built on top of a 6-story parking deck at 200 S. Davie St.
• 2,500-square-foot fine-dining restaurant.
• 4,500 square feet of retail space.
• Elm Street Center would be incorporated into the hotel.
• The building facade would get a face-lift.
• A new streetscape design to include a drop-off space for hotel guests and valet parking.
• Projected cost: $40 million.
I don't like it either but unfortunately cities have to play that game to attract companies and sometimes development. Its very difficult for private developers to make the numbers work in large scale downtown projects because of the expense of building downtown. Every big downtown project, except for the ballpark has received some sort of incentive or public assistant But the money we are talking about in this case is economic grant money. Too often people think the money is coming out of the general fund or their property taxes will go up to pay for private deals such as this.
I don't like it either but unfortunately cities have to play that game to attract companies and sometimes development. Its very difficult for private developers to make the numbers work in large scale downtown projects because of the expense of building downtown. Every big downtown project, except for the ballpark has received some sort of incentive or public assistant But the money we are talking about in this case is economic grant money. Too often people think the money is coming out of the general fund or their property taxes will go up to pay for private deals such as this.
It's a problem on the state level too, but methinks governments can be a little too eager to award incentives sometimes.
Nonetheless, I'm eager to see these projects completed.
I couldn't help but notice on a Triad based forum from Greensboro's neighboring city all of the bashing and naysayers in regards to the two downtown hotels and really downtown Greensboro's development projects in general. One person even said the Wyndham hotel should be in downtown High Point instead of downtown Greensboro. What sense does that make? If its because of the furniture market, that only comes twice a year. If a developer announced a 24 story office project in downtown Greensboro and if some of them read that in a post heading on a forum, their stomachs would easily turn and get queasy. btw one person posted major inaccuracies about downtown Greensboro's office vacancies rates but thats another topic.
The naysayers point out that downtown can only support so many hotel rooms but fail to realize that the Wyndham and Roy Carroll's hotel would serve different kind of travelers. Its like comparing a Wolfgang Puck Restaurant with a Pizza Hut. There are a limited number of upscale/luxury hotel rooms in the city. Grandover and the Proximity are the only two upscale hotels in the city with the O'Henry being semi-upscale. Not everyone can afford to stay in a luxury hotel and not everyone wants to stay in a 2 or 3 star hotel. Another difference is that the Wyndham will be a conference hotel, Roy Carroll's will not. The Wyndham will also be the only major hotel in the city that will literally steps from restaurants, theater, museums and entertainment. There is no need to get in a car. Thats a major selling point and is appealing to urban business travelers and conference/convention planners. Yes it will be another hotel added to Greensboro inventory of hotels buts its all about location and amenities and this hotel will stand out among many. The Wyndham brand alone will be a big draw. The Wyndham project does have one more hurdle and thats with the city council approving to give the project grant money. There will be three new people joining city council but the politics wont change. Greensboro city council is still liberal and I foresee them approving the project once every I is dotted and every T is crossed. If everything goes as planned construction will begin in March. I do think having the Wyndham brand will help downtown's image.
I couldn't help but notice on a Triad based forum from Greensboro's neighboring city all of the bashing and naysayers in regards to the two downtown hotels and really downtown Greensboro's development projects in general. One person even said the Wyndham hotel should be in downtown High Point instead of downtown Greensboro. What sense does that make? If its because of the furniture market, that only comes twice a year. If a developer announced a 24 story office project in downtown Greensboro and if some of them read that in a post heading on a forum, their stomachs would easily turn and get queasy. btw one person posted major inaccuracies about downtown Greensboro's office vacancies rates but thats another topic.
The naysayers point out that downtown can only support so many hotel rooms but fail to realize that the Wyndham and Roy Carroll's hotel would serve different kind of travelers. Its like comparing a Wolfgang Puck Restaurant with a Pizza Hut. There are a limited number of upscale/luxury hotel rooms in the city. Grandover and the Proximity are the only two upscale hotels in the city with the O'Henry being semi-upscale. Not everyone can afford to stay in a luxury hotel and not everyone wants to stay in a 2 or 3 star hotel. Another difference is that the Wyndham will be a conference hotel, Roy Carroll's will not. The Wyndham will also be the only major hotel in the city that will literally steps from restaurants, theater, museums and entertainment. There is no need to get in a car. Thats a major selling point and is appealing to urban business travelers and conference/convention planners. Yes it will be another hotel added to Greensboro inventory of hotels buts its all about location and amenities and this hotel will stand out among many. The Wyndham brand alone will be a big draw. The Wyndham project does have one more hurdle and thats with the city council approving to give the project grant money. There will be three new people joining city council but the politics wont change. Greensboro city council is still liberal and I foresee them approving the project once every I is dotted and every T is crossed. If everything goes as planned construction will begin in March. I do think having the Wyndham brand will help downtown's image.
What you said in your first paragraph is truly, truly sad but let them wallow. All I can say is the new owners of the LJVM contracted Gboro Coliseum to promote and book events.
As for High Point, and me growing up in around that city, it can't support squat much less a luxury hotel; especially downtown. The former Radisson location has been sold 2-3 times because the place starves when the market is not in town. To further reinforce this point High Point virtually does not have any accomodations in or near the city core. The bulk of rooms are actually outside of the city limits most of which are in Greensboro & Archdale.
Some council members have concerns over giving a grant to the project. A few have concerns about giving assistance to a private hotel development when there are others that are planning hotel are not asking for assistance. Others question the need for the hotel and who would own the parking deck, the city or the owners. The project would include 100 space but city staff said the city would need at least 400 to 500 spaces in this deck. Councilwoman Hoffman said to meet the city's need, they would just have to add more parking deck levels. The current proposal is an 8 story hotel on top of a 6 story parking deck (14-stories). Additional deck levels would push the height of this hotel to around 18 or 20 stories.
As it stands now the project would still pass despite concerns from some city council persons. Only 4 of the 9 councilpersons have concerns. However, the developers continue to craft a financial plan that will get more support from city council and details about the parking will be ironed out. This is the same process GPAC went through to get more support from city council.
The proposed hotel is to have 180 rooms yet require a parking deck with only 100 spaces? The math sounds a bit off.
I don't think the city should be owning a parking deck where the public cannot park. However, making the deck public may cause a shortage of spaces for those staying at the hotel. One condition of a potential incentive should be owners build and maintain their own parking deck.
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