The city has hired a consultant to study the feasibility of locating a hotel and conference center downtown.
Columbus Redevelopment Commission members on Monday voted 3-0 to hire Hunden Strategic Partners, based in Chicago, to complete the study for an amount not to exceed $36,000. Commission members John Dorenbusch and George Dutro were absent from the meeting.
The study will look at 10 acres of city-owned land at Second and Lafayette streets and the geographical area outlined in the Envision Columbus study, said Heather Pope, city redevelopment director.
Envision Columbus, the city’s new strategic plan, is focused on a geographical area bounded by 22nd Street on the north, the Flatrock and the East Fork White rivers on the west, the confluence of the East Fork White River and Haw Creek on the south and California Street on the east.
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Cost of the feasibility study will be shared between the city and the Columbus Area Visitors Center, which has agreed to pick up half of the cost. The city’s portion of the study will be paid through tax increment financing money from the Central TIF District.
Hunden Strategic Partners was selected from four firms that submitted proposals to the city, following telephone interviews, Pope said.
The study should serve as a benefit to Columbus after the loss of the west-side Clarion Hotel and Conference Center, which was torn down earlier this year, said Karen Niverson, Columbus Area Visitors Center executive director.
“I think it’s important that we have someone come in and give an objective look at the market,” Niverson said.
The Fairfield Inn & Suites, scheduled to open Friday, and a Holiday Inn set to open in December, both on the west side of Columbus, will boost the overall inventory of rooms in Bartholomew County, Niverson said. However, the area will still be left without meeting and conference room space, she added.
Niverson said conferences, meetings and other events that were previously held at the Clarion have since gone elsewhere.
Mayor Jim Lienhoop said the city remains hopeful that it will be able to attract a hotel and conference center downtown even if the firm determines that the acreage at Second and Lafayette streets isn’t a good fit.
Second Street development has been a focus for the city since 2015 when former Mayor Kristen Brown’s administration sent out a request for proposals seeking ideas to develop the property.
At that time, city officials realized the Bob’s Car Wash property would need to be purchased to allow developers to freely design on all 10 acres at the site.
City officials purchased the car wash on roughly a half-acre of land at 711 Second St. last year for $300,000 from Robert Cseszko and then tore down the facility.
Two firms, Altera Development, a part of Avison Young of Dallas, and RealAmerica of Fishers, brought proposals to the city after expressing an interest in developing the acreage three years ago.
Altera Development had proposed a seven-story, mixed-used building with retail space on the ground floor and townhomes on the upper floors. RealAmerica also provided examples of several apartment buildings it had developed in other communities.
However, it remains to be seen whether the site at Second and Lafayette streets is a good location for a potential hotel and conference center, said Sarah Cannon, redevelopment commission president.
“Certainly, we would like to get it developed,” Cannon said. “I’m just eager to see the outcome.”
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Hunden Strategic Partners, based in Chicago, will perform the market and feasibility study about locating a hotel and conference center downtown. The process is expected to take six to eight weeks. A written report, along with a formal presentation, will be provided to the city.
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