A consultant hired by the city to identify potential sites for a hotel and conference center is recommending two possible sites, the downtown post office and Bartholomew County’s court services building and parking lot.
Rob Hunden, Hunden Strategic Partners president, presented a final market and financial feasibility analysis Monday to Columbus Redevelopment Commission members.
Hunden’s presentation included evaluations of four different downtown sites, including 10 acres of city-owned land at Second and Lafayette streets, the Crump Theatre site, the downtown post office and the county site and adjoining parking lot.
The post office and the county sites received the most favorable recommendation, Hunden said.
The Chicago-based firm was hired by the city in June for an amount not to exceed $36,000 to evaluate where a new hotel and conference center could be placed downtown. The city split the cost of the study with the Columbus Area Visitors Center.
Hunden Strategic Partners is recommending Columbus needs a 140-room hotel with conference room space with at least five meeting rooms and 380 total parking spaces. The estimated cost of the project would be about $25 million, Hunden said.
For more on this story, see Wednesday’s Republic.
