Hotel developers don't file site plans as expected for downtown Ann Arbor project at 202 S. Division
Chicago-based hotel developers gathered reaction from neighbors in early January for their planned hotel project at 202 S. Division in Ann Arbor.
The effort, mandated as part of the city's development process, indicated that the plans were on track to head into the city by the Jan. 24 deadline.
However, the plans for what's been called Metro 202 were not submitted by this week's deadline to get onto the next available Planning Commission agenda, city officials said Wednesday.
Officials from Chicago-based First Hospitality Group did not respond to request for updated information on their project's timeline.
City Planning Director Wendy Rampson said the company remains in contact with the city over the project.
"They did decide not to file," Rampson said.
She added that she still expects site plans to reach her office by late February.
First Hospitality unveiled initial plans for a 9-story hotel at the southwest corner of Division and East Washington on Jan. 5 during a meeting with neighbors.
The proposal for the 104-room boutique hotel would be LEED-certified and operated under a national brand, officials said that night.
"We’re convinced that a nationally franchised hotel .... is going to add value to the continued development of downtown," said Bob Habeeb, president and CEO of First Hospitality, at the meeting.
The latest attempt to develop the corner follows city approvals in 2008 to build apartments on the site. First Hospitality Group bought the property from McKinley, which owns and manages the McKinley Towne Centre one block east of the proposed hotel property.
Paula Gardner is Business News Director of AnnArbor.com. Contact her at 734-623-2586 or by email. Sign up for the weekly Business Review newsletter, distributed every Thursday, here.
Comments
rsa221
Sat, Jan 29, 2011 : 8:02 p.m.
That's too bad. Development and density would make Ann Arbor even better. Campus Inn does well. I don't see why additional hotels wouldn't be attractive to tourists and conference attendees (if we can make it worthwhile for conferences to come here) who want to stay downtown rather than on the outskirts of town where the walk score is basically 0.
AA
Thu, Jan 27, 2011 : 2:55 p.m.
The city should not be in bed with this hotel.
jameslucas
Thu, Jan 27, 2011 : 3:42 a.m.
Has a hotel ever worked in downtown Ann Arbor? if you want people to sleep there build a park.
KathrynHahn
Fri, Jan 28, 2011 : 11:08 a.m.
Don't forget the lovely Embassy Motel....oh yea..... never mind!
frozenhotchocolate
Thu, Jan 27, 2011 : 2:24 a.m.
News. This is simple paperwork. It means nothing either way. Until building begins we won't know anything.
Bob Martel
Wed, Jan 26, 2011 : 10:37 p.m.
A delay such as this is not at all unusual and may not be indicative of a change in plans by the developer. Unless of course, it is.
Tom Joad
Wed, Jan 26, 2011 : 10:20 p.m.
They made the right decision. Does Ann Arbor really need another empty hotel?
Rod Johnson
Thu, Jan 27, 2011 : 3:09 a.m.
A decision to wait a month? Seems kind of unimportant.