Emerald City residents found this interesting Scott Schwebke story at the bottom of the front page of the Standard Examiner this morning, under the headline: "Plans for a 14-story hotel has downtown Ogden looking up". We have no doubt that this story will serve as uplifting news for the several existing Ogden hotels already struggling keep their doors open in Ogden, such as the Ogden Marriott (formerly the Ogden Hilton) and the Ogden Hampton Inn (formerly 3 other hotel chains who couldn't keep financially afloat in the Ogden hotel market). Now that Emerald City is poised to become the high-adventure recreational capitol of the world of course, we're sure no hotelier in town will ever worry about vacancy rates again.
We incorporate here the lead paragraphs from Ace Reporter Schwebke's story:
OGDEN — An Orem company plans to begin construction later this year on a $100 million hotel at The Junction downtown development.In our lead paragraph we mentioned that we found this story interesting. Here's why:
Midtown Village at The Junction, would be located on the northwest corner of 23rd Street and Washington Boulevard, Larry Myler, president of Midtown Development, said in a phone interview Wednesday. The hotel could have as many as 14 stories and 300 rooms and be completed in about two years, he said.
Construction is projected to cost about $100 million, said Dave Harmer, the city’s community and economic development director.
The city has negotiated a development agreement with Myler, Harmer said. The agreement is scheduled for discussion by the city’s Redevelopment Agency board, made up of city council members, during a Jan. 22 work session. The RDA board may vote on the agreement Feb. 5.
The agreement calls for Midtown Development to purchase property at The Junction from the city for the appraised value of $1.7 million, Harmer said. Payment for the land would be deferred until the company receives a certificate of occupancy for the hotel.
In addition, the city would provide Midtown Development a $1.2 million, interest-free loan to help cover construction costs. That loan would be repaid after the occupancy certificate is issued, Harmer said.
The agreement also grants Midtown Development exclusive rights to a potential urban gondola stop serving The Junction, Harmer said.There it is again, gentle readers -- the "G" word -- mentioned this time in conjunction with a snazzy downtown hotel, just as it's been mentioned before.
The city won’t be involved in funding the gondola, Mayor Matthew Godfrey said.
Construction of Midtown Village at The Junction isn’t contingent on an urban gondola system being built, Myler said.
Still, Myler said he would like to see an urban gondola downtown to “enhance the vibrancy” of Ogden.
“Talk of the gondola was certainly the thing that got us looking at Ogden in the first place,” he said. “If there is something we can do to help the gondola, we would be interested in exploring the possibility.”
Boss Godfrey warned us that "nothing has changed" since the November election.
We'll definitely be keeping our eyes on this one. "Madness in great ones must not unwatch’d go" - Shakespeare.
Don't let the cat get your tongues.
