A proposed hotel and parking garage at 12th and Laramie near Aggieville took a step forward this week. This is a change from an earlier office building proposal that never occurred.
There was approval of an amendment for a 105 room hotel and parking garage on a vacant site. industrial revenue bonds can also be issued to gain a sales tax exemption on construction materials.
There was public input during the city commission meeting.
Expressing support was Dennis Cook with the Aggieville Business Association. "What we want in Aggieville. This brings a lot of people in. There people are shopping, dining, they're going to utilize Aggieville a lot more than anything we could possibly put down there."
Others expressing support included Mark Bachamp, Gavin Schmidt and Jason Smith with the Chamber of Commerce.
There was strong opposition. Amber Starling noted that this is a tale of two smooth talkers and a commission that has subsidized them. She argued that the developer has repeatedly over promised and under delivered. "They constantly change the plans, the renderings and the story.
Gywn Riffel said the developer on this hotel project is not experienced in commercial real estate development, Midtown failed to fulfill its responsibilities in an initial 2022 project and proposed 2023 first amendment. He asked the city to pause the process.
Commissioner Susan Adamchak then questioned Riffel on a separate topic about an empty lot he owns at Bluemont and 12th Street. Riffel stated that he is working on a project. Adamhak noted the proposed hotel developer on the 12th and Laramie project had brought something forward and asked where Riffel had been the last six months. That was followed by statements from a member of the public Katie Smith. She told Adamchak that the commissioner's comments were "incredibly uncalled for," which was followed by applause in the meeting. To the commission Smith said if they voted yes they're telling the developer "this city is easy to bully."
Adamchak noted that she thought people had been complaining of an empty lot for a year or two, and called for approval of the project. The hotel would bring in property and sales tax revenue and if the developer missed deadlines that were set they would be responsible for $2.3 million dollars.
The commission approved two motions, one for a development agreement with Midtown Land Company for Midtown Phase I site at 12th and Laramie, and the other for a resolution issuing $20 million to realize a sales tax exemption on construction materials.rs.