Jan. 12–WEST CHESTER TWP. — There are now three hotels under development in the township’s still-expanding Union Centre Boulevard area.
The most recent addition to the mix is Homewood Suites by Hilton, an 88,808 square-foot set to rise from a former Max & Erma’s now being demolished at 9226 Schulze Drive.
The five-story, 112-room hotel is expected to open in early 2015, according to officials with Shihasi Union Centre LLP.
The location is “one of the preeminent interchanges on I-75, from Dayton all the way down to Lexington” and “the focal point of Butler County,” company officials said.
That includes “natural demand generators” like General Electric, Procter & Gamble and AK Steel.
Homewood Suites’ ongoing operation will create about 20 jobs, officials said.
The hotel joins two other such projects already in progress.
Centre Park of West Chester, a new development that includes a hotel and conference, event and banquet center will be constructed at the corner of Muhlhauser and Allen roads by Middletown Hotel Management and HiFive Development Services.
Located across the street from IKEA, the project will feature a five-story, 130-room Holiday Inn & Suites, and an approximately 37,000 square-foot conference and event center that will seat about 1,000 people, complete with a banquet hall and wedding chapel.
Construction on the project is slated to be complete this summer and is estimated to create at least 30 to 40 jobs, officials said.
Less than half a mile away at 9306 Schulze Drive, Richmond, Ind.-based hotel operator Sterling Hospitality is building a 2,515 square-foot Hilton Garden Inn.
The five-story, 125-room hotel will have a full-service restaurant and bar, along with meeting and conference room space. It is expected to create approximately 30 new jobs when it opens in the middle of 2015.
There are at least three other lodging facilities in the vicinity of the Union Centre Boulevard/I-75 exchange, including Cincinnati Marriott North. Developers continue to show interest in building hotels in West Chester Twp.’s downtown, according to Barb Wilson, spokeswoman for the township.
“These hotels provide exceptional lodging options for business and leisure travelers and in 2013 generated nearly $830,000 in revenue for the township,” Wilson said. “Visitors staying in the community also contribute to the local economy by dining at West Chester restaurants, shopping at local stores and purchasing gas locally.”
The new demand for additional lodging is reflective upon the current demand for the area and the township’s strong corporate base, according to Mark Hecquet, executive director for the Butler County Visitors Bureau.
“In addition, (there are) new products coming in place, new growth, new additions to the infrastructure of the area, lots of excitement coming through with Bass Pro Shops and things like that,” Hecquet said. “The area is really booming, which has been reflected for this demand with more visitors and hence, new hotels.”
