Feb. 12–Wanted: A full-service Downtown hotel that can accommodate large conventions.
Reward: City incentives, including possible property and sales tax breaks.
“We want to get a feel for developers who are willing to come forward with some proposals,” Mayor Oscar Leeser told the El Paso Times Tuesday. “We really believe that’s what’s going to get the city moving forward now that we have all these other projects lined up.”
The City Council on Tuesday directed city employees to prepare a request for proposals for a full-service Downtown convention hotel, which would be considered to receive city incentives such as property and sales tax breaks among others.
The council also voted not to entertain any requests for city incentives for hotels through the end of the year unless they’re full-service and have enough meeting rooms and other amenities to host large conventions.
The vote came after the council in executive session considered a proposal by Jim Scherr, the owner of the DoubleTree by Hilton hotel Downtown. Scherr had previously asked for about $3 million in city tax rebates to build a $17 million Courtyard by Marriott Hotel next to the DoubleTree. His proposal had been rejected late last year, and was asked to come back with a new one.
City officials said they could not comment on that particular proposal, but said the new direction is to begin searching for a hotel developer to fill the gap when it comes to Downtown conventions.
The city Convention and Visitors Bureau has reported that Downtown needs 800 to 1,000 hotel rooms to attract more conventions, with Downtown now having about 430 available rooms, including the Double Tree, the Holiday Inn Express and the Camino Real. A few smaller hotels boost that number up slightly, but aren’t of the quality or quantity to attract major conventions, city officials said.
The City Council last year approved incentive packages for a 115-room hotel at the site of the former Artisan Hotel, and the Historic Landmark Commission approved a new fa?ade plan for a project that will turn a vacant building into a boutique hotel on Stanton Street.
The council last year also approved an incentive package for a $64-million, 220-room, upscale Westin Hotel and 80,000-square-foot restaurant and retail project to be built on nine acres of El Paso airport-owned land on Airway Boulevard near Montana Avenue.
But Leeser and some city representatives said Tuesday the city wants to reserve some incentives specifically for Downtown.
“It makes sense and it’s what needed at this point given everything that’s happening there,” Leeser said.
City Rep. Cortney Niland, who represents Downtown, said although there’s no specific timeline, the city wants to move quickly as it plans for other Downtown projects such as the children’s/science museum and the multipurpose arena.
“With all the investments that we’ve made in the last decade, and especially with the projects that are coming forward in the quality of life bond, we feel like the next big project should be a convention style hotel,” Niland said.
The city recently approved a $615,000 contract to a group of architects and local vendors to begin master planning the $19.3 million museum and the $180 million arena, as well as the $5.8 million cultural center — including finding locations in which to build them.
The projects are part of the $473-million bond approved by voters in 2012. The arena would be built toward the end of the 12-year bond program, and no specific site has been selected or approved.
Niland said it’s important to begin looking at how a convention-size hotel can also fit into the bigger picture.
“We want to emphasize how much the city is serious about moving forward with this project,” Niland said.
Cindy Ramirez may be reached at 546-6151.
