Developer proposes TownePlace Suites on Mariposa, asks city to explore incentives

Developer Rudy Dubdoul told the Nogales City Council on Sept. 3 that his family-owned company is advancing plans for a 99-room TownePlace Suites by Marriott on a parcel along Mariposa Road and asked the city to open staff-level conversations about economic incentives to make the project feasible.

Dubdoul said he selected the extended-stay Marriott brand to serve longer-term visitors, cited higher construction and interest costs since 2020, and proposed tools the city might consider, such as partial sales-tax rebates and other widely used incentives that can improve a developer’s financing. “My goal is to explore options with you and your staff and eventually enter into a mutually beneficial development agreement,” Dubdoul said.

Why it matters: A Marriott-brand hotel could add rooms, jobs and sales-tax revenue near the border crossing and accommodate visiting contractors and consultants tied to local projects. In his presentation Dubdoul estimated the hotel and a proposed adjacent fast-casual restaurant could create about 100 jobs.

What the council said: Council members asked whether the developer had progressed site plans and discussed incentive options. Planning staff confirmed the site plan approval stage had been started and the developer said he was about four to six weeks away from refined construction drawings and pricing. Council members asked staff and the city attorney to meet with the developer to review what incentives the city can legally offer and whether incentive tools such as partial sales-tax rebates or property-tax abatements are feasible.

Next steps: Dubdoul requested that staff and the city attorney follow up on incentive possibilities. City staff said any development agreement or incentive would return to the council for formal approval before the city committed funds or forgone revenue.