Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Economic Development topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Council authorizes exclusive negotiations with Dual Brands LLC for a hotel at Norwalk Transit Village; public comment raises ICE concerns
Summary
Council authorized an exclusive negotiating agreement (ENA) with Dual Brands LLC to pursue a minimum 150-room branded hotel in Planning Area 1 of the Norwalk Transit Village; public commenter Andy alleged Home2Suites/Hilton franchisees have collaborated with ICE, a claim council did not substantively address at the meeting.
The Norwalk City Council on April 7 authorized the city manager to execute an Exclusive Negotiating Agreement (ENA) with Dual Brands LLC to pursue hotel development in Planning Area 1 of the Norwalk Transit Village (the former Southern California Youth Correctional Reception Center site at 13200 Bloomfield Avenue).
Alex Hamilton told the council the ENA would require Dual Brands to cover costs for entitlements, feasibility work and design; the agreement sets a 24-month negotiation period with a 12-month automatic extension under certain conditions and allows additional extensions by mutual consent. Staff said Dual Brands is expected to secure brand rights from Hilton within six months of ENA execution and that the ENA approval is exempt from CEQA under the "common-sense" administrative exemption cited in the staff report.
During public comment, Andy urged the council not to partner with the Home2Suites/Hilton brand, alleging that some franchise owners have allowed or courted Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) use of hotel properties and warning that residents would resist a hotel that "harbors" ICE agents. Andy said online reporting and examples from other jurisdictions tied Home2Suites locations to ICE operations; council did not debate the factual claims at length during the meeting.
Council moved and seconded the item and approved the ENA authorization by unanimous roll call vote (Councilmember Zayala: Aye; Valencia: Aye; Vice Mayor Rios: Aye; Mayor Perez: Aye). Staff said the ENA is intended to build certainty for branding and financing and to guide entitlements, design, and the negotiation of development and operations agreements if the project advances.
