Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Economic Development topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Council approves right‑of‑way agreement and fee waiver for planned 144‑room Hotel Blackstone
Summary
Council authorized an indefinite right‑of‑way use agreement with Tyler Hotel Partners, L.P., to allow the Hotel Blackstone developer to construct and maintain improvements behind the curb downtown and waived the usual $350 permit fee; the presentation described a 144‑room full‑service hotel by Valencia Hotel Collection.
City engineering staff and the project architect presented an indefinite right‑of‑way use agreement for the planned Hotel Blackstone at the corner of Ferguson and Broadway. Cameron Williams, the city's director of engineering services, introduced Brandy Ziegler of Fitzpatrick Architects, who described the developer (Valencia Hotel Collection) and the project design.
Ziegler said construction drawings are under way, the project will likely start construction around the turn of the year and the hotel will contain 144 rooms with a restaurant, bar and ballroom. She described design choices to keep heavy construction elements behind the property line and to keep the city right-of-way open and pedestrian-friendly.
City staff said the hotel partners agreed to construct and maintain improvements behind the curb (planter boxes, canopies, valet drop-off areas and similar, removable features) while the city will build improvements up to the curb line. As part of the agreement the council was asked to waive a typical $350 permit fee associated with the indefinite right-of-way use agreement. The council approved the agreement and the fee waiver by motion and voice vote.
Ziegler characterized the building as a signature downtown project: "this is sort of Tyler's Plaza Hotel on Central Park," she said, highlighting the ballroom and balcony features.
The executed agreement will allow the developer to install, maintain and remove certain non-permanent improvements in the public right-of-way; staff noted the city may require amendments in the future if responsibilities change.
