New hotel would be Ketchums biggest
Approximately 139,000 square feet proposed for four-story complex
By GREG STAHL
Express Staff Writer
Ketchums downtown could soon see construction of its largest
commercial building yet, a hotel that would be more than double the size of the Colonnade
and more then double the size of the Hemingway Elementary School.
The new behemoth would replace the existing Clarion Inn and surrounding
buildings, on the corner of Ketchums Main and Sixth streets. In fact, it would fill
that entire block.
The Ketchum Planning and Zoning Commission will consider preliminary
plans for the structure at its meeting Monday at 6 p.m.
The new hotel would consist of 140 to 150 rooms, retail areas, meeting
rooms, a restaurant, 140 underground parking spaces, offices and employee housing. The
building is proposed to consist of 139,000 square feet and four above-ground stories.
The existing hotel has 58 rooms.
The developer, The Lewis Co., owns the existing hotel and surrounding
buildings and would develop the new Ketchum Hotel, as it would be called.
The lot on which it would be built, across Main Street from Backwoods
Mountain Sports, is one of the largest in Ketchum. It takes up 69,700 square feet,
compared with the average downtown lot size of 5,500 square feet, Ketchum planner Tory
Canfield said.
The lot was originally bisected by a planned-but-never-constructed
Seventh Street and a never-constructed alley. It is a triangular-shaped lot, and the
building would conform to the lots shape.
According to Canfield, who is reviewing the buildings plans, all
of the proposed uses are allowed by city ordinance in Ketchums downtown.
Though the city has a height restriction of 35 feet, an additional five
feet is allowed when underground parking is provided.
Canfield said the buildings mass, architectural style and
pedestrian friendliness may be among the P&Zs concerns.
The Lewis Co. was not available for comment, nor was the projects
Seattle-based architect, Olson/Sundberg.