Wednesday, May 16, 2007

Hotel plan gets mixed reviews

Ongoing debate remains economics versus town character


By GREG STAHL
Express Staff Writer

Rendering courtesy Michael Blash The Gateway Hotel is a 200,000-square-foot, 200-room hotel proposed for the southern entrance to downtown Ketchum.

It was the same song, different verse in Ketchum on Monday when the Ketchum Planning and Zoning Commission heard a presentation from developers of a 200-plus-room hotel proposal for the corner of River and Main streets at the city's southern entrance.

"I'm concerned about the direction this whole discussion's going," said Ketchum attorney and developer Brian Barsitti, who attempted to build a hotel at the old Bald Mountain Lodge site on Main Street several years ago. "You're hearing tonight the problem that everyone faces who's doing a hotel. You're hearing the hotelier saying, 'We need some size to make this thing work.' You need to decide: Do you want a hotel? If you want hotels, you're going to have to have some size and bulk."

The 200,000-square-foot, 67-foot-tall hotel, called The Gateway Hotel, would be five stories and step down from River Street to Trail Creek along Highway 75. The building's size and height are obvious stumbling blocks for P&Z commissioners and a number of area citizens who spoke Monday. But nearly all also recognized the need for a shot in the arm for the local economy.

"I have a real concern with the size and height and mass," said Commissioner Rich Fabiano. The town certainly does need a hotel, but is it the right site? What we don't want to see is a massive structure at the gateway to our town. Do I think the hotel is attractive? Yes. Do I think it's well-designed? Yes. Do I think it's in the wrong place? Definitely."

The Gateway proposal has been two years in the making. It would be built on six lots bought during a three-year span. The properties are owned by a group of investors. Matt Cosgriff, an agent with Sotheby's International Realty, is one of the project partners.

Cosgriff said the developers are proposing a number of community benefits, in addition to the inherent economics a hotel could bring to Ketchum. Between 20 and 30 parking spaces in the hotel's underground garage would be reserved for city use. Developers are also proposing about 17,000 square feet of community housing, through a combination of existing off-site housing and new housing.

Ketchum architect Michael Blash designed the building so it would appear to be separate buildings incorporating slightly different styles. Blash said the building is designed to have an "aged mountain craftsman" look along Highway 75.

Jim Woods is a hotel consultant with Keen Development and part of the project development team. He said his company has been working in conjunction with The Gateway Hotel developers for roughly six months.

"The art in hotel development is creating a hotel that's large enough to maintain key amenities. A hotel of a smaller nature would require that be of a much, much higher quality or of a significantly lower quality in which you're providing significantly less services," he said. "This is what we feel is the best combination of services and size for a hotel of this four- to five-story hotel arena."

Woods said he envisions The Gateway Hotel and the Ketchum community appealing to Fortune 500 companies looking for high-end, off-site retreats and meetings. Woods said his organization has been negotiating "on an exclusive basis in a confidential manner" with a large-scale, international hotel operator.

"We have no doubt, given that we can achieve a reasonable scale for this project, that we can attract an international operator," he said.

Most local residents who spoke at the meeting expressed concern about the building's proposed size and bulk. Some, however, said a smart, attractive hotel, even if it's large, is needed, and that need outweighs the wheel spinning that has occurred in Ketchum over the last five years.

"I'm in favor of the hotelier's plan," said Elkhorn resident Holden Morgan. "I'm in favor of a vibrant community. I caution the time we've been taking on all of these applicants. I think we need to take a chance on a well-done project with experienced developers."

The P&Z asked the developers to scale the building back before returning for a formal design review hearing. In particular, the building should be stepped back from Trail Creek and from Highway 75, and the overall size should be diminished.

The city has been courting hotel developers for several years, and up to nine proposals are pending. Ketchum has formed a hotel study committee, consisting of several consultants. The committee is focusing on potential hotel sites throughout the city, but is focusing in particular on the southern "gateway" to the city at the intersection of Main and River.




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