By Bridget Levitz, Truth Staff
ELKHART -- Anticipating a successful Civic Plaza venture, developer Herman Renfro said he likely will consider bringing another hotel to the city, possibly an extended-stay version to complement his plans downtown.
"I'm very interested in and excited about what Elkhart's doing," he said.
With other downtown improvements, including the NIBCO Water & Ice Park on the nearby RiverWalk, "things are just going to get better," Renfro said Friday.
Renfro is the Columbus-based developer eyeing the plaza as the future site of an upscale hotel and restaurant.
While a signed contract isn't yet in place, the city and Renfro say plans are moving ahead and the deal will be inked by June, if not sooner.
Elkhart's Redevelopment Commission on Tuesday extended its exclusive negotiating period with Renfro through June 12, its next meeting date. The city initially hoped to have a redevelopment agreement signed by April 20.
"We're in agreement in principle, just not in writing," said Economic Development Manager Brian Gildea. "We'd been shooting for (Tuesday) but a few items came up and rather than rush through them, we wanted to do it right."
Attorneys for the two sides continue to work out details. Drafts, spelling out project expectations and timelines for Renfro's proposal, have been passed back and forth as the city and Renfro negotiate a final version.
Another delay, said Renfro, came in deciding whether lease terms should be worked out along with the agreement or hammered out later. Working out the lease now, Renfro said, saves time down the road. There's been no disagreements between the two parties, he noted.
"Our goal is to give the commission a complete agreement and not one that has anything to be added later," Gildea said. A special meeting may be called prior to the June meeting to wrap up the contract, he added.
Renfro will be in Elkhart Monday to speak to the Rotary Club about his plans, and Gildea said he'll use the visit to review any unfinished aspects.
Once details are set, Renfro plans to build a four-story DoubleTree Inn on the plaza, complete with townhouses and condominiums on the top floors and a fitness center, full-service restaurant and other retail and dining spots at street level. The hotel would open in early 2009.
Renfro said Hilton Hotels, owner of the DoubleTree brand, is considering his application to bring the hotel to Elkhart and Hilton representatives have visited the site. The process takes about four months, which means Renfro should have an answer in July.
Typically the developer must have control of the future site for Hilton to look at the application.
"But Hilton hasn't held up the process," Renfro said. "They are proceeding as if I do have site control."
Once a contract is signed and Hilton OKs the DoubleTree Inn, construction drawings will be drafted over the next 90 to 100 days. That timeline, Renfro said, still allows construction to begin in the fall as planned.