UPDATED: Boutique Hotel Could be Coming to Wyandotte
City officials are considering a plan for a boutique hotel moving into the city-owned Sears Building.
A luxurious hotel with up to 33 rooms could be coming to downtown Wyandotte.
City officials are studying a plan that calls for a boutique hotel moving into the city-owned Sears Building at the corner of Biddle and Maple.
At Monday night's City Council meeting, officials plan to consider changing a city ordinance that requires hotels and motels to provide parking for its guests. The current ordinance stipulates that hotels and motels with 15 or more rooms must supply parking. Officials are set to lessen that requirement and only force establishments with 34 or more rooms to provide parking.
City Administrator Todd Drysdale acknowledged that the proposed change is in direct correlation to the plans for a hotel moving into the Sears site.
"We certainly want to attract a use like a boutique hotel and there is a potential for one moving in with more than 15 rooms," Drysdale said. "So we want to relax our ordinance to make it attractive to the developer. ... If you don't, you’re either going to get a smaller project or not a project at all."
Drysdale said he doesn't foresee a downtown parking problem if a hotel is built. But you might have to walk a ways to get to your destination.
"Believe it or not, there is not a parking shortage in Wyandotte," he said. "There is a convenient parking shortage. … No matter how many consultants we bring in, no one determines we have a parking shortage here."
If council members approve the change Monday night, the matter will be referred to the city's Planning Commission, which must hold a public hearing on the issue before any changes can be made.
The Wyandotte Downtown Development Authority purchased the Sears Building for $500,000 earlier this year. The building, which has three floors and a mezzanine, had sat vacant for a decade.
DDA Director Natalie Rankine said the proposed developers are set to attend the Sept. 17 council meeting. Until then, she said, she's hesitant to release any details on the proposed project.
"We've developed a long relationship with these people," she said. "Their other hotels are beautiful. ... This will be great for Wyandotte."
Karen Gambino
11:44 am on Friday, September 7, 2012
Go for it!
Paula Jean-Catherine Crowe
12:23 pm on Friday, September 7, 2012
What in heck is a boutique hotel?
Jason Alley
1:18 pm on Friday, September 7, 2012
It's basically a luxurious hotel with a set theme. We'll provide specific details on the one proposed for Wyandotte as soon as we learn more about it.
sue leffew
12:46 pm on Friday, September 7, 2012
I have always said Wyandotte needed a Hotel but the parking is a huge issue now, I can't see someone wanting to park 3 blocks away to get to a room. But the hotel idea is a great one.
poe
12:52 pm on Friday, September 7, 2012
As long as they provide some close parking for disabled or elderly persons, I think it's a great idea! Wyandotte has a lovely walk-able downtown.
LW
2:37 pm on Friday, September 7, 2012
They could build an underground parking structure, or make a parking lot next to the building.
Maggie
3:11 pm on Friday, September 7, 2012
Sounds great! But I hope they don't put anymore parking on the waterfront. It's our best asset and we waste it on the parking lot behind the LTBs block...
Lindsay Theisen
3:21 pm on Friday, September 7, 2012
sounds great! that would really bring more business to the downtown area!
Al Sheldrake
3:22 pm on Friday, September 7, 2012
Great idea. This will help our local businesses as well. This is a win win for Wyandotte.
Lindsay Theisen
3:22 pm on Friday, September 7, 2012
oh and I have a lot of hotel/management experience, so I would be interested in working there!
Kim Piesik
3:40 pm on Friday, September 7, 2012
A few years ago there was talk about putting a 14-room boutique hotel in the old bank building. I was very disappointed when that didn't materialize, so I hope this project has better legs under it.
Kenny Browne
4:21 pm on Friday, September 7, 2012
Parking would not be a problem; other cities like New Orleans make it work. They do valet parking off site, then also offer taxis
Fish Roncefish
5:44 pm on Friday, September 7, 2012
2¢: build a bar in there and implement a short menu of small plates, craft beer, and craft cocktails; theme should be reminiscent of when the Sears building was in operation.
Sam123
6:07 pm on Thursday, September 13, 2012
Did Sears have a bar?
Leah
5:49 pm on Friday, September 7, 2012
I'm into it
Diana Jackson
7:14 pm on Friday, September 7, 2012
Wow! Great idea...the Chase/old NBD building would ne even better...ample parking, elevators....
Jason Alley
7:53 pm on Monday, September 17, 2012
Hey, Sam123. I checked with Natalie Rankine, director of Wyandotte's DDA, and she said there is not a bar already built inside the Sears Building.