Sources: New downtown hotel in works
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BY DICK PIERSOL and ALGIS J. LAUKAITIS / Lincoln Journal Star
The company that owns Embassy Suites in Lincoln is planning to build new lodging downtown, the Journal Star has learned.
John Q. Hammons, chairman of the hotel company that bears his name, is expected in Lincoln on Thursday to announce what an invitation to local leaders called "several new investments he is planning for Lincoln."
Sources close to city government told the Journal Star that would mean a new hotel on the block bounded by 17th, 18th, P and Q streets. The size and style of the hotel wasn't known.
The site would make the hotel a part of the Antelope Valley Project, a $240 million flood control, transportation and urban revitalization plan organized by the city, the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and the Lower Platte South Natural Resources District.
At least one business owner on the block the hotel would occupy was surprised. Rob Richter, owner of Miracle Mile Motors at 17th and P, said no one from the city contacted him about the hotel project.
Richter has attended meetings where he has heard about possible urban revitalization projects, he said, but there have been no concrete proposals to his knowledge.
"I don't know if I am a willing seller or not," said Richter, who has sold cars there for five years.
"I would hate to lose it … it's my livelihood."
As part of the Antelope Valley Project, the city could use its power of eminent domain to acquire the land, if negotiations failed.
The city's proposed new plan for downtown Lincoln shows that block occupied by retail space, but with university-related housing on the east and west of it.
UNL spokeswoman Meg Lauerman, given a description of the project, said, "the university is not involved in any new projects in downtown Lincoln."
"The university is interested in and supportive of any new and exciting projects in downtown Lincoln," Lauerman said. "We'll be interested to hear details about anything that comes up."
University of Nebraska Regent Charles Wilson of Lincoln said no regents had been briefed. "This is all news to me," he said.
In earlier discussions of the Antelope Valley Project, city officials said there had been interest by unnamed developers to build a hotel on O Street and apartments north of there in the area bounded by 16th and 19th streets.
In a letter dated Tuesday, local leaders were invited to a press conference with Hammons and a luncheon Thursday at Embassy Suites. "Mr. Hammons will be in Lincoln to make a major announcement on several new investments he is planning for Lincoln," said the letter from Steve Navin, Wells Fargo president in Lincoln.
Navin said he didn't know what was going to be announced at the press conference.
Other business and government officials were unwilling to comment. They included Polly McMullen, president of the Downtown Lincoln Association; Jim Fram, president of the Lincoln Chamber of Commerce; and Dallas McGee, assistant director of the city's Urban Development Department.
Lynnie Green Scheibeler, general manager of the Embassy Suites, acknowledged Hammons has an interest in Lincoln, but would not comment further. Officials at Hammons' headquarters in Springfield, Mo., could not be reached for comment.
Hammons has another Embassy Suites in Omaha. The company owns or manages hotels under a variety of brands in 21 other states.
They include properties of several types, including residential-style suites, the kind that might be used, for example, by academic visitors in town for an extended stay.
Mark Whitehead, owner of the U-Stop convenience store at 17th and Q streets, said he had heard rumors of a hotel project on the block. "But from that standpoint, nobody has sat down and explained to me what's going on," he added.
Whitehead said he was scheduled to talk with Lincoln Chamber of Commerce officials on Tuesday but did not make the meeting.
Reach Dick Piersol at dpiersol@journalstar.com or 473-7241. Reach Algis J. Laukaitis at alaukaitis@journalstar.com or 473-7239.
What is Antelope Valley?
* The Antelope Valley Project is a massive transportation, flood control and urban revitalization project planned for the city's core neighborhoods.
* It is a joint effort of the city of Lincoln, the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and the Lower Platte South Natural Resources District.
* The first phase is expected to cost about $240 million and be finished by about 2011.
* For more information, go to
www.lincoln.ne.gov/city/pworks/antelope/
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