Suisun City welcomes plans for hotel

Suisun City welcomes plans for hotel

By Reporter Staff

Article Launched: 03/09/2007 06:02:49 AM PST


A major step toward the future of Suisun City was taken Tuesday when City Council gave approval to the plans for Basin Street Properties to build an upscale 102-room Hampton Inn & Suites hotel on the north end of the Waterfront District.

Pending appropriate approvals, including working out the logistics of the hotel's main access road, construction on the property could begin later this year, with a proposed completion date of summer 2008.

Bringing an upscale hotel with a national reputation, such as Hampton Inn & Suites, which is a member of the Hilton family of hotel properties, has been a key component of the Waterfront District renaissance for decades.

"This type of hotel is an important part of our goal of creating a destination and a sense of place on the waterfront," City Manager Suzanne Bragdon said. "We have worked long and hard to bring this to fruition. This is an extremely exciting piece of our waterfront plans."

The proposal calls for a four-story hotel between Lotz Way and Driftwood Drive alongside One Harbor Center, one of the region's newest office buildings. The hotel's design includes a grand drive-up entrance, business center, executive conference rooms, garden setting, pool and spa, and deluxe rooms and suites with balconies, fireplaces and views of the Suisun Marina and Lighthouse.

The hotel will be integrated into the Waterfront District's pedestrian orientation of the nearby train station and the Harbor Promenade, which links the Waterfront District businesses and services. Hampton Inn & Suites will provide premium guest services, including high-end linens, room amenities and morning breakfast service.

As a linchpin of the Main Street West program goals of establishing the Waterfront District as a destination, the hotel will play a key role in encouraging business and pleasure visitors to discover the growing array of restaurants and shops available in the immediate vicinity.

"It's important to the city in how it fits into the redevelopment of downtown," said Jason Garben, Project Manager for Suisun City. "It will activate the downtown and really be a generator of business. It's such a major statement project for the downtown."

The hotel is expected to have a positive financial impact on Suisun City. Construction jobs will be created immediately, bringing additional money flowing into small businesses located in the city.

When the hotel opens, it is expected to generate between $275,000 and $300,000 annually in new hotel and sales taxes available to the city to fund essential public services.