New Hotel in NH Business Park

[Clipper]

I guess I may be out of the loop, but is the NH Business Park so heavily inundated with out of town business men that they need a hotel in the Business Park?

One would think that the citizens of NH would be raising hell with the board approving such a thing. What happened to the idea that NH was putting too much raw sewage into the system already? Was there not an injunction of some sort that supposedly limited additional connections to the sewer trunks in that area?

How does one plan to fill an additional 87 rooms when the area's existing hotels are starving and struggling? How can they offer tax incentives for such a plan after watching the Hotel Utica debacle play out over the years.

It is simply my own personal opinion, but I think it kind of irresponsible to back such a project when there are more sensible things to pursue, such as bringing more "Business" to the Business park.

I guess one can only be happy that they do not live in that town where elitist dreamers run the show and spend your tax money like drunk sailors on frivolous fantasy. Heck people coming from Rome on 840 will look over there and see that place and say to themselves "gee, that looks like a nice hotel, I wonder how the hell you get there, and I wonder why they built it out in the middle of nowhere?"

[stoney]

As Ray (Itchy) Jadwick referred to it in his book, Metica, "New Nerdford".

[clarencebunsen]

Clipper,

I'm not privy to the hotel business plan so I can't comment on its soundness but I don't see a tax payer burden being created by the planning board aproving the construction. I have not heard of any plans for the town co-signing loans like the Utica/Hotel Utica deal. I believe here is some sort of PILOT agreement that will reduce the amount of tax $s the town and school district will get for the next decade.

As far as sewage lines, the problem is storm water rather than actual sewage. A few months ago the town had a project going to detect and fix problem areas where run off was entering the sewer lines. As I remember the deal was that by reducing the number of gallons of run off entering the system a smaller number of gallons of sewage could be added to the system. Not a perfect solution but one that does reduce the burden on the problem pumping station somewhat.

Sorry, I shouldn't work from memory but I'm feeling lazy & the rain is giving me a headache. I will not feel at all offended by any corrections or additions.

[Clipper]

You are correct Clarence. There is no mention of a loan deal, but the PILOT agreement is not fair either. It leaves the costs of maintaining the roads and infrastructure in the business park on the shoulders of the local taxpayer and I don't picture this place becoming a stellar success in the location it is being built at. When the tax breaks run out, they will probably close it, or put it on the market. The Holiday Inn on Campion road was at one time the best hotel in the whole area and it could not make it. New Hartford is not much of a tourist destination, and the one tenant in the business park is not going to keep the hotel full. The former Holiday on Campion Rd has gone down hill for years sold out to new owners, was only able to franchise with Ramada and is not what one would any longer call an upscale hotel. I think I would classify it somewhere between a Best Western and a Super 8.

I just see it bringing a few mediocre jobs with the end result of putting the Ramada Inn out of business and competing with the Hotel Utica, The Radisson, The Holiday Inn on Burrstone Rd, and other quality hotels in a saturated market place.

[WestmoGuy]

I can't see that hotel getting a lot of business. Though, an inside source of mine told me about someone wanting to build one on Commercial Drive. Truthfully can't see the great need there.

Clipper, Rt. 840 also killed the Ramada Inn. I cant see how they even stay in business.

Where another hotel is needed is at Griffiss. The hotel there is consistently packed. Surprised someone else hasn't looked for a spot there to build.

[Clipper]

Heck, Roanne and family would probably raise hell if someone wanted to put another hotel there to compete with the Paul Revere at the Beeches. They have always had a handle on visitors to the old Air Force Base and most likely now are still able to fill up with visitors to the industrial park. Quality Inn in downtown Rome has gone the way of the Ramada. I know someone that stayed there a couple of year ago and said it was terrible and they were worried about the safety of their vehicle while parked there.

[WestmoGuy]

There is a Wingate Inn at Griffiss Clipper, next to RFA. Not sure if you knew that.

[Clipper]

Yes. We drove through there last time we were home. It is a beautiful hotel. Beeches probably still thrives. The Paul Revere is a real nice place. Quality Inn has gone to hell. The crowd at Denny's at night would be enough to keep me from taking a room there.

[dgriffin]

Sept 16, 2010 15:04:33 GMT -5 Clipper said:

Quality Inn in downtown Rome has gone the way of the Ramada. I know someone that stayed there a couple of year ago and said it was terrible and they were worried about the safety of their vehicle while parked there.

Well, actually I've stayed at that Quality Inn in Rome and had breakfast or coffee at the Denny's three or four times in the past 2 or 3 years, just recently as a matter of fact. Perhaps I'm naive, but it seemed OK to me. And if you bring a family and like the pool, ask for an inside room. The motel is arranged around a locked courtyard with a large pool in the center.

I am aware of the shooting at the Denny's a few years ago.

[Clipper]

That is good to hear Dave. My friend may have just caught a bad weekend. He said that there was doors banging and noisy drunks in the parking lot all night long, and that he was worried about his car all night. He also said the room was not that spiffy. I haven't been there since the base closed. It used to be one of the contract quarters hotels for the base, and I have visited friends that were staying there while TDY to Griffiss. I know it was a nice hotel at one time. Glad to hear that it still is. I guess one problem is that I have no tolerance for rowdy drunks any more. Haha. That alone would discourage me.

[dgriffin]

Yes, and loud patrons can happen anywhere, but the difference is whether and how the management handles it. The fellow from the subcontinent who is now running the place appears willing and capable of handling it, from a conversation I had with him (not about the reputation.)
I think the Dope Buy Central problem at Denny's got fixed with a simple change of personnel, firing the kids dealing out the back door of the kitchen, which is directly on the corner of Erie blvd and south James.
Maybe if he stops by, frankcor might give us the latest G2, if he's heard anything. Or maybe Westmo. Someone else on here is from Rome or lives nearby, but I can't remember who.

Do you think this might bring Frank out of the weeds?

[bobbbiez]

Sept 17, 2010 7:07:18 GMT -5 @dgriffin said:

Do you think this might bring Frank out of the weeds?

Nope! Not unless you can find a way to pry him away from his new love-squeeze. ;D

I couldn't all summer.

[dgriffin]

Haha! I didn't know! In that case, leave him alone!

[WestmoGuy]

I havent been to that Denny's in ages. I do miss the Moons Over My Hammy though.

Me and my kid are going there soon. There's some kind of food challenge he wants to try again LOL

[lioneljoe]

The ink isn't even dry on the PB approval of the hotel when the 840 access proposals have reared up again. Of course, the New Hartford taxpayer will be looked to fund this project. The last time the New Hartford Town Board proposed a PILOT for Larry Adler they said if the voters didn't approve it we would face a tax increase. Well, the vote was yes but the town board gave us a 48% tax increase anyway. Here's the deal: if Larry Adler wants the 840 access, he writes the check, no gimmicks, no PILOTs, no bonds, no taxpayer funding at all.