By Kevan Goff-Parker
The Journal Record
Norman- Norman may soon have a new hotel and conference center if city leaders approve a $54 million financing package.
The proposed 240-room Embassy Suites Hotel and a 6,500-square-foot conference center would be built at University North Park at an estimated cost of $50 million, officials said Wednesday.
But the future of the development is contingent on the passage of a proposed Norman University North Park Tax Increment Financing or TIF district.
Norman City Manager Brad Gambill said a committee is in the middle of its review of the proposed TIF and will hold a public hearing in May. Eventually, the TIF has to be approved by the Norman City Council for the project to come to fruition.
“The project plan is only an
enabling document,” Gambill said. “It doesn’t
allocate funding. So there has to be an implementation agreement
on the distribution of funds on roadways and the conference center.
“The money isn’t there yet because the whole thing about
TIF is that you get the money from a sales tax and the ad valorem
money from property taxes. It isn’t nearly a done
deal.”
John Sartori, marketing director for the Norman convention and
Visitors Bureau, said he was confident the council would approve
the TIF.
“That large of a conference center is needed in Norman,” he said. “It is a necessary step in the right direction to enhance our economic growth. It’s such a great thing for Norman. I personally believe it will pass.”
Norman Mayor Harold Haralson said in a written statement that the development of the entire University North Park area is especially good news for the city.
“The construction of the conference center, in particular, represents a very special and unique opportunity for us,” Haralson said.
“Not only will the city of Norman benefit by the influx of sales tax dollars to our community, but this new development activity is sure to make our city even more attractive to companies interested in locating or relocating their businesses here.”
Construction of the hotel, east of Interstate 35 between Robinson and Tecumseh Road, could begin in March.
Scott Tarwater, senior vice
president of John Q. Hammons Hotels & Resorts, said Hammons has
been in negotiations for about two months regarding the Embassy
Suites and the proposed conference center.
“This will be Mr. Hammons’ 174th hotel, so he
has a pretty successful track record,” Tarwater said.
“Not only do we believe in the community, the quality of the
leadership in Norman and the University of Oklahoma, the community
is just growing.”
He said of the 65 hotels and
resorts Hammons now owns, 28 are in cities that have
universities.
“Mr. Hammons has an interesting thing, we like university
cities and state capitals,” Tarawater said. “Kids always
go to school and politicians never get fired. Once he identifies
the dynamics of a market, he’s been very successful. Norman is
certainly a rapidly growing area that needs an upscale full-service
hotel and convention center.”
He said the Embassy Suites would have a distinctive design and will feature a large, lush atrium with waterfalls.
“It will have very upscale, vibrant colors and will be distinctly different than the Embassy Suites in Oklahoma City,” Tarwater said.
He said the hotel conference center would be designed to complement one another.
The University of Oklahoma played a major role in the decision to put a state-of-the-art conference center in Norman.
“With the continued growth of the university, it is absolutely critical that we have the ability to host national and international conferences and events, as well as a wide range of continuing education programs, as close to the university as possible,” University of Oklahoma President David Boren said in a written statement.
Although many details of the University North Park development are still to be worked out, Gambill said he’s excited about the hotel and conference center.
“It’s a puzzle coming
together,” he said.
“Norman needs an upscale hotel and the conference center, and
we’re hoping it can all be worked out.”
