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April 26, 2005
Officials hear pitch on projectHotel idea raises concernsByRecord-Eagle staff writer TRAVERSE CITY - A developer's plans for the city's west side received a mostly warm welcome from city officials and residents, but an idea for a four-story complex near the bayfront spurred questions. Developer Michael Uzelac of Federated Properties, LLC, discussed plans for a $70 million downtown project, including buildings on West Front Street and a hotel and residential complex at the corner of Union Street and Grandview Parkway. Uzelac asked the city to sell its parking lot T for use as a hotel and for equity in public parking in the West Front Street projects. "What we would envision there is a hotel that would link to the city marina from downtown," he said. Early ideas for the parking lot show a three story hotel with a fourth floor of residential units. City commissioners wondered how a hotel would impact the nearby farmers market, if the hotel would be part of a national chain and if the Traverse City market can support more hotel rooms. Uzelac said further study would resolve those questions. He said the location of the hotel will require it to be a "special, special building." John Nelson of the Northern Michigan Environmental Action Council said a hotel is not the only option for the site. He supported the West Front Street projects and asked the developer to continue with those buildings even if the hotel concept isn't approved. "My request to you is please don't make lot T the deal-breaker," he said. The West Front Street plan calls for two mixed-use buildings. Proposed is a three story building at the former Grand Traverse Auto site on the north side of the street. Conceptual plans call for 102 underground parking spots and more spaces on the ground floor behind 18,000 square feet of retail space. That would be topped by two floors of commercial space. Across the street, an eight-story building would be located at the southeast corner of Pine and West Front streets and at the present site of Gourdie-Fraser. The first floor would also be retail and parking, followed by three floors of parking and four residential floors. City residents and officials were enthusiastic about the redevelopment of what they said was the long-overlooked west side. "I like where we are headed," said city commissioner T. Michael Jackson. Uzelac said some construction could begin within a year and finish in five years. See Related Story: Downtown redevelopment plans will be unveiled tonight - April 25, 2005
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Record-Eagle/Douglas Tesner
