By Lucky Kidd, Ad Astra Radio
HUTCHINSON, Kan. – A franchise has been obtained for the new hotel and convention center coming to Hutchinson. It was announced during Tuesday’s Hutchinson City Council meeting that an agreement for a Hilton Garden Inn was finalized in the past two weeks. Franchise options for the restaurant that will be part of the project are still under review.
The announcement came as the Council authorized the issuance of up to $18 million in Industrial Revenue Bonds to Amber Hotel LLC for the construction of a hotel and convention center at 1715 North Waldron. The vacant lot is currently owned by Hutchinson Regional Medical Center.
The project will be eligible for a ten-year, 100 percent property tax abatement less certain school district taxes pursuant to state law, along with a sales tax exemption for tangible personal property and services used in the construction of the project.
A cost-benefit study done as part of the application found that there would be a positive benefit-to-cost ratio for each of the six taxing entities involved in the property.
Connected to the project, a hearing was set for March 21st on a proposed Community Improvement District for the site. Per a development agreement with the city, it would allow the collection of an additional sales tax for specified improvements.
Landmark Building
Meanwhile, a long-vacant downtown Hutchinson building has new ownership. Vice Mayor Greg Fast announced that the former Landmark Apartment Building at 5th and Main was purchased last week by a Hutchinson couple, who has plans to rehabilitate it.
The building has been owned for many years by a Wichita couple who did very little to the structure from which some coverings blew off during a wind event in December 2021.
