Hart Hotels Inc. and Krog Corp. will be building an upscale hotel overlooking Chautauqua Lake.
While
construction won’t begin until next year, the development tandem have
just started working with Chautauqua County officials on the proposed
hotel.
The hotel, which
may have as many as 130 rooms and cost around $24 million to develop,
is slated for a nine acre parcel just off of Dunham Avenue and not far
from Route 394 in Celoron. The property, which sits on the edge of
Chautauqua Lake, is part of land that was once home to the Celoron
Amusement Park, which closed in 1962.
At $24 million,
the project is one of the largest private-sector-fueled, tourism-based
developments to take place Chautauqua County.
David Hart,
Hart Hotels president and CEO, said the hotel will pay homage to
Celoron’s history, including the amusement park and Lucille Ball, who
was born in the community.
When developed,
the Chautauqua Harbor Hotel will be similar to the three other “harbor
branded” hotels that Hart and Krog have built. It will, however, be the
largest in terms of rooms and development price tag.
Hart said
because of the hotel’s lakeside site, it will offer a number of
water-friendly amenities for visitors, including the ability to rent
paddle boats, canoes, kayaks, and jet ski-like vessels.
“This is the
perfect site to not only extend our brand but add those new
attractions,” Hart said. “The lake, itself, is going to be a big draw
for us.”
Hart said he
envisions the hotel drawing customers from neighboring states and from
Southern Ontario. Its opening will come as the National Comedy Museum
makes its debut in downtown Jamestown.
Besides the
boats and vessels, the Chautauqua Harbor Hotel will have an indoor and
outdoor pool, gazebo overlooking the lake and a full-service restaurant.
While the
planning process is just starting, the project was allocated a $1.7
million grant from the state’s Regional Economic Development Council
financial pool. Financing and other aspects of the hotel’s
pre-construction development are underway, Hart said.
If construction can start by next year, the hotel should be ready by 2018.
Hart Hotels is
based in Cheektowaga and is one of the region’s largest hotel
development and operations firms. Krog, headquartered in Orchard Park,
is one of the region’s largest commercial developers.
James Fink covers real estate, commercial development and government
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