Ground is broken for Marriott

(Above) (L-R) Mayor Nelson Crabb, City Administrator Scott Flory, Councilmen Bennett Smith, Dana Brant, Mike Callanan and Gary Hugi, co-developer Cal Patel, general contractor Ryan Huegerich, Courtway Park sub-division owners  Lorri and Todd Hall and Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Stacy Doughan broke ground Monday for a Marriott Hotel.-Reporter photo by Chris Barragy.

by Michelle Watson

Clear Lake Mayor Nelson Crabb said he was thrilled to be welcoming people to Courtway Park for the first time and it was an honor to be standing where the dream was going to happen. That dream became a reality on Monday morning, as representatives from the city and developers of soon to be built Marriott hotel gathered to break ground on the project.

“This is a significant moment for our community and North Iowa,” said Crabb.  “There has not been a new hotel built in Clear Lake in this century.  This hotel and conference center will bring Clear Lake into the 21st century.”

JSM Investment LLC, a Des Moines developer, will build an 85-room hotel and conference center in the city’s new Courtway Park Development Subdivision, located just east of Interstate 35 off of Highway 122. The conference/meeting facility on the property will be 6,000 square feet and will hold approximately 450 people. The project is expected to be completed in June of 2021.

“We chose this area for a number of reasons,” said Ryan Huegerich, general contractor.  “There is a lack of a Marriott option from Minnesota to Ames.  This area offers the interstate and the lake, which are both huge draws.  The interstate will help to bring business in the cold months to the area.”

“This is a fantastic project for Clear Lake.  It will offer an incredible growth opportunity