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

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focused on tourism,” said Bennett Smith, Clear Lake City Councilman.  “I am excited to see what this project will lead to here in Courtway Park.”

The project, estimated to cost at least $13 million, will be built on lot 4 in the subdivision, owned by TD Fuel LLC, comprised of Lorri and Todd Hall, of Sheffield, Iowa.

Mayor Crabb praised the patience of Lorri and Todd Hall, “Patience is a necessary ingredient for greatness.”

City Administrator Scott Flory pointed out there are 16 Marriott Fairfield Inn and Suites in Iowa.  Clear Lake will be number 17, and is the smallest city to have one.

“The developers and investors have faith in our community and I am excited about that,” said Flory.

JSM Investment submitted a $75,000 franchise application to Marriott International which was reviewed and approved, according to Flory.  The City agreed to pay $50,000 of the application fee.  The City will provide a $150,000 incentive to the developer should the project pass city inspections and have a certificate of occupancy by June 30, 2021.

The City also agreed to provide a not-to-exceed $1.2 million economic development forgivable loan upon completion of the hotel and conference center project.  Repayment would be made in 20 semi-annual payments.

Other incentives include property tax rebate payments and waived building permit and city utility connection fees.

Fifteen full-time equivalent and part-time employees will be hired within the first year of operation.

Following the ground breaking ceremony, Cal Patel, a co-developer of the project, performed a Hindu blessing on the land by burying rice and flour.

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