17 replies to this topic

[The Voice of Reason]

http://www.remindern...02-29-9-Ar00900

At the downtown marina, the proposal for a brand new 18 story ~240 room Hilton got dozens of variences from the city last week.

I read the article in the local free paper. The reminder. This is a huge deal for norwich. Hell this would be a big deal for Hartford.


Aliano announces plan for 240-room hotel on Norwich waterfront
http://www.norwichbulletin.com/news/business/x942962930
Downtown businessman Ron Aliano this afternoon announced plans to build at 240-room, 18-story full service hotel on his property at the marina.
The hotel will span the front area of the marina and the property where the Marina Towers building now sits. The hotel will offer a destination restaurant, 240 rooms, 12 guest room floors and 13,500 square feet of banquet space and meeting rooms. A main ballroom with six break-out rooms will accommodate up to 700 guests for conventions or conferences.

Norwich OKs variances for proposed 'high-end' harbor hotel
http://www.norwichbu...news/x257791962

Edited by The Voice of Reason, 04 March 2008 - 06:13 PM.

[MadVlad]

That is too big for Norwich.

[Lowerdeck]

MadVlad, on Mar 3 2008, 08:30 PM, said:

That is too big for Norwich.

Agreed.  18 stories in Norwich would look really out of place.

If anything, with the proximity to the casinos and their massive towers, you'd probably want larger motels going to the cheap side... and even then not 18 stories high.

[The Voice of Reason]

Lowerdeck, on Mar 3 2008, 10:25 PM, said:

Agreed. 18 stories in Norwich would look really out of place.

If anything, with the proximity to the casinos and their massive towers, you'd probably want larger motels going to the cheap side... and even then not 18 stories high.

Well the place they want to put it might be decent.  It is almost at water level, and with the river walls so steep its going to blend in more than you think.  

I would not be suprised if it loses a fwe floors in the approval process though

[Lowerdeck]

I figured it would be down the hill a bit, but compared to the surrounding buildings... not just downtown.

Maybe I would just have to see the final product to make proper judgment call.  But I couldn't envision something more than 10-12 stories without looking odd.

[The Voice of Reason]

Lowerdeck, on Mar 3 2008, 10:32 PM, said:

I figured it would be down the hill a bit, but compared to the surrounding buildings... not just downtown.

Maybe I would just have to see the final product to make proper judgment call. But I couldn't envision something more than 10-12 stories without looking odd.

http://maps.google.c...U...mp;t=h&z=19

looking at the location there are two 4 story building immediately next to the planned building.  You can see the mini golf place mentioned in the article.  But the closest buildings "downtown" are 4 "tall" storys tall and about 20 feet higher up a hill.  12 might be better, but I think they are 18 short floors

Edited by The Voice of Reason, 03 March 2008 - 10:18 PM.

[HartfordTycoon]

A skyline has to start somewhere. If I was from Norwich I would be happy and hope that this meant more similar development was on the horizon.

[MadVlad]

HartfordTycoon, on Mar 4 2008, 02:54 PM, said:

A skyline has to start somewhere. If I was from Norwich I would be happy and hope that this meant more similar development was on the horizon.

Is Norwich the type of city that wants a skyline?  I'm the biggest proponent for skylines ever, and I can see it doesn't fit.  Norwich has a one of the nicest downtowns in the State, and more importantly, it's intact.  Not a good fit, New London would be a better fit, though I'm sure they don't want to go that far....

[The Voice of Reason]

MadVlad, on Mar 4 2008, 05:09 PM, said:

Is Norwich the type of city that wants a skyline? I'm the biggest proponent for skylines ever, and I can see it doesn't fit. Norwich has a one of the nicest downtowns in the State, and more importantly, it's intact. Not a good fit, New London would be a better fit, though I'm sure they don't want to go that far....

I do not think this project really interacts with norwich's historic downtown.  It is cut off from the rest of it by a pretty busy road.

Also is there not a large concrete 60's building on the waters edge that already does not fit with the historic part?  This might be just an extention of that, and that office up the hill across the river.  Who knows it is pretty hard to imagine how big this will look from town.  Also final height will be interesting.

[The Voice of Reason]

construction to start by spring? !

http://www.norwichbu...start-by-spring


rendering looks about the same but I read in the comments of this article that this rendering means nothing it was the citys doing and the actual design is still a bit far away.



Norwich, Conn. — Construction on a $40 million hotel on the city’s waterfront could begin in less than a year, according to city and business officials.

Developers want to build a 18-story, 240-room Hilton Hotel next to the American Wharf Marina on the site where the Marina Towers building now stands. Current plans call for a restaurant, ballroom, banquet and meeting space. A four-tiered, 400-car parking garage would straddle the Yantic River.

Ron Aliano, president of American Wharf Development Corp., who helped announce the development in September, said Monday engineering studies are under way.

“They hope to make an application in September to the Commission on the City Plan,” he said, although permits are still needed from several federal and state groups. “I’m hopeful they can start construction by next spring.”

[HartfordTycoon]

Norwich: Waterfront developers get bigger hotel idea
Construction jobs touted for project
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
By MICHAEL GANNON
Norwich Bulletin
Posted Nov 05, 2008 @ 01:37 AM

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Norwich and the developers aren’t the only ones optimistic about a 20-story hotel proposed for the Norwich waterfront.

PRA Management and Development Corp. of Philadelphia had an informational meeting last week with the Harbor Management Commission to discuss its plans for a 20-story, 324-room hotel — possibly a Hilton — at the Marina at American Wharf.

Initial plans called for 18 stories and 240 rooms, along with a parking garage with more than 400 spaces spanning the Yantic River. Business advocates say the benefits to the city and the region begin almost as soon as PRA puts shovels in the ground.

“You’ll see construction jobs right away, and service jobs expanding when it’s established,” said Peter Gioia, an economist with the Connecticut Business and Industry Association. “You just had major construction halted on the Mohegan Sun project, and a 20-story anything is a lot of construction jobs.”

Norwich Bulletin Article

[The Voice of Reason]

Thanks HT

I look for updates on this one from time to time.  Its good to see it growing and not shrinking or being scrapped.  I imagine the cancelation of the Mohigan expansion has a lot to do with this project growing.

Imagine the impact this COULD have on Norwich

[HartfordTycoon]

Yes, this could be very good for Norwich. If only the people of Preston could figure something out for the hospital site. At least the state will be taking it back on Jan 5 2008 and will be able to decide it's fate after that. They need something to be developed there and a small town should not be selfish and say it should only benefit existing residents of the town with no regard to the greater development and investment needs of the region.

[The Voice of Reason]

Who knows what ever will happen with the hospital site, but honestly at this point, I dont care. A hotel in a city center is 100000x smarter than a sub-urban lifestyle center no matter the scale.

The hospital might as well be a whole new city, so I would rather see the region concentrate on developing the existing city center than the hospital site. With any luck the site can be an economic engine like maybe an industrial park, who knows.

Edited by The Voice of Reason, 14 November 2008 - 01:30 PM.

[Lowerdeck]

I'm wondering if it's in the realm of possibility to turn over the hospital site from Preston to Norwich.  In other words, redrawing the town line so it is on the southern end of the hospital side instead of the northern end.

Edited by Lowerdeck, 14 November 2008 - 10:29 PM.

[The Voice of Reason]

Lowerdeck, on Nov 14 2008, 11:28 PM, said:

I'm wondering if it's in the realm of possibility to turn over the hospital site from Preston to Norwich. In other words, redrawing the town line so it is on the southern end of the hospital side instead of the northern end.

It is POSSIBLE, but about as likely as East Hartford and Hartford merging.

[HartfordTycoon]

The Voice of Reason, on Nov 15 2008, 11:58 AM, said:

It is POSSIBLE, but about as likely as East Hartford and Hartford merging.

Yeah, this is CT we are talking about. Things like this cause ugly displays of irrationality around these parts.

[Lowerdeck]

I am aware of it being an impossibility in terms of public support.  However, clearly we have seen Preston time and time again balk at the prospects of anything being put onto the site.  So what happens when the state takes it over?  The property just still sits there, perhaps site clearing and environmental cleanup.  Wouldn't anything the state does in terms of site redevelopment have to be approved by Preston?  

Not quite sure how the process works here.  I just know clearly Preston can't be trusted to do anything positive for the site.  Unless someone decides to start up a farm that is...