By Kevin Coughlin
The plans look enticing: “117 modern, stylish guest rooms” less than a block from the historic Morristown Green.
But Mayor Tim Dougherty is in no rush to make reservations at the Cambria hotel proposed for Market Street.
“I can tell you right now there is no parking for a hotel that size. So they can print whatever they want in the newspaper, they can say whatever they want to whoever wants to finance their project,” the Mayor said Thursday at a council meeting for another redevelopment project.
The Mayor contends the hotel people jumped the gun by announcing in January that they would open a Morristown hotel in July 2017. The announcement came after only one “preliminary meeting” with his office, he said.
“I believe that a hotel chain wanted to make it look like they had something that they didn’t. But I want the public to know that they came here once to talk about a hotel, and I’ve never talked to them again,” Dougherty said.
The developer, Sunstone Hotels LLC, seeks planning board variances to build seven stories in a six-story zone, and to provide 65 off-site parking spaces, instead of the 214 required by a town zoning formula.
In conceptual plans filed in April, the development group said it was talking with the Morristown Parking Authority about leasing spaces at the Dalton garage on Cattano Avenue. A valet service would shuttle guests’ cars to and from the facility, under this scenario.
Cambria hotels are a division of Choice International Hotels Inc., one of the world’s largest lodging companies, which also owns the Comfort Inn and Econo Lodge chains.
The hotel is proposed for 19-21 and 23 Market St., and 18 Bank St., properties owned by Morristown-based hedge fund manager Daniel Khoshaba, through KSA Properties LLC.
An indoor swimming pool, gym, bistro, barista bar and 2,500-square feet of meeting space are envisioned for the Morristown Cambria. It will cater to leisure travelers and visitors to the area’s pharma companies, according to statements from Sunstone and Choice International.
Spokespersons for the venture could not be reached for comment on Friday. Check back for updates.
Built a parking garage underneath it like they have at the Hyatt! Morristown needs another hotel!
I dare wonder if the mayor’s apprehension comes from his close ties to the Hyatt?
The Mayor is right on this one. There simply is not enough parking to accommodate the hotel — not in the nearby garage (DeHart is pretty much at capacity, and that’s not including the demand that will come along when The Lofts is built) — and traffic on Market Street, and especially at the intersection at South Street, is already pretty bad.
The mayor doesn’t need to be stonewalling. Downtown NEEDS another hotel.
This hotel would be a great asset. Much better use. Plus all of those stores on Market have already vacated for this. Hopefully the figure out parking because this would be great!