On Tuesday night, Springfield City Council voted not to grant zoning relief to a New York developer aiming to rehabilitate the Wyndham Hotel and convert the structure to a mixed-use property.
In a presentation, the developer, David Mitchell, claimed that reconfiguring the property to include 275 residential units would generate 6.5 times more spending ($15 million per year) downtown than the current $2.4 million per year visitors generate now.
According to Mitchell, the redevelopment would have created 1,400 construction jobs and 200 other jobs during the year-long construction period.
The Wyndham has been operating at only 27.5% occupancy over the last year.
Scott Dahl, Director of the Springfield Convention and Visitors Bureau, and others spoke out against the zoning relief, claiming that reducing hotel rooms at the Wyndham to 125 would not be enough to sustain convention business and would present as a disincentive to future conventioneers.
On a motion to deny zoning relief, the motion passed 6 – 4.
Voting to deny the zoning exception were Ward One Alderman Chuck Redpath, Ward Five Alderwoman Lakeisha Purchase, Ward Six Alderwoman Kristin DiCenso, Ward Eight Alderwoman Erin Conley, Ward Nine Alderman Jim Donelan, and Ward Ten Alderman Ralph Hanauer.
Mayor Langfelder said he’ll now reach out to Mitchell and the building’s current owner “again” to see what, if anything, he can do to prevent the Wyndham from closing.
Council action on two other items, Poplar Place redevelopment and next steps toward a downtown Casino, were deferred to future meetings.