Civic Center, tourism officials disappointed by Marriott decision

PEORIA —

People interested in seeing the Downtown Marriott Hotel project go forward were disappointed about the possible cancellation of the redevelopment agreement for the project.

"It's unfortunate," Jim Wetherington, general manager of the Peoria Civic Center, said Friday, two days after City Manager Patrick Urich and Mayor Jim Ardis told developer Gary Matthews that they were canceling the redevelopment agreement. "We were hoping for the shovel to hit the ground sooner than later."

Civic Center officials last spoke with Matthews about the particulars of a skywalk connecting the Downtown sports and entertainment facility with the Marriott about 1 1/2 years ago, Wetherington said. The last drawing, presented by PSA Dewberry, showed the skywalk connecting from the hotel at the Civic Center's Fulton Street entrance.

"It limits the amount of shows we can do," Wetherington said. "It's not a deal breaker nor ends our business, but it doesn't give as many options as we have."

The Civic Center completed its $55 million expansion in 2007, with the hopes of attracting more conventions if an attached hotel surfaced. Officials in the past have estimated there has been about 52,000 hotel room nights lost because the Civic Center is not attached to a hotel.

"(The Marriott Hotel project) was a major focus not only on what we hoped was a major urban renewal but a marketing story with potential clients," said Bob Marx, president/CEO of the Peoria Area Convention and Visitors Bureau. "Financially, that's a huge loss."

The cancellation also will probably hurt the Hotel Pere Marquette, an aging hotel that was built in 1927 and is in need of an upgrade.

The hotel, according to Marx, had a 44 percent occupancy rate in July, which is low compared to the other Downtown hotels, which are doing business in the mid-50s.

"Typically, it's said in the industry that between the mid-50s and 60s is where a hotel starts to make money," Marx said.

Marx was not sure of the viability of the Pere Marquette now that the redevelopment agreement is likely to be canceled. The hotel's general manager, Bill Carter, did not return calls for comment.

Also in limbo is the fate of state historic tax credits that would be used to renovate the Pere Marquette.

In June 2010, Gov. Pat Quinn, during a signing ceremony at the hotel, authorized the credits to assist in reducing the public's share of the hotel's financing.

State Sen. Dave Koehler, D-Peoria, said the legislation has since expired and that it would take a vote again by the General Assembly to renew the tax credits. He said the biggest obstacle, though, would be getting it endorsed in the Illinois House, where state Rep. Jehan Gordon, D-Peoria, would be the chief sponsor. She could not be reached for comment.