Hotel building begins

By jeanne starmack

starmack@vindy.com

liberty

Construction began about a week ago at the site of a $7 million Comfort Suites hotel on Belmont Avenue after several delays.

The latest was awaiting a decision from the Ohio Department of Transportation on whether it would allow the project to be built without a turning lane from Belmont into the hotel.

The developer is going to install the lane.

The building site is across from the Station Square Restaurant. A Ramada Inn once stood on the property, which is owned by Perni, Perni Equities LLC of Hubbard.

There also is some talk of a 500-seat banquet center next to the hotel, and a Dunkin’ Donuts store in front of it, said Liberty Township Administrator Pat Ungaro.

“We’re excited it’s underway — the best thing is that they’re pushing dirt,” said Scott Yeager, president of Radius Hospitality, managing partner of the hotel project.

He said it largely was county requirements that have been holding up construction.

The project was announced in January, and Ungaro has said during the spring and into the summer that the developers were eager to begin building.

“County requirements held it up,” Yeager said. “It’s met all the codes; that’s all completed.”

“Typically it takes 12 months to build the hotel, so summer of next year, we’re open,” he said.

“I’m thrilled to death,” Ungaro said. “We overcame a lot of obstacles, and they have the confidence to invest $7 million.”