1.-M. ID 22-413 Approve a First Amendment to the Disposition and Development Agreement between Metro Hospitality Services, Inc., and City of Fresno to update the project's construction schedule for the Downtown Fresno Marriott Courtyard Hotel located at the northeast corner of Inyo and M Street (District 3)
I believe the height limit for this area of Downtown is 10 stories, but may be exceeded with exceptional architecture. A downsized hotel that deviates from the specific plan recommendations or literally falls short of height limits should compensate with exceptional architecture if valley residents are going to have to settle for less rooms. The rendering shows cheap design tropes when this downsized project should really compensate with exceptional design that honors, enhances, or innovates off of the existing architecture of Downtown. Downsizing the plans and giving us generic design and facade work is insulting.
It's a shame that this hotel has been scaled back so much from its original design. The hotel first proposed for this space in 1998 was a 10-story, 400 room Sheraton. This hotel will be half of that size and a lesser quality hotel brand. There have been numerous reports lately about the lack of hotel rooms in the Fresno area, especially downtown. The lack of mid-range/upscale hotels downtown (such as Hilton, Hyatt, Marriott, etc) hurts the area's prospects of attracting conventions and other events. Please think hard about approving such a small project on prime hotel real estate that has the potential to be so much more. I encourage the council to hold off until a final plan has been made for the Selland Arena site (especially if a soccer stadium is built in the parking lot and the arena and old convention center are renovated).
I believe the height limit for this area of Downtown is 10 stories, but may be exceeded with exceptional architecture. A downsized hotel that deviates from the specific plan recommendations or literally falls short of height limits should compensate with exceptional architecture if valley residents are going to have to settle for less rooms. The rendering shows cheap design tropes when this downsized project should really compensate with exceptional design that honors, enhances, or innovates off of the existing architecture of Downtown. Downsizing the plans and giving us generic design and facade work is insulting.
It's a shame that this hotel has been scaled back so much from its original design. The hotel first proposed for this space in 1998 was a 10-story, 400 room Sheraton. This hotel will be half of that size and a lesser quality hotel brand. There have been numerous reports lately about the lack of hotel rooms in the Fresno area, especially downtown. The lack of mid-range/upscale hotels downtown (such as Hilton, Hyatt, Marriott, etc) hurts the area's prospects of attracting conventions and other events. Please think hard about approving such a small project on prime hotel real estate that has the potential to be so much more. I encourage the council to hold off until a final plan has been made for the Selland Arena site (especially if a soccer stadium is built in the parking lot and the arena and old convention center are renovated).