There are plenty of restaurants and shops in Blue Back Square and West Hartford Center. Now, the town is moving forward with long talked about plans to bring in a new hotel.
The hotel would sit on a vacant piece of land on Raymond Road across from Blue Back Square and the town's police department.
The town council is planning to declare the land as surplus during its first meeting in May, according to Ron Van Winkle, the West Hartford Town Manager. That will clear the way for the town to be able to sell the property to a developer, he said.
From there, the town will solicit bids from interested developers, said Van Winkle. They're hoping to select a developer by late fall or early winter, he said.
"We have a small hotel in West Hartford right now but outside of that there's nothing so there's a great opportunity," said Van Winkle. "West Hartford, the Center is a great place to come and stay. You can go out and eat. You can enjoy the Center so there's a sizeable demand for that."
Some residents say they're looking forward to the project.
"I think it would be good for the town. I think we would adjust to it just like everybody adjusted to Blue Back Square," said Barbara Thayer, who owns a condo in Blue Back Square.
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Businesses like Sugarbeads, a custom jewelry and bead store on South Main Street, say a hotel could bring in more potential customers.
"To the extent it brings in people in to the Center and gives them a reason to walk around and see businesses that are here I think it's a good thing," said Pam Minish, the owner of Sugarbeads.
The town is looking for a hotel that has about 120 rooms, said Van Winkle. Hotel guests would likely park in a nearby town garage.
"Hotel parking tends to be at night. Our most active use of that garage is on noon on Thursdays and Fridays and Saturdays so the hotel could use that parking garage, rent those spaces from us, give us additional revenue for our garages and they wouldn't have to build brand new parking on their site," said Van Winkle.
If the project moves along on schedule, construction could begin some time next year, said Van Winkle.
