Developer, residents discuss details for Econo Lodge property proposal
Editor's Note: Sam Patel owns the Econo Lodge property in West Homewood. The former America's Best Inn property located nearby has a different owner.
An extended stay hotel, mixed-use retail building and an Econo Lodge smaller than the existing hotel building are part of proposed plans for the future Econo Lodge property in West Homewood.
The West Homewood Development Committee met on Monday, May 4 to discuss the hotel owner’s proposed plans for the property.
Owner Sam Patel has proposed building a new 124-room Woodsprings Suites Signature extended stay hotel on Oxmoor Road as well as a mixed-use retail space beside it that could be.
The L-shaped retail building would sit at the intersection of Oxmoor Road and a proposed new road that would connect Oxmoor Road and Cobb Street and run south along the proposed Econo Lodge building. Patel said he added that building to his plan primarily to serve neighborhood residents; he has previously only operated hotels. Engineer Darren Hamrick of Sain Associates said the single story building could allow for five to 10 businesses.
“If it will have ice cream shops and more of that type of business with an Edgewood look to it, it would be good to look at city-funded sidewalks [to run in front of it],” Mayor Scott McBrayer said upon seeing the plan.
Cobb Street resident Erik Henninger, who represented the neighbors at the meeting, said though the proposed mixed-use space was “very exciting.”
Also as a part of the plan, the rear arm of the proposed Econo Lodge building would be demolished, and parking places would be added in its place. This would reduce the number of hotel rooms from about 150 to around 75. Patel said that he hoped that removing part of the hotel that is least visible from Cobb Street would reduce the incidents of unwanted activity on the property.
Patel emphasized that the Woodsprings Suites, a hotel chain previously known as Value Place Hotel, would attract a different clientele from the Econo Lodge. Woodsprings’ 33 other locations throughout the country attracts contractors, travelling nurses and other professionals seeking extended stay housing. The building would have little common spaces as the units operate more like apartments.
City Engineer Vanessa McGrath requested that Patel and Hamrick work on a plan with specific dimensions for the proposed spaces to ensure that they are compliant with the West Homewood Redevelopment Plan and bring that plan back before the committee. The proposed four stories and the first-floor height of less than 12 feet would require variance grants from the city. McGrath also asked that they propose whether the road would have sidewalks and/or parking spaces along it.
A public hearing will be held before any variances are granted for the proposal.
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