Econo Lodge discussion extended, warrants denied

The future of the Oxmoor Road Econo Lodge is still in limbo after a meeting of the Community Development Review Committee (CDRC) on July 30.

Hotel owner Sam Patel, along with representatives from Sain Associates and WIlliams Blackstock Architects, presented his renovation plans for the property, which included demolishing two buildings and constructing a three-story extended stay Woodsprings Suites. Part of the Econo Lodge would remain open under this plan. The investment is around $6 million.

The proposal required two warrants, or variances from West Homewood's design ordinances, to be constructed. This included increasing the allowed setback width from 20 feet to 50 feet and decreasing the required amount of first story windows from 70 percent of the total area to 17 percent.

Much of the meeting's discussion centered on whether the proposal fit with the spirit of West Homewood's design ordinances, which favor retail and walkability like the Edgewood neighborhood.

CDRC Chairman James Ponseti found the proposal to be a "good faith effort" by Patel to improve the area and a good design, though he said it was challenging that this was among the first properties to be considered under the new regulations.

“I think any way you look at this it’s an upgrade,” Ponseti said.

Mayor Scott McBrayer and Ward 2 Representative Fred Hawkins, both committee members, were not in favor of the proposal. Neither liked encouraging more lodging development or the absence of retail.

“Is all we’re doing putting a nice façade around something we’re not really proud of?” McBrayer said.

Ponseti encouraged compromise options, such as redesigning the new building to have retail on the first floor and hotel rooms on the floors above. Patel said he was open to the idea but could not give a timeline or make promises that such a development would happen. McBrayer compared the idea to placing hotel rooms above Saw's BBQ in Edgewood.

“[The ordinance's intent] is to have more of the Edgewood feel, which doesn’t include those type businesses,” McBrayer said.

The committee also had concerns over the percentage of the property that would be renovated. By the West Homewood ordinances, if Patel's renovations involved more than 50 percent of the property, he would be required to bring the whole property up to the new standards. Patel and his representatives did not have the exact square footage of the renovation to determine whether they passed that threshold, though they offered an approval contingent on staying below 50 percent.

Hawkins disapproved of keeping one Econo Lodge building in operation as a potential eyesore. Patel said he would consider selling that portion of the property to a city or developer in the future but could not make promises.

“I don’t want to feed you a bunch of lies here. I’m going to keep improving it until the money runs out,” Patel said.

He noted that his plans would drive up nightly rates at the hotel, bringing in additional revenue and better clients. Patel said he hoped his attempts to clean up the Econo Lodge in the past three years have shown his commitment to improving the property.

“That depends on who you talk to,” Hawkins replied.

During discussion of the requested warrants, members of the public were allowed to speak. Though the topic was supposed to remain specifically on the warrants, all residents who spoke included their general disapproval of the proposal and its effect on the neighborhood.

“First floor hotel rooms in a walkable community doesn’t make much sense to me,” resident Erik Henninger said, adding that the lack of retail was a "dealbreaker" for him.

“We’re in an opportunity where the neighborhood is taking off," resident Jim Johnson agreed. “We’re going to be making a 40-year mistake [approving the proposal].”

Despite an amendment increasing the window percentage to 30 percent, both warrants were rejected by the CDRC in a 3-2 vote, with McBrayer, Hawkins and Fire Battalion Chief Nickolas Hill voting against it.

Patel and his representatives proposed an extension from the original 21 days allotted to consider the question of renovation percentages and possible updates to the proposal to bring it in line with ordinances. This also gives the CDRC time to define how renovation percentages will be calculated, as it had not been agreed upon prior to this meeting. 

Patel and the CDRC will meet and come to a resolution, either in favor or against the extended stay hotel, by Aug. 15.

"The intent of the zoning is really to build a village concept," Hawkins said after the meeting, adding that he wants to see a better proposal for the remaining portion of the Econo Lodge in the coming weeks.

"I think it's a good start. It's not perfect in some of those issues. This wasn't where it should start but this is what came through," Ponseti said after the meeting. "I hope he [Patel] can find a way to make it work."

Ponseti added that members of the CDRC agree in the goal for West Homewood, even if they disagree on the route to accomplishing it. Patel declined an interview request.

Resident Andy Conaway, who also spoke at the meeting, said afterward that he was pleased that the CDRC was listening to the community's opposition to the Econo Lodge project, especially the mayor.

"I hope the end result is that there's no hotel," Conaway said.

The next CDRC meeting has not been set.