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Metro approves Mortenson as developer for convention center hotel

By: Lee Fehrenbacher//September 14, 2012//

Metro approves Mortenson as developer for convention center hotel

Lee Fehrenbacher//September 14, 2012//

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Metro Council has officially selected Minneapolis-based to head construction of a Convention Center Hotel.

The council voted 6-0 on Thursday in favor of the advisory committee’s recommendation to select the Mortenson team to build a hotel serving the . The team includes the Hyatt Hotels Corporation, Star terra/Schlesinger Cos., Ankrom Moisan Associated Architects, Elness Swenson Graham Architects, Piper Jaffrey and Co., and Jones Lang LaSalle Hotels.

Mortenson proposed two different development options at either the Star Terra-owned property north of the convention center, or the Portland Development Commission-owned site directly east. One option calls for a 600- to 614-room Hyatt Regency; the other a 416- to 420-room Hyatt Regency plus a 181-room Hyatt Place.

The idea to develop a hotel with a minimum 500-room block serving the convention center hotel has been treading water for the past decade. The last publicly financed effort died in 2009 when the economy went into recession.

But the current proposal is unique in that it will be financed almost entirely by private sector dollars. Mortenson is, however, seeking between $10.3 million and $36.1 million in public funds depending on the type of development selected, and is asking for a 30-year rebate on transient lodging taxes.

will begin negotiations with Mortenson immediately; any agreement will need to be approved by the Metro Council.



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