After years of planning and countless setbacks, a new hotel and parking garage appear to be lined up to help revitalize downtown Butler.

It’s an economic spark that downtown business owners have been waiting to see for nearly a decade.

“It’s long overdue,” said Stan Kosciuszko, president of the Butler County Chamber of Commerce. “This is something that has been talked about for years. It’s something that’s good for all of Butler County.”

City council on Sept. 10 signed off on a $6.8 million bond to pay for a new 230-space parking garage near the corner of Cunningham and McKean streets, as well as other debts.

The garage will be next to a Marriott Springhill Suites hotel, which will be built in a joint effort between the city redevelopment authority and developer J.S. Capitol.

The two structures will join the already completed Rite Aid Pharmacy on Main Street as part of the Centre City project.

Downtown business owners are looking for the development to generate additional foot traffic from hotel guests and more convenient parking with the garage.

“It’s a real exciting prospect for the city,” said Tom Graham, owner of Frames and Pixels, 131 W. North St. “It’s a cornerstone for future development.”

A slow process

Bill Atkinson, owner of the Chop Shop, 108 N. Main St., said the hotel would benefit all downtown businesses — if it is actually built.

“I think I was in high school when I heard the idea that this might happen,” he said. “It’s good news, but I’ll believe it when I see it.”

A slight feeling of skepticism was expressed by many business owners who have been hearing about the ups and downs of the proposal for years.

The Centre City project has been in the works since 2006 when the idea was pitched by the city redevelopment authority.

The original plans called for a hotel, convention center, condominiums, retail space and a parking garage, and was expected to cost tens of millions of dollars.

The idea was eventually scaled down through the years.

The Rite Aid opened in December, but progress on the hotel and parking garage did not occur as quickly as both projects faced a number of challenges during the past two years.

Joe Gray with Gateway Engineers, who also served on the redevelopment authority board, said the public-private partnership made each step of the project challenging.

“So many entities had to come together to make this happen,” he said. “And it was quite the accomplishment to make it happen.”

The city, its parking and redevelopment authorities, J.S. Capitol, three banks and a number of attorneys had to work together to finalize all the agreements between the projects.

“I’m glad all the pieces eventually fit together,” said Jim Chiprean, chairman of the parking authority.

Chiprean, who owns Miller’s Shoes, 215 S. Main St., said economic development is crucial for downtown.

“I’m happy for the economic benefit coming to the downtown area,” he said. “We’ve already had new businesses on Main Street, including right next to me with Reclamation Brewing.”

Increased revenue

Ben Smith, one of the owners of Reclamation Brewing, the brew pub that opened two weeks ago, said the possibility of a hotel is good for his new business.

“I think it’s great if they can make it happen,” he said. “The city needs a place for people to stay and places for people to park.”

The main purpose of the two projects is for the benefits to carry over to the private sector.

“It’s an investment that will spur more business,” Graham said. “That’s what the state grant was intended to do.”

The $2 million state grant was the redevelopment authority’s contribution to the hotel.

Kosciuszko said the hotel also will benefit existing businesses by increasing foot traffic in the city, and it should draw new businesses into the city.

He said the hotel will be successful despite the construction of two other hotels in Butler Township.

“People don’t realize how many people come downtown,” he said, adding the county courthouse, law offices and accounting firms bring in numerous people.

Jack Cohen, president of the Butler County Tourism and Convention Bureau, agreed.

“It’ll do fine,” he said. “Our hotels (in the county) are busy. They’re doing very well across the county.”

Cohen said the downtown hotel will attract “corporate folks” as well as weddings and event goers.

“There are a lot of businesses that surround the city and many people prefer to stay in town,” he said.

Kosciuszko said the parking garage is just as important to the city’s revitalization.

“It’s wonderful for the downtown business community in need of a parking garage,” he said.

He said an informal survey of downtown property owners done by the chamber indicated a strong interest in monthly permits in the structure.

Atkinson said the garage will help as many people don’t like to park along Main Street.

“Everyone perceives there is limited parking downtown,” he said. “This will get more people to stop.”

Graham said the hotel will benefit restaurants and coffee shops.

“We could see businesses that cater to that type of crowd stay open longer hours,” he said.

Smith said he certainly expects the hotel guests to visit the brew pub.

“It’ll bring in people from outside the city,” he said. “If the city can get an entertainment venue, things would really kick off hard. If people have a way to have dinner and see a show, then stay after, that would really boost everything.”

Barry Cummings, owner of Cummings Candy and Coffee, 146 N. Main St., said he is excited about the possibility of new customers.

“It will encourage people to stay downtown, which is great for a downtown business owner,” he said.

Cummings said he is already hoping to advertise in the hotel’s welcome book.

“The hotel has the potential to have 120 people waking up downtown and in need of a cup of coffee,” he said.

Atkinson said he hasn’t put too much thought into any additional revenue the project would generate for his restaurant.

“I look at it as an added bonus,” he said, adding his main focus is on his regular customers.

Atkinson said while the project is good for the city, he said he would like to see more projects done to bring people to Main Street.

“The city needs the things to draw people to begin with,” he said, referencing features like the annual Bantam Jeep Heritage Festival parade and the summer West New Castle Street plaza as attractions. “There needs to be a reason for people to come downtown. There needs to be things for people to do.”