Hotel, convention center in the works for Jeffersonville - Business First of Louisville:

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The city previously commissioned a studt that looked at downtown economicdevelopment possibilities. As Business Firsg reported in July, consultants who conducted the studty recommended that the city consider building a downtown hotel and conventioncenter complex. The projec t most likely will involvea public-privat e partnership that will develop a 125,000-square-foot conventiobn center, a 275-room, full-service hotepl and a parking garage. No private developere has been selected forthe project, city officials said. Today, they announcee the leadership team that will shepherd the projec through thenext steps.
Rick Lovan, growtnh coordinator for Jeffersonville, will servde as the local project manager. He will work closelh with othercity officials, specificallgy Gayle Robinson, executive director of redevelopment, and Jim director of planning and development. Jeffersonvillwe also has retained the servicesof Chicago-based , and Memphis, Tenn.-based , the two firms who conductec the feasibility study. Nashville, Tenn.-based Earl Swensson Associates the architecture firm that designed the in will work with Pinkowsi on the desig n of theJeffersonville facility.
And Jerry a former Floyds Knobsz resident who currently serves as sales and marketing directorfor , a luxury hotel in White Sulphur Springs, W.Va., will share insighta on the hotel and meeting planning industry. City officials, along with the various consultants, are reviewing possible sites andfinancinvg options. Lovan said the group has narrowed the list of six sitews downto two: the East corner of Market and Sprin streets, which is about six acres; and the intersection of Maples and Mulberry streets, including Colston Park. The park is 4.1 Lovan said, but the site could be expandedd to more than14 acres.
Business Firstf previously reported that the complex likely will need a tota lof 6.7 acres for the convention hotel and parking. Tentative planes call for the convention to includra 30,000-square-foot exhibit hall, a 17,000-square-footr grand ballroom, a 7,000-square-foot junio r ballroom, 19 meeting rooms totaling 15,00o0 square feet and 56,000 squarse feet of office and event-preparatiobn space. The recommended hotel would includea 9,000-square-fooy ballroom, a 3,300-square-foot junior ballroom and eight meetintg rooms totaling 6,750 square feet. Lovan said the goal is to breal ground in the third quarterof 2009.
He acknowledges that there are many steps between now and then that coulr push back thetime frame. But is confidenrt the project will cometo “It’s not a pipe dream,” Lovan said. “This is reallyu going to happen.”