They will also be reviewed by the Md. Historic Trust.
Frederick, Md (KM) Another important step was taken to bring a hotel and conference center to downtown Frederick. The City, Plamondon Hospitality Partners and The Randall Family LLC filed an application with the City’s Historic Preservation Commission on Thursday. A news release from the city and the Randall family says this is the first step in the review and approval process. The Maryland Historic Trust will also review the project.
In May, a plan for the hotel and conference center was unveiled. It calls for a four-story building with 180 rooms and 20,000 square feet of conference space. There will also be a parking garage for 170 cars.
The hotel and conference center will occupy the former Frederick News-Post building on East Patrick Street. It will also mean the demolition of the nearby historic Bierly Tannery.
Frederick Mayor Randy McClement says no public money will be used for construction, operation and maintenance of the hotel and conference city, but the city will own the land. He says Plamondon Hospitality Partners will own and operate the facility and will be on the hook if the project fails. He says the city is awaiting a decision by the Maryland Board of Public Works on whether the project gets state funding.
Opponents say taxpayers funds will pay for the facility, and they cite language in the city’s capital budget legislation. They say the city will be on the hook if the hotel and conference center goes under.
A statement form the city and the Randall Family says the hotel and conference center will be in harmony and complement the entire Historic District in scale, architecture and function. But opponents say it’s too large, and a smaller hotel would be more appropriate for the Historic District.
The statement did not say when the Historic Preservation Commission will hold hearings on this application.
By Kevin McManus
