Sept. 20, 2011--CLAREMORE -- Claremore Plaza may have its first tenant after the Claremore City Council approved an additional $100,000 incentive Monday night for the developer.

Hampton Inn and Suites will be coming to Claremore and groundbreaking is scheduled for the beginning of November, according to Tanya Andrews, director of the Claremore Convention and Visitor's Bureau.

Andrews has been working with Robert Patel of Leisure Hospitality LLC for the past few months to help negotiate an agreement for the hotel.

"Patel said he would agree to the city's $100,000 incentive if the council approved the measure and he plans to begin construction as soon as possible," Andrews said.

Although the contract has not been signed, sources within the council and CCVB report there has been a verbal commitment.

Patel has not been available for comment.

Councilors voted unanimously to pass the measure that will provide an incentive payable through sales tax revenue generated by the hotel.

Councilors Buddy Robertson and Bill Flanagan were not present at the meeting.

Before the council voted, Dale Peterson, local citizen and board member for the CCVB addressed the council.

"Please vote yes to move this city and that project forward. This city and yes you city councilors, cannot afford to vote no on this project incentive. Thank you and please vote yes for this agenda item," said Peterson.

Peterson also spoke about the potential for two or three restaurants to follow the hotel development.

He talked about the money the city will earn by providing utilities to the hotel. All of these factors were used to encourage the council to approve the incentive.

The vote took place quickly the council needed little encouragement to pass the measure.

Discussion was limited to the details over how and when the funds would be provided to Patel.

The incentive will be funded from the Claremore Public Works Authority by means of sales tax income to be paid toward the development of infrastructure on the building site.

Conditions for the contract include a timeline for the construction. The contract is contingent on a groundbreaking for the project to take place on or before Jan. 1, 2012 and construction must be substantially completed before Jan. 13, 2013.

Now that plans to begin the hotel development are underway Claremore residents can expect to see some big changes to the area.

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(c)2011 the Claremore Daily Progress (Claremore, Okla.)

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