June 05, 2012--SCHERERVILLE -- A sluggish economy in 2008 might have stalled plans for a hotel development in Schererville, but it didn't eliminate them.

The Plan Commission on Monday unanimously granted secondary approval for a project to construct a Country Inn & Suites and Staybridge Suites on Fountain Park Drive.

JSK Investments received primary approval for the project in September 2008. Gary Torrenga, president of Torrenga Engineering Inc., said JSK Investments didn't seek secondary approval until now because of the economy.

Torrenga said the approval Monday was "a culmination of many years of work."

Commission President Bill Jarvis said he thinks the project will be "a great addition to the town of Schererville."

Both hotels will be four-story structures, and construction of the buildings will occur in phases. Town officials said the work could begin in coming months.

Initial plans indicated a Country Inn & Suites and Hyatt Place would be built on the property north of U.S. 30 and west of U.S. 41, but JSK Investments decided to build Staybridge Suites instead of Hyatt Place. The Plan Commission approved the franchise change last month.

Jarvis said he recently was in Schaumburg, Ill., and saw a Staybridge Suites while there. He described the hotel as "beautiful."

In addition to the franchise change, there were some minor changes to plans for the Staybridge Suites building.

Instead of constructing 87 rooms that would have included some suites, the building will have 81 rooms, all of which will be suites, Torrenga said.

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