Jan. 09, 2013--Changes in the original plans for a new hotel at the former Don Allen AutoCity site in Bloomfield were outlined Tuesday at the City Planning Commission.

The hotel project, estimated to cost $22 million, has been changed from the original plan described in March by developer Keith McGraw of Sewickley, a partner with Mark Laporte in Concord Hospitality Enterprises Co. of Raleigh, N.C.

McGraw said the hotel will be privately financed.

The current plan calls for a five-story, 128-room Hyatt House with 70 percent extended-stay rooms, consisting of a mix of room sizes, from studio to four two-bedrooms. The remaining rooms will be offer for daily use.

The original plan was for a six-story, 133-room Hilton Homewood Suites.

A final vote by the commission on the project will be held on Jan. 22, said Susan Tymoczko, city zoning administrator.

The site is an area bounded by Liberty and S. Aiken avenues, Baum Boulevard and South Atlantic Street.

An existing building, the old Don Allen showroom, will be demolished in February with a possible start of construction in spring. Completion is scheduled 15 months later, by summer 2014.

The hotel will include a retail area at one end. There will be 104 parking spaces on site, along with 43 bike racks.

McGraw said his development team has met with local neighborhood groups to explain the project.

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