Jun. 20--After nearly four years of waiting and squabbling, ground was broken a second time Tuesday morning for the Fountains at Fairview conference center in Fairview Heights. 

The 20,000-square-foot conference center, which will include a Four Points Hotel by Sheraton, is designed to attract companies hosting corporate seminars and meetings. The complex will be located just north of Interstate 64 off Illinois 159. 

The goal of developers is to attract additional restaurants, hotels and businesses seeking office space on the 48-acre tract. 

The first groundbreaking was held in August 1998 for a similar complex but actual construction never began. 
 

Robert F. O'Loughlin, CEO for Lodging Hospitality Management, said the "state-of-the-art" convention center and four-story hotel should be built in 10 to 12 months. The hotel will have 120 rooms, 30 less than a plan for a five-story 150-room hotel submitted in 1999. However, 30 more rooms could be added later if needed, said Bruce Holland, president of Holland-Hinrichs Construction Inc.  Holland said earthwork should begin Tuesday or Wednesday next week. Despite setbacks and a study that showed the city may not need such a large conference center, Fairview Heights Mayor Gail Mitchell said he thinks the complex will be a success.

Robert F. O'Loughlin, CEO Lodging Hospitality  Management

"There is no question in my mind this is going to work," he said. "We're building a comfortable size center to meet the needs of the region." 

Plans for the Fountains project were originally announced in 1997. Since then, the size of the conference center and hotel has decreased, one of the project's developers has left and Fairview Heights aldermen have argued about how to fund the project. 

In November 1997, former investor Jere Wilmering proposed building a hotel with a 30,000-square-foot conference center. By January 1998, the size of the center had been scaled back to 15,000 square feet, and Wilmering asked the city to fund $1.1 million of the $3.1 million project. That same year, Wilmering announced his development partner was developer David Roth. 

Construction was supposed to begin by June 1999 and had yet to materialize in 2000. 

Wilmering left the project in April 2000, and O'Loughlin came on board with plans for the current conference center and hotel. 

Fairview Heights Ward 4 Alderman Carol Warner, a supporter of the project since its inception, said she's glad to see the construction begin and wasn't discouraged by aldermen who opposed it. 

"You have 10 different people. As in all good government, there is diversity of opinion," she said. 

Ward 4 Alderman Richard Briddell, who has voted against the Fountains project, said he plans to keep close watch over the site as he has since the first proposal was made. 

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