Holiday Inn Express moving forward

There is some activity on the long-awaited construction of Holiday Inn Express.

The first submission of construction drawings was turned into the city last month and have been returned for revisions to the architect, Architects and Planners International of Phoenix. Completed July 6, this was the first review by the city for the project.

The plans also must be reviewed by the Arizona Department of Transportation, as improvements along State Route 347 will be required.

“Plans were submitted to ADOT for review around the same time frame,” said Brad Hinton, development expeditor for the city.  “The city received the plans for reference only. My understanding is that ADOT has produced the first round of comments as well.”

Hinton said upon receipt of the revisions, the second review will take approximately two weeks.

“If all goes well, we hope to return the plans at the beginning of next week.” said Project Developer Larry Miller of Matrixx Management.

Miller said he is working with the Holiday Inn Express franchise and with ADOT to “get their blessing.”

“We’re trying to push this through,” Miller said. “And if it all goes right, we hope to break ground in 30 days.”

Miller said he is currently in negotiations with a general contractor for the project. The construction is estimated to take seven months. The Holiday Inn Express will have 80 rooms and retail space built in front of the hotel. Miller said he hopes one or two restaurants will occupy that space. He is currently looking for tenants as the project comes closer to fruition.

The hotel will be built on a six-acre site on the east side of John Wayne Parkway south of Maricopa Self Storage.