Hotel project still on holiday

The only real update on the Holiday Inn Express may be what it says on the sign on North John Wayne Parkway.

The sign previously said the hotel would open in the fall of 2011; now the sign says the hotel will open in spring 2012.

Architectural plans were first submitted to the city in June, and the city is now in receipt of the second submission of construction drawings. The developers are still pursuing approvals from the Arizona Department of Transportation and utility companies.

Improvements along the parkway will be required as the hotel is built.

Project Developer Larry Miller of Matrixx Management said in July that groundbreaking should begin within 30 days on the six-acre site. Phone messages to Miller’s office in Scottsdale were not returned.

InMaricopa did contact someone at the number listed on the sign, but the response was less than welcoming. When the phone was answered there was loud music playing and the man would only say there were “no updates” and to talk to the city.

The much-anticipated hotel project was first announced in February 2010 by Mayor Anthony Smith during his state of the city address. At that time Miller had a November 2010 completion date set, but in January of this year said he had hit several road blocks when trying to get approval from ADOT.

The 80-room Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites will feature a swimming pool, fitness center and 3,500-square-foot conference area.