Hotel franchise digs into northwest Springfield

Travelers heading east on Interstate 44 will be greeted with a new hotel at the first Springfield exit next spring.

Site work is under way for construction of a $1.85-million, 55-room Ramada Limited in the 4400 block of West Chestnut Expressway. The hotel will sit less than a half mile from the I-44/Chestnut Expressway interchange, Exit 72.

When complete next March, Ramada franchisee Harshad Patel hopes the new Ramada appeals to those who travel by land and air.

"It is the first Springfield exit" for eastbound I-44 traffic, Patel said. "We are also nearby the airport, so I'm expecting that business."

Remada returns

The new hotel marks the return of the Ramada franchise to Springfield. In February, Gordon Elliott of Elliott Lodging changed the flagship of the Ramada Inn I-44, 2820 N. Glenstone Ave., to a Lamplighter Inn & Suites, with hopes of creating a chain with the Lamplighter name.

Patel also owns the Best Budget Inn, located next to the Ramada site, and Maple Inn on North Glenstone. He has owned the Best Budget Inn and adjacent land for more than five years. Originally from India, Patel moved to the United State seven years ago, spending time in Flint, Mich., before buying the hotels in Springfield.

Williams Construction is general contractor and Slone Architects is architect of the hotel, which Patel said will feature four suites, an indoor pool and interior corridors. Patel will serve as general manager. Patel said he bought into the Ramada franchise for $18,500.

Other northwest developments

Another hotel is planned for the West Bypass/I-44 exit, where John Q. Hammons' Courtyard by Marriott is located. The affiliation of the new hotel is unknown at this time.

According to CJR Commercial Group Realtor Galen Pellham, a hotel chain has two acres under contract at Airport Plaza, the 46-acre planned development on the northwest corner of West Bypass and Kearney Street.

Site work for the plaza began in May, and Pellham said he expects to receive contracts for a convenience store, a retailer and a restaurant. Nothing has closed at this point.

"We've got to put the street in and finalize the plat before we can officially close any lots," Pellham said. "But we're running out of lots to sell out here."

Phase I comprises nine lots on 16 acres.

Northwest Springfield also may land a new, 246-unit apartment complex, should City Council approve a rezoning request for 13.7 acres in the 3800 block of West Maple Street.

The land is zoned as a general manufacturing district. It would have to be rezoned as a planned development before Maple Park could progress. Council votes on the matter Sept. 29. The Planning and Zoning Commission and city staff recommend approval.

King Coltrin of Great River Engineering represented Don Daniels, who filed the rezoning petition, at the Sept. 15 City Council meeting. Coltrin said he believes such housing is badly needed in northwest Springfield.