Lakewood City Council: What's Next After Hotel Study?

The $7,000 feasibility study that found Lakewood could use a hotel was completed in January.  

It’s been on docket for discussion in city council’s committee of the whole since.

Meanwhile, city officials have been using the information in the study to inform potential investors and developers since January, but there haven’t been any serious proposals for developing a hotel.

Yet. 

“It’s still early,” said Dru Siley, the city’s director of planning and development. “It’s been helpful to me and the staff to explain what kind of opportunities there are for investment." 

“Hopefully good things will come from it.”

At council’s committee of the whole meeting on Monday night, Siley said the study has “already paid for itself.”

Last year, Lakewood City Council commissioned Lakewood-based Hotel & Leisure Advisors to perform a feasibility study to see if a hotel within city limits could work (in addition to the Days Inn on Lake Avenue).

Turns out there are four specific areas in Lakewood where a hotel would work, according to the study. Check out this story to see where they are.

Council had a few questions on Monday night.

“What are we going to do with that study? What are the next steps?” asked council president Brian Powers.

Shawn Juris, the Ward 3 councilman who introduced the measure, pointed out that the study is being used actively in the planning and development department. 

“It was not meant to replace the work and due diligence that should be done by a developer,” Juris said. “It was (meant) to look citywide, within hotel and leisure, is there an opportunity (for a hotel)?”

“It’s a document that’s available if developers approach the city.”

Council members, for the most part, agreed.

“It’s not just the leisure industry, but how the study might (be used) in other industries,” added Ward 1 councilman David Anderson.

The 145-page study recommends a “branded hotel" offering between 60 and 100 rooms:

"Being affiliated with a national hotel chain affords the property name recognition and popularity among brand loyal hotel guests. While a boutique-style hotel remains an option given the smaller room count, the Lakewood market lacks the strong demand generators essential for a small, independent hotel to thrive. A branded hotel will be more likely to attract overflow demand from Cleveland, Westlake, and other communities than an independent boutique hotel.”

The study also points to several attractions in the area, including Beck Center for the Arts; the Horseshoe Casino; the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame; Serpentini Winterhurst Area; Playhouse Square; and the three major Cleveland sports venues.

“Based upon our analysis, we believe that the potential exists for a new hotel to be developed within the city of Lakewood,” according to the study, conducted by Lakewood-based Hotel & Leisure Advisors.

Have a look at the complete study, attached above.