Study could end hotel holdup
By Rochelle Moore
Published in News on March 19, 2018 5:50 AM
The Goldsboro City Council will consider tonight whether to support a $32,000 feasibility study that will explore the market's ability to support a full-service hotel near the Maxwell Regional Agricultural and Convention Center.
The Wayne County Tourism Development Authority is proposing to hire HVS, a hospitality consulting and research firm, to complete a market feasibility study. The tourism authority plans to pay $12,800 of the cost and is asking city and county officials to each pay $9,600.
The council will vote on the proposal during its 7 p.m. meeting in City Hall.
The HVS study is planned to include a demand analysis of the Maxwell Center by forecasting occupancy and average daily rates, along with projected incomes and expenses.
The company will also complete a meeting planner survey study, recommend hotels and complete a feasibility analysis of possible investors.
The fate of the city's property, at the corner of Wayne Memorial Drive and New Hope Road, hinges on luring a full-service hotel to the 6-acre site to complement the recently opened Maxwell Center.
City leaders have been marketing the property for the past couple years and are interested in attracting a hotel that offers a minimum of 150 rooms, a restaurant, lounge and at least 2,700 square feet of flexible meeting space. There is also an interest in attracting restaurants and retail stores to the property.
Also during the meeting, the council will consider:
* Rejecting three bids for the repainting of the Holly Street water tank due to concerns that there may be lead in the tower's existing paint. Further testing to determine the location of lead is planned, which is expected to result in a higher overall cost for the project.
* Approving a conditional-use permit to allow the construction and operation of a concrete business on a 11.9-acre site off Patetown Road, near Industry Court.
* Approving a resolution of appreciation to Linwood Battle for 30 years of service as an employee of the city. Battle, an equipment operator in the Public Works Department, retires in April.