Libertyville sees hope for business travel in new hotel proposal

A 122-area prolonged-keep hotel geared to organization vacationers is remaining proposed in northwest Libertyville.

Holladay Qualities, a commercial genuine estate growth and home management firm with an office environment in Clarendon Hills, has started the village approval system to make a 4-tale WoodSpring Suites at Peterson Street just east of Route 45.

The 3.7-acre web-site at 1980 Kelley Courtroom, a distinguished corner at Peterson and Northwind Boulevard, has remained undeveloped since the home was subdivided for office environment, production and distribution makes use of quite a few many years ago.

“The proposed program is to construct a properly-designed, higher high quality, effortlessly available, sustainable, visually appealing and perfectly-landscaped hotel,” in accordance to a summary supplied to the village.

WoodSpring is one particular of 14 manufacturers beneath the umbrella of Alternative Resorts International Inc. In accordance to the corporation internet site, there are 410 WoodSpring accommodations open or less than development in the United States. Suburban qualities contain areas in Elgin, Carol Stream, Addison and Gurnee.

“This brand name is starting to be a additional nicely-regarded extended-keep product in the region,” mentioned Heather Rowe, Libertyville’s financial enhancement director.

“You’ve obtained a good deal of large employers in the space,” Rowe extra. “I think they’re (WoodSpring) really fascinated in those people small business tourists.”

Inns are a permitted use in the zoning district. A Hampton Inn & Suites has operated for various years on the east facet of Northwind Boulevard and would be a neighbor to WoodSpring.

The proposal comes at a time when lodge usage is slowly and gradually recovering from the influence of the coronavirus pandemic.

Small business journey and unique situations, like graduations from the Fantastic Lakes Naval Station, have resumed, Rowe included.

“The very good news is we’re beginning to see area occupancies pick up,” she said.

Resort occupancy in Lake County is down from two yrs back but is trending upward, in accordance to Maureen Riedy, president of Take a look at Lake County, a tourism and promoting corporation.

The occupancy rate in June was 59{46006172ad4c53c7af3511c591ddf19e8ffdb2623a08a9c64bbeefa9e4f54948} in contrast to just about 77{46006172ad4c53c7af3511c591ddf19e8ffdb2623a08a9c64bbeefa9e4f54948} for the exact same interval two many years ago.

“We’re absolutely seeing a gradual improve in lodge occupancies, specially in restricted-serve accommodations or extended-remain resorts,” Riedy stated.

Northern Lake County has extra of these forms of offerings and is accomplishing better than the southern component of the county, she added.

Aside from WoodSpring in Gurnee, TownePlace Suites by Marriott in Waukegan, House2 Suites by Hilton in Lincolnshire and The Forester, Hyatt’s to start with boutique-influenced lodge, in Lake Forest have opened not long ago, Riedy stated.

In Libertyville, WoodSpring is trying to get encouraged approvals for the creating facade, landscaping, and lights. Improvements instructed by the village’s look critique fee will be regarded Aug. 16.