Developer of $6 million hotel in Jonesboro says city can’t support two convention centers

Another hotel is headed to Jonesboro, with the city’s planning commission voting Tuesday (April 12) to approve the conditional use plan for the $6 million project.

The Jonesboro Metropolitan Area Planning Commission voted 8-0 to approve the hotel development by B.R. Suri. Suri, who owns the Hampton Inn in Jonesboro. He said the hotel, which will be built on Phillips Drive, is in a “best place and prime location” for the project.

The plan calls for a 4-story, 70-room Comfort Inn to be built on Phillips Drive, just east of Caraway Road. Another hotel, a Holiday Inn, is being built by Naz Kazi down the street while the Keller convention center project will be built about a half mile away along I-555.

The 41,700 square foot hotel will have seven rooms on the first floor and 21 rooms each on the second, third and fourth floors. The construction schedule is not set but architect Jimmy Hudspeth said it typically takes about eight to 10 months to build a hotel of that size. Hudspeth said the complex will have a 77 space parking lot.

Suri said the new hotel will seek to build upon the customer base he has built with the Hampton Inn. The Hampton Inn houses everyone from business customers and doctors traveling through Jonesboro to church meetings and family reunions.

As for the hotel market, Suri said the market is and will be saturated with construction going on around town. In addition to the Holiday Inn, a five-story Marriott is being built on Stadium Boulevard, across from NEA Baptist hospital. As for the convention center projects, Suri said he believes only one will survive.

“If it is not successful, bankruptcy will come real soon,” Suri said.

There are two convention center projects being debated in Jonesboro. The Arkansas State University Board of Trustees voted Feb. 26 to approve the O’Reilly project. Missouri based O’Reilly Hospitality Management is wanting to build a 202-room hotel, 40,000 square foot conference center and a Houlihan’s restaurant at the former ASU track complex.

Illinois-based Keller Management is looking to build a 159-room hotel, a 37,000 square foot convention center and likely a second hotel on a 40-acre plot of land at the former Arkansas Services Center. The Keller project is supported by Jonesboro Mayor Harold Perrin, and has received support from the Jonesboro Advertising & Promotion Commission.

ASU Chancellor Tim Hudson has said he is “very disappointed” in the city’s support of the Keller project.

The commission also approved plans for three preliminary subdivision projects. The first subdivision, Briarwood Estates, would put 41 single family lots on nearly 13 acres of land along North Patrick Street. Emerald Village would put 22 duplexes, a community building and two lots on the same property on North Patrick Street. Both subdivisions will be built by Woodbine, Maryland-based KWL Properties.

Ridge Estates will be built by North Little Rock based Richsmith Holdings. The 59-lot subdivision will be built along North Patrick Street, Pratt Circle and Roseclair Streets.

Typically, the preliminary subdivision vote is the first step in the process. The developer will bring more information back to the MAPC for approval, with most requests being approved by the commission and the Jonesboro City Council.