The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Work to begin on new Hampton Inn
Groundbreaking set for new hotel near I-90, state Route 528
A groundbreaking ceremony is set for July 13 at the site of Lake County’s newest hotel.
Plans for the $11.1 million Hampton Inn project at 171 Water Tower Drive in Madison Village include a four-story structure with 82 guest rooms, according to a July 9 news release from Ashtabula-based JCI Contractors Inc.
The new Hampton Inn’s groundbreaking — taking place at 10:30 a.m. — comes just shy of a year after village officials helped break ground for the Holiday Inn Express and Suites which has taken shape at 181 Water Tower Drive over the past year.
Area officials and tourism proponents hope the two hotels, along with numerous other improvements to the Interstate 90/ state Route 528 interchange will bring big changes and provide an economic boon to the area.
“I think it’s great. I think it’s going to make all the difference in the world,” said Village Councilman Mark Vest in a July 11 phone interview. “I think it’s going to change the whole complexion of that area for the better.”
Along with the Holiday Inn property, Water Tower Drive has seen numerous improvements in recent years, including those
to the Lakeland Community College East Campus, which opened for business in 2004, and a reinvigorated effort to preserve the cul de sac’s namesake, the historic water tower.
Vest said that everyone from Ashtabula County tourism officials, their counterparts in Lake County, Lake County, Madison Township, Madison Village, Grand River winery and Geneva’s
Spire Institute’s contingents, just to name a few, have huge stakes in the redevelopment of the area around the I 90/OH 528 interchange. And he’s excited so many roads lead to Madison Village.
“I think it’s good for the whole (tourism) industry,” he said. “It’s going to be great for Spire. It’s going to be great for all the wineries and the tourists who
come visit those. I mean, everybody needs a bed, right? It’s going to be great for all of Madison and all of Lake County and beyond, for that matter.”
A July 10 news release from JCI said that the 54,000-square-foot hotel will occupy two acres and feature amenities including an indoor swimming pool, fitness center and meeting room.
Speaking from his perspective, Vest said he couldn’t be happier with how the projects on Water Tower Drive have been progressing as of late.
“I’m just happy that it’s happening. I’m excited. I’m thoroughly stoked about the whole thing,” he said. “From a great lake to a grand river, Madison’s the answer and I can’t tell you how happy I am about that.”