Hotel Del Sol contract extended to allow city to spend grant funds

The Yuma City Council agreed to extend an agreement with the Yuma County Intergovernmental Public Transportation Authority to allow the city more time to spend grant funds associated with the Hotel Del Sol project.

The longtime plan for the vacant three-story hotel, located at 200 E. 3rd St., has been to turn it into a transit hub to help revitalize the city’s historic downtown and support the community’s transportation needs.

With the initial agreement already extended twice before, city staff asked that it be extended once more to Sept. 30, 2024, so the remaining grant funds could still be used for the project.

Councilwoman Ema Lea Shoop voted yes “with reservations,” noting concern with the cost of the project.

In 2015, YCIPTA passed on grants to the city to assist with funding the final design and pre-construction costs associated with the improvement and rehabilitation of the nearly century-old Hotel Del Sol as a multimodal transportation hub.

On Wednesday, Shoop asked for clarification on whether the hotel will be demolished or rehabilitated, pointing out wording in the agenda item. Acting City Administrator Jay Simonton explained the plan is to demolish the building with the exception of the north and east facades, saving the Spanish Colonial arches that give character to the building. Then, within those two facades, a new three-story building will be constructed.

However, Simonton noted, the design process has taken “a little bit longer than anticipated.” He explained that amending the contract would increase