Visitors to Midland could have the opportunity to stay near the airport terminal in the coming years.
Marv Esterly, director of airports, said they’ve had inquiries from multiple parties who are interested in purchasing land owned by Midland International Airport so they could construct a hotel.
Thus far, Esterly said they’re looking at re-platting and re-zoning an about four-acre tract that’s on Sloan Field Boulevard between Windecker Street and Banks Drive. If constructed, that would put the hotel near the Premier Parking lot.
“It would be a good addition,” Esterly said.
The lot recently was appraised at $435,000, or about $110,000 per acre, Esterly said.
Before a project could move forward, the lot would have to be re-platted with the city’s Planning Department and then re-zoned to allow for a hotel.
A Baymont Inn & Suites already exists on Airport Drive, about 1 mile away from the airport.
Aside from that, Esterly said visitors typically have farther to drive to find a room in Midland or Odessa, which has become much more difficult in recent months.
In February — the most recent month reported — Midland hotels reported collecting just more than $5.5 million in taxable receipts, according to the State Comptroller’s office. That is an increase of more than $2 million from February 2011 and more than $3 million when compared with February 2010.
Esterly said in previous years, airport officials never have had interest from developers in building another motel near Midland International Airport.
The present economy likely is the reason for the current interest, he said, though there also could be other factors.
If the hotel had a conference center-type facility, it would allow visitors to fly in, conduct their business and fly back out without ever having to leave the area of the airport.
The location being considered also would be convenient for those who are coming to the Permian Basin to conduct business in both Midland and Odessa, he said.
A hotel isn’t the only expansion being considered in that area.
Esterly said as the volume of parking continues to increase, “we may be looking at opening another lot.”
If constructed, the additional parking would be available on property near the proposed hotel and across the street from the current parking area, he said.
In April, parking revenue was up by 14 percent when compared with last April. For the fiscal year, parking revenue is up 11.6 percent from 2011, said Tommy Martin, accounting manager.
“We have to figure out what we’re going to do,” he said.
Midland International Airport already offers 1,800 parking spaces, including 294 that are covered, 425 considered “close in” and 1,082 in the remote lot, Martin said.
Another 400 to 500 spaces likely could be added if the second lot were opened, Esterly said. Covering those spots with a canopy structure was a possibility.
So far this year, the parking lot has not been filled to capacity. But, there have been days when only a few hundred spaces remain. When summer travel begins, there’s a possibility there will be days when all spaces are full, said Justine Ruff, deputy director of airports.
Earl Erdmann, board chairman, said he wants some formal research into what it would take to open up another parking lot.
With business increasing like it has been, Erdmann said they need to plan ahead and know what investment will be required if that additional lot is needed.
Danny Winchester, with Parkhill, Smith and Cooper — which contracts with the airport — said that within the coming weeks he will look into the costs of developing another lot.
Source: http://www.mywesttexas.com
Marv Esterly, director of airports, said they’ve had inquiries from multiple parties who are interested in purchasing land owned by Midland International Airport so they could construct a hotel.
Thus far, Esterly said they’re looking at re-platting and re-zoning an about four-acre tract that’s on Sloan Field Boulevard between Windecker Street and Banks Drive. If constructed, that would put the hotel near the Premier Parking lot.
“It would be a good addition,” Esterly said.
The lot recently was appraised at $435,000, or about $110,000 per acre, Esterly said.
Before a project could move forward, the lot would have to be re-platted with the city’s Planning Department and then re-zoned to allow for a hotel.
A Baymont Inn & Suites already exists on Airport Drive, about 1 mile away from the airport.
Aside from that, Esterly said visitors typically have farther to drive to find a room in Midland or Odessa, which has become much more difficult in recent months.
In February — the most recent month reported — Midland hotels reported collecting just more than $5.5 million in taxable receipts, according to the State Comptroller’s office. That is an increase of more than $2 million from February 2011 and more than $3 million when compared with February 2010.
Esterly said in previous years, airport officials never have had interest from developers in building another motel near Midland International Airport.
The present economy likely is the reason for the current interest, he said, though there also could be other factors.
If the hotel had a conference center-type facility, it would allow visitors to fly in, conduct their business and fly back out without ever having to leave the area of the airport.
The location being considered also would be convenient for those who are coming to the Permian Basin to conduct business in both Midland and Odessa, he said.
A hotel isn’t the only expansion being considered in that area.
Esterly said as the volume of parking continues to increase, “we may be looking at opening another lot.”
If constructed, the additional parking would be available on property near the proposed hotel and across the street from the current parking area, he said.
In April, parking revenue was up by 14 percent when compared with last April. For the fiscal year, parking revenue is up 11.6 percent from 2011, said Tommy Martin, accounting manager.
“We have to figure out what we’re going to do,” he said.
Midland International Airport already offers 1,800 parking spaces, including 294 that are covered, 425 considered “close in” and 1,082 in the remote lot, Martin said.
Another 400 to 500 spaces likely could be added if the second lot were opened, Esterly said. Covering those spots with a canopy structure was a possibility.
So far this year, the parking lot has not been filled to capacity. But, there have been days when only a few hundred spaces remain. When summer travel begins, there’s a possibility there will be days when all spaces are full, said Justine Ruff, deputy director of airports.
Earl Erdmann, board chairman, said he wants some formal research into what it would take to open up another parking lot.
With business increasing like it has been, Erdmann said they need to plan ahead and know what investment will be required if that additional lot is needed.
Danny Winchester, with Parkhill, Smith and Cooper — which contracts with the airport — said that within the coming weeks he will look into the costs of developing another lot.
Source: http://www.mywesttexas.com
No comments:
Post a Comment