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St. Louis Post-Dispatch

Lee Enterprises

Friday, November 20, 2009 9:41 PM CST
OUR VIEW: Many worked to launch hotel/convention project

By the JG/T-C Editorial Board
editorial@jg-tc.com

The first step in a possible massive transformation of the east side of Interstate 57 on Illinois Route 16 near Mattoon is about to begin.

Developers announced during the week that ground will be broken in December on a $20-million hotel and convention center that will anchor the 23-acre Coles Centre site on the south side of Route 16.

The first phase of the development is truly a regional effort. The three developers are from Effingham (Chuck Keller and Dr. Ted Fifer) and Charleston (Don Yost). The land is owned by Richard Lumpkin of Mattoon and Agracel of Effingham.

And, of course, the City of Mattoon created the TIF district and will be assisting with infrastructure at the site.

Phase I of the project includes a 102-room Hilton Garden Inn and a 55,000-square-feet convention center that can host up to 24 small meetings or a large gathering of as many as 2,000 people.

The complex also will include a full-service restaurant.

The project has been in the works for a number of years and has encountered several obstacles before getting to the groundbreaking stage.

A hotel and convention center is just the first step, although certainly a major one. But the hotel/convention center will sit on nine acres.

Officials point out there are an additional 14 acres on the site just off Lerna Road. Phase II of the project calls for the development of additional hotels, retail shopping and restaurants.

This development should bring a major change in shopping, dining and lodging.

Yost, who facilitated the Wednesday announcement, said the idea is for this project to serve as a magnet by attracting people to Coles County. Yost said the developers hope to provide the area with first-class hotel, convention and restaurant services to support the needs of business as well as Eastern Illinois University and Lake Land College.

While the economy has been sluggish for many months, it is encouraging to see developers demonstrate confidence in the future of the area by investing in such a large project.

Economic downturns don’t last forever. Developers said construction will take 15 to 18 months, meaning the hotel and convention center will be ready for business by late spring in 2011. We will be interested to see what other hotels, stores and restaurants will be attracted to the site.

Wednesday’s announcement is the first step in making the project a reality — financing and design are in place. The next step is to break ground in December, then start construction.

And by the summer of 2011, we anticipate Phase I of Coles Centre will be open for business.

— JG/T-C Editorial Board

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Mama says wrote on Nov 21, 2009 4:09 PM:

" AND when no one comes? There will be all the rooms vacant, cant do business with 102 rooms but only 12 filled either. A lot of restaurants, and other businesses sounding more like the Kellers build in Effingham with their big hotel and restaurant and then selling to other businesses like CRACKER BARREL and others along the Highway. Then came ROSEBUD down the track and a thing of the past. Effingham looked as dead as Mattoon during our drive by to see that area.
It shows BUILD AND FINALLY THEY WON'T COME. The meals became too costly and the theatre tickets too high. Peoples hours on jobs cut, and some with no jobs. THEY TAKE THE MONEY AND GONE with these ideas of grandeur. The poor then loses on these ventures eventally
Better to build some lowcost housing and put ALDI in that area for the poor to buy food, and the poor can mow it and save on that rent. I am glad if things lookup to others, but we arent having it lookingup in our area. We all heard when South 45 how wonderful that new hotel would be. We heard the same on the newer ones along Route 57 edge of Mattoon. Ever go by and see how few are there? Maybe could house some of the homeless in those and give them cleaning jobs inside and mowing?
Sweeping the roads going into the motel/hotels would be good also.
How soon before this grand grand fantasyland becomes another vacanted
area? "

Mama says wrote on Nov 22, 2009 3:40 PM:

" Seems to me that other areas had the convention centers and entertainments and all closed. Now they want to make Mattoon and Charleston WANNABEE BRANSONS entertainment and fancyland.
Be better to build a big prison, add those jobs and make lawbreakers take a room instead of probation on some bad crimes. "