Paved parking is also part of the plan on the eastside of the proposed hotel.

Still, with its’ curse well known in the city, the developer is not swayed and they are hopeful they can break the longstanding hex.

“It’s now created an opportunity to create something special for the community, the timing in terms of the need for an upscale product in the accommodation market as well so it seems to be a good fit, and we’ll see how it goes were in full flight right now,” said Aaron Burghardt of Clay District Developments, who made a similar pitch last April for a 60-unit hotel building.

As previously reported by CHAT News Today, there have been at least four failed attempts to develop the land, which is currently being used as a parking lot.

During the Municipal Planning Commission Meeting, concerns were raised about the impact to downtown parking, should the project get built, but Burghardt, maintains there are ways to mitigate the impact.

” First of all we are able to meet code requirements for an accommodating facility with the immediate parking that will still be available, and there are also other opportunities to lease private lots for gated parking, that we would provide a valet service for, and there’s also the parkade downtown which has a lot of room in it still.”

The project still needs to go through city council for approval.