February 10, 2010

Maricopa is getting its first hotel in 56 years, confirmed Mayor Anthony Smith at his annual state of the city address last night. The hotel is an 80-room Holiday Inn Express, which is slated to be built on the vacant tract of land on the east side of John Wayne Parkway just south of the Maricopa Self Storage location.

“We just got the franchisee approval and are excited to get this project underway,” said Larry Miller of Matrixx Management, one of the developers behind the project.

Miller, who helped develop several of the subdivisions south of the Union Pacific Railroad tracks and is the founder of Maricopa Broadband, said the hotel has been in the works for several months and expects to break ground on the project within 90 days.

“There is a huge need in this community for a hotel with all of the employees at the two test tracks, out-of-town visitors and others,” Miller said. In addition, Miller said the hotel will have an onsite restaurant in the form of a Denny’s, International House of Pancakes or a Marie Callander's, as well as a 35,000-square-foot conference room. Miller added he is also in negotiations to bring a Starbucks location to the six-acre site.

Once construction begins, Miller said he estimates a timeline of six to eight months until the hotel is up and operational. He didn’t have a time lime available yet on the restaurant. In addition to the Holiday Inn Express, Miller hopes to add a similar-sized Best Western property next door.

“This is a great thing for the city, especially if they want to focus on upping tourism,” said Maricopa resident Jack Hendrix.

The announcement came near the end of a nearly 90-minute speech in which Smith reviewed the city’s highs and lows from the previous year, as well outlining the goals for  2010. More than 175 residents attended the event.

InMaricopa’s Joyce Hollis opened the ceremony, comparing the city to a puppy dog that is small when you get it, but growing every day and full of potential.

Hollis also said the sense of community in the city was strong, and when people identify how long they have lived in the city it is usually quantified with the construction of one retail development or another. “I came before the traffic lights and the Maricopa Police Department,” she said. “Sorry, chief, (director of Public Safety Patrick Melvin), but it was kind of fun.”

Smith detailed the financial struggles the city was facing, including a reduction in revenue. Despite the projected reduction, Smith said the city came in $1.1 million under budget in 2009 and would need to continue to be fiscally responsible.

“Our city is staffed at about 10 percent less than comparable cities, and they need to be commended for the wonderful job they have done,” Smith said. He also predicted financially stronger days ahead once the current census count is complete.

The federal government provides dollars based on population, and Maricopa is operating off the projections of a 2005 special census. Smith said the city is currently being shortchanged by almost $5 million. In addition to the extra money the census would bring to the city, Smith said it would also mean more representation for the citizens of Maricopa at both the national and county level.