Columbus is first in line to get some new hotels, but Starkville is due to follow suit next year.
A sign advertising a Fairfield Inn has stood on Highway 12 for approximately four years just west of the State Shopping Center, which houses Umi Japanese Restaurant and Sports Center. Developer Mark Castleberry purchased the land and applied for the plats years ago — and has paid property taxes each year — but couldn”t secure funding for the project, which has sat idle ever since. Now he”s just completed a Fairfield Inn & Suites on 18th Avenue North in Columbus and plans to begin construction on a Courtyard by Mariott right across the street in the immediate future.
Once those hotels are up and running, Castleberry plans to turn his attention back to Starkville.
The hotel that goes up may not be a Fairfield, but will be in the Mariott family. Like the Columbus Fairfield, Castleberry predicts it will house approximately 90 rooms on three stories, which will require a height variance.
“That could be a significant problem. I”m hoping we can present a motivating case, being sensitive to the residents behind us, so that will be granted,” said Castleberry of the variance.
Regardless of the name on the sign, he said construction is likely to begin in the first quarter of 2012 and wrap up a year later.
But Castleberry hasn”t been completely dormant in Starkville in recent years. He purchased the Hampton Inn on Highway 12 and Comfort Suites on Russell Street and extensively renovated both.
He said he wouldn”t be building a new hotel on Highway 12, which is also due to receive a La Quinta Inn & Suites, if the demand didn”t exist for hotel rooms.
“Our other hotels are doing well and location is key. We feel our sales force has done an excellent job of attracting good occupants,” said Castleberry.
An auto parts store and a tanning salon, which was originally slated to be a Verizon Wireless store, have recently been constructed on the hotel plat.
Jason Browne was previously a reporter for The Dispatch.
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