Firm gets more time to start N. Shore hotel, amphitheater

The city's Stadium Authority board unanimously agreed with a Columbus developer's request to extend construction deadlines for North Shore hotel and amphitheater projects, though it provoked warnings from board members.

Continental Real Estate won approvals to push back construction starting dates for a $25 million Hyatt Place hotel until June 30 and a $12 million entertainment complex until Aug. 1. Under previous agreements with the authority (which controls the city-owned land between the North Shore stadiums), the developers were supposed to begin building next month. They requested more time to secure financing and government approvals for the projects, authority staffers said.
 

Representatives from a union-backed neighborhood group called North Side United -- which has been trying to negotiate a community benefits agreement with Continental -- criticized the city agency for repeatedly siding with the developers. Though the board voted 5-0 to approve Continental's contract extensions, board members signaled some frustration with them. They also questioned whether the developers could finish the entertainment complex as promised by May 1, 2010.

"If this [approval] is given, we expect them to complete by the date we agreed to," state Rep. Jake Wheatley said.

Continental "better get on the stick, because we're kind of running out of patience. This is getting a little old for us," said the board's vice chair, Robert Ewanco.

Stadium Authority Director Mary Conturo said it is possible for the developers to complete the amphitheater project in the nine months projected (that is, from August of this year to May 1, 2010). "It's a tight schedule of course, but could be done," she said.