2008 Woodie Awards
Hotel, stores, restaurant project groundbreaking around corner
By Lexxie Shiring
Rocket Contributor
Issue date: 10/19/07 Section: News
RBI Development will be breaking ground Oct. 27 to construct a new establishment that will bring a hotel, small shopping plaza and retail stores to the Slippery Rock area.
"For some time there has been an interest in building a hotel just beside the Slippery Rock Cemetery," said Slippery Rock Mayor Ken Harris.
"It will have two entrance ways, from Route 108, the proposed new university entrance on the north side of campus and on Grove City Road near the former Agway building."
The hotel will be a Fairfield Inn & Suites with 73 rooms and the possibility of adding more if necessary.
"It will have a couple of meeting rooms to hold conferences and even wedding receptions," Harris said.
The Fairfield Inn & Suites will cost approximately $12 million to build.
"We certainly need a hotel," Harris said.
"During 11 months of the year, there is always something going on and I can see the place selling out every homecoming weekend, commencement and home football game."
The establishment is also going to attract more people to Slippery Rock and will serve more accommodations, said Slippery Rock Development Office Manager, Tom McPherson.
"You will not have to stay 10 to 12 miles away," McPherson said. "You can stay right in town, which will also bring money to the local businesses and restaurants."
Ryan Ambrose, senior political science major, thinks that the new development will portray the town of Slippery Rock as ready to make an upgrade.
"The university is growing, so naturally the town will have to grow too," Ambrose said. "It will be nice to have a hotel for prospective students and visiting relatives to stay in."
Campus Side Apartments owner Lee Ligo said he thinks the hotel would be an asset to the community, but said he wasn't too sure about the stores.
"Stores have to be needed," Ligo said. "Just because they build buildings does not mean that they will get business."
Vicki Kritiotis, a sophomore business management major, thinks the new development will be an advantage to Slippery Rock students.
"For some time there has been an interest in building a hotel just beside the Slippery Rock Cemetery," said Slippery Rock Mayor Ken Harris.
"It will have two entrance ways, from Route 108, the proposed new university entrance on the north side of campus and on Grove City Road near the former Agway building."
The hotel will be a Fairfield Inn & Suites with 73 rooms and the possibility of adding more if necessary.
"It will have a couple of meeting rooms to hold conferences and even wedding receptions," Harris said.
The Fairfield Inn & Suites will cost approximately $12 million to build.
"We certainly need a hotel," Harris said.
"During 11 months of the year, there is always something going on and I can see the place selling out every homecoming weekend, commencement and home football game."
The establishment is also going to attract more people to Slippery Rock and will serve more accommodations, said Slippery Rock Development Office Manager, Tom McPherson.
"You will not have to stay 10 to 12 miles away," McPherson said. "You can stay right in town, which will also bring money to the local businesses and restaurants."
Ryan Ambrose, senior political science major, thinks that the new development will portray the town of Slippery Rock as ready to make an upgrade.
"The university is growing, so naturally the town will have to grow too," Ambrose said. "It will be nice to have a hotel for prospective students and visiting relatives to stay in."
Campus Side Apartments owner Lee Ligo said he thinks the hotel would be an asset to the community, but said he wasn't too sure about the stores.
"Stores have to be needed," Ligo said. "Just because they build buildings does not mean that they will get business."
Vicki Kritiotis, a sophomore business management major, thinks the new development will be an advantage to Slippery Rock students.
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