Do You Want a 13-14 Story Marriott Residence Inn Hotel/Condo at Taylor’s Crossing?

For one, I would love to see Idaho Falls’ new tallest built. Not only is it time to see something other than the water tower rising up from the city, but Idaho Falls needs to attract more residents to the downtown core. What better way than a huge condo?

Idaho Falls needs a skyline. This may be the first and only skyscraper for a long time but imagine how it will rekindle interest in downtown from investors and developers.

The time is now to speak your mind, I for one will be leaving Mr. Marriott a message.

What a great iea you had, dnix! We’ll see if regionally people respond.

Just an FYI - I’ve written my post. As one person asked, he couldn’t see where to write anything.

Once again, there currently is NO blog about the Idaho Falls Residence Inn, so you have to post your thoughts under a different day’s subject.

As an alert, one is cautioned about two things when posting on that site, besides the usual stuff.

1. Comments are NOT posted immediately. Sometimes it may take days. (But don’t give up).

2. If those who review comments believe specific issues can be handled better by a different depatment at Marriott, your comments will be re-directed there.

You also can write to: feedback@Marriott.Com.

I encouage those of you who take the time to write about this to ask Mr. Marriott to address the 13 story Residence Inn, in Idaho Falls, as a theme for an upcoming blog.

Thanks for writing this, it’s been on my mind a lot as I drive past TC daily.

I just think it’s lame to announce you’re building a 13-story building in a small town, where it will be a record-setter, get all the hype and publicity, then it quietly gets around that instead you’ll do two smaller buildings that will not set a record (the Bonneville Hotel is 6 or 7 stories, right?)

I say be bold and do the 13 floors. The hotel will get more long-term respect for sticking to their original word, and it will set the stage for the denser urban developments that Idaho Falls needs.

Another reason to go thirteen stories is to guarantee one-of-a-kind views of our awesome fourth of july fireworks, which is something that CEO may not have considered.

They could charge high premiums on that evening for the topmost floors facing north.

Great comment everyone. Thanks. Many of you touched on other things I wanted to say, but I’m glad you wrote them so others could think about this from many perspectives.

Jeremy- It’s been my experience that sometimes it takes the “large mega-projects” to get small businesses going. For example, we’ve talked in this format, about a person owning Jet Ski/Water Sports Company that rents water toys to guests at hotels like the Residence Inn. And of course a nice coffee shop, yogurt store, etc. would be natural businesses.

Idaho Falls could even be a little bit like Ft. Lauderdale if Water Taxis were started, during the appropriate weather. A person’s imagination is the limit of what businesses and services might be built.

Joe- I think you and I have talked about this a few times. Just think, maybe there could be something quite tall for Christmas if it were 13 floors! I agree about why bother announcing (and showing the drawings) to the community, of this 13 story tower your company has ageed to build, if the company isn’t going to hold out for the 13 story towers?

I agree McNeil should just go for it. And I must admit I don’t know how many floors each local hotel has (especially the older ones) so I respectfully defer to Joe about what is currntly the tallest.

Chrisr671- I absolutely agree with your thoughts. Actually, it was a chat you were participating in recently that finally made me right this.

What I recall is you essentially said, besides going out to dinner and movie, there wasn’t much to do around here, unless one really liked outdoor activities.

I’m not sure I totally agree with you, but it depends on what interests people have, work schedules etc. I totally appreciate your point-of-view and think it is valid.

From my perspective, following through and building this 13 story beauty would help jump start further development/redevelopment in downtown I.F. I know some are worried that T.C. and Ball Ventures buildings south of Pancheri will create a ghost town downtown. Maybe it will, but maybe new types of businesses need to be downtown. After all, five years ago, would you have thought Rob Bishop could build “Destinations” where and how he did?

I think the area is large enough for this tower hotel/condos. I was stuck in a traffic jam today in an area I don’t usually travel and I found myself saying this was just like living in XXS (another, larger states). The traffic was as dense.

There could be so many small businesses and spin offs from this one hotel/condo (service businesses such as dry cleaners, car rentals, and day care etc. along with many other businesses commonly found around large hotels.

And a venue for concerts and other entertainment not only brings more guests to town (who need to sleep and eat somewhere), but creates other business/work opportunities as well. Jeremey would probably know the most details about the whole promoting experience far better than I. He probably know how many locals it takes to put on a concert.

I can see how development of sports/entertainment facilities, (and other activities) residents may want at Sandy Downs could easly compliment a convention center/arena downtown. It could be fun to spend one day at one facility and the next day at the other, doing totally different actvities.

Also, new or expanded entertainment facilities could serve food ONLY from local mom and pop restaurants and/or homemade food not sold elsewhere. Jobs in construction,maintenance, light, sound etc. would all be needed.

However, more than just the visable jobs, another positive economic benefit is one that most people may not think of: If residents remain in town and spend their disposable income attending activitie/entertainment here, how much more money is being reinvested in our local economy?

If any of you hear anything from the Marriott Corporation, please post something here to let the rest of us know. I will do the same.

Also, please encouage your family and friends (and even peope at work) to join us in this effort.

Thank you for your help with this.

No biggie Joe. I’ve learned quite a bit of new information after I wrote this article.

Most people know the Walker Brothers, DBA as McNeil Developments, is deveoloping property in Provo and near St. George, UT. Some might be interested to know how large the Hurrican (St. George) development is. The name, I believe, is “The Ledge.”

Some say it is 2,300 housing units, the Daily Herald has gone as high as 40,000 new housing units. Another media source in UT has said 500 acres. Who knows exactly how big the McNeil Development project is in Hurricane, except McNeil.

As I indicated above, I’ve learned some other things that I want to confirm before I write. The presence of McNeil Developments building this huge development outside of St.George is easy to find with a general search engine.

I think many of us would be interested to have someone from McNeil Development write a guest article here (or even answer questions) about their commitment to finishing all they originally planned for Taylor’s Crossing vs. working more on other developments.

As a private business, I can understand McNeil Developments’ need to move quickly on southern UT property, as Californians buy land and move to UT, as the Las Vegas residents too.

It just makes me wonder how TC fits into McNeil’s overall business portfolio, or if portions of the original TC might be sold (or sub-leased) to another company or develop?

I’m interested in what any of you think.

I would LOVE to see a highrise in Idaho Falls.

1. Idaho Falls needs a new tallest. It would help tremendously with downtown renovation.

2. The river is beautiful. Many visitors want to come back to visit the “town with so much potential”.

3. It could only help. With it’s height, it would attract many people to it. Being only a few feet short of the water tower, which can been seen for miles.

4. If there is one tall building, most people would choose the tall building over a 6-7 story hotel. It would stand out more than say, Shilo Inn, Ameritel, or Red Lion.

A very reliable source says the equipment by Smitty’s is to begin construction of the Marriott Residence Inn. This source declined to say how many towers.

Since promises of displaying “renderings” were made, I’m concerned that Marrott wouldn’t allow all 13 stories. We’ve already seen the design of the 13-story hotel/condo building. What would be new to see, except less floors?

On one hand it is good that they are FINALLY going to get moving on that construction; on the other hand, I groan thinking such prime real estate used for one or two 6-7 story buldings essentially equal in heighth to the Red Lion
Inn.

If Marriott has limited this building to no more than 7 floors, I anticipate some new brand name hotels being developed elsewhere. Investors who want to build more rooms in Idaho Falls/Ammon are facing a rather unique situation, or at least not one I’ve heard of previously: the corporations, such as Marriott and Hilton, are telling developers how many rooms they will allow to be built in the area.

I don’t know if the corporations are restricting what some developers want to do because of simultaneous development of other hotels by different developers, or other reasons. Don’t be surprised to see some other brand name hotel chains build close to the river.

With the CAES Center to the north and what sounds like everything one will need being developed between Pancheri and Sunnyside, I don’t think it is unreasonable to anticipate another tallest hotel to be built in one of those locations.

I hope I’m wrong and we see a beautful new 13 story Marriott Resience Inn/Condo off of Broadway in Taylor’s Crossing. But, I won’t be surprised if McNeil is prohibited from building more than 7 stories.

The last I had heard from the folks at McNeil was the hotel will be 6 stories, but they are planning a second larger building, to the south, that would be taller, possibly 13 floors. I asked them point blank after reading this blog, but I still never got a definite plan. I don’t know if they actually have it firmed up yet.

Did anybody see the bit on the news last night with the Mayor and city council disussing the need to find land for a new industrial park? They were discussing all of the new homes and tremendous growth that Idaho Falls has experienced the past couple of years, but were worried because we currently have more housing then we’ve got industry/quality jobs. They’re trying to figure out where to find the land to bring in more business and industry, without putting it in the middle of a residential area. They stated that this was crucial to the economy of our city. Claiming we’re a little “top heavy” right now with all the new housing developments going up and feel we need an immediate plan as far as industry and quality jobs go, in order to balance everything out.

scoobysnax,

Thanks for your post. Do you remember what channel you saw that on? I’d love to read what the Mayor said, or see the video.

I believe the subject of industrial parks fits in this category very well for more than one reason. First, many people don’t realize that McNeil Development is also developing an industrial park.

Secondly, it sounds to me like the Mayor is aware of potential companies who may be visiting the area to see what eastern ID may offer them. Perhaps 1 or more companies has alreay committed based on getting a property annexed into the city as an industrial park. I have no specific knowledge of this, but it seem a bit unusual for the Mayor to be raising thiw issue when, to the best of my knowledge, he hasn’t focused on industrial parks previously.

I do like his forward thinking.

For example, for the new proposed PD/FD replacement headquarters, he has already said he wants it boned by Feb. 2008. I like him thinking “big” about preserving land for industrial growth given other known, but not yet announced, developmenets.

I believe it is important now, perhaps more than ever before, with CAES being built and hopefully IOGEN coming our way as well, to have land and some shelled in buildings for speedy industrial growth to support or compliment CAES, INL and hopefully IOGEN and other companies.

Additionally, with the greatly increased budget the DOE recently received from Congress, who knows what expansion of current missions may be expanded significantly at INL. Or, perhaps totally new missions may be added to the lab requiring new sub-contractors for local source of certain materials used by INL.

Ultimately, I can see more spin-off companies and new businesses that support INL, CAES or others in their work.

Consequently, the fact the Mayor is a making industrial parks such a high priority on his agenda may mean we will be hearing some annoucements this year. For example, whatever happened to the business that was looking at the area and to employee 700 people? Did that company pass on the I.F./Ammon area, or do they have needs that can only be met in an indutrial park?

As rapidly as new subdivisions and annexations are occuring, I believe this is a valid and timely point for the Mayor to address currently.

All that being said, if one reviews some of the mega real estate websites for the Idaho Falls area, land is offered at most of the exits south of Broadway. However, I don’t recall any more land available off of the Sunnyside exit - and certainly not for industrial parks.

It is clear that the current farm land is zoned for 1M -Manuacturing and light industrial at the previously mentioned and other exits. The general area of Highway 20 and St. Leon to Iona, and the area around N. Boulevard are all available to be developed into Industrial Parks.

Additionally, a few existing buildings, along with a couple of remaining spots in the McNeil Industrial Park are available.

I believe a lot of the available land I’ve mentioned needs to be annexed into the city, prior to some new or expanding businesses to locate in an industrial park. Annexation takes months to complete all of the various stages. Since time is money, there is no time to waste, if the city wants to attract more businesses with higher paying jobs, to the area.

Recently, I read that a Bend, OR restaurant (Chinese, I believe) was closing in Bend and moving to Idaho Falls. Bend has become far too expensive for many established businesses to be profitable, since many are exiting CA and moving north to that area.

A mom and pop restaurant wouldn’t be my first thought of what type of businessess Grow Idaho Falls is working with to relocating to Idaho Falls. However, the fact that these restaurant owners knew about Idaho Falls strongly suggests to me that the Bend, OR businesses know Idaho Falls has the amenities, workforce and the space to grow their businesses afforadably, and companies are willing to relocate.

I think it’s time to get some people involved in this thread again.

It’s been over a month and Taylor’s Crossing on the River (TCOR) hasn’t clarified their last statements. The picture of the 13 story Marriott Residence Inn was shown to us in JUNE, 2007.

I have reliable new information and for the most part it contradicts other information. These are people who KNOW facts. Yet, even they are confused.

One thing I can say with high degree of confidence, is TCOR is being very quiet. In fact, their own employees, or those who would usually be in “the know,” (sorry, I cannot name names, or give descriptions of jobs to protect sources, but I trust these people to be telling the truth) are not being updated and told anything.

Only a very tight circle is meeting about what will happen to TCOR with this hotel.

From very reliable sources, ones whose jobs could be at risk or changed, I’ve been told the following:

1. TC is NOT building south of Broadway, but another hotel chain is.

2. TC is building south of Broadway, but only 6 towers for the hotel.

3. TC is having to wait because Marriott is making a move to build another property in Idaho Falls first. I have no idea the agreement between TCOR/McNeil and Marriott, so I don’t know if Marriot can make that happen. However, I suspect they can as local owners operate as a franchise of the Marriott name and particular brand of hotel.

4. TC is indeed building the 13 story hotel, but given what Ball Ventures is building between Pancheri and Sunnyside, TC wants their hotel much closer to that “city within a city” - credit for that saying goes to Dnix0112, it is not my original saying.

5. The proposed new conventi1on center (now estimated to be an arena seating only 2K people, but still large enough for some concerts and other events) seems to “keep moving” of where the location will be.

6. I was told today by an extremely reliable source that TCOR is a “GO” for the 13 story hotel/condo building south of Broadway and plans have been filed with the City Planning and Zoning. Consequently, construction should start “soon.” Have we heard that word before?

7. I was given the brand name of a national hotel chain that will build at that site, if Marriot does not.

Ok, we’ve had a LOT of recent developments as far as new economy coming to the area. If GNEP lands in ID, 8,000 jobs are predicted, so an easy estimate is 32,000 more people will be in the area.

Perhaps more importantly, between GNEP, CAES and Iogen, some are calling eastern ID the new alternative energy corridor for reusable or non-petroleum sources of fuel. CAES is suppose to be an international project and already England has signed on and sent a few people to Idaho Falls to oversee their interests.

Iogen’s headquarters are in Canada. If this all comes to fruition, there will be even more business hotels needed, plus hotel where individuals, couples or families can stay while vacationing at nearby Yellowstone National Park (YNP), the Tetons, Craters of the Moon or Jackson Hole. Idaho Falls is often marketed as being within 1.5 - 2.0 hrs. of all the national/international attractions listed above.

As one realtor writes, “It’s the last city where tourists won’t get trapped into a tourist area paying higher prices.”

I have no doubt in my mind that other national hotels will be building in Idaho Falls. But, perhaps the investors and hotel chains are re-thinking where. After all, would it be advantageous to put a hotel closer to the INL/CAES complex for guests? I think so.

Or, would it be a smart business move to perhaps put a national chain hotel at the one of the first city exists entering Idaho Falls from YNP, the Tetons and Jackson Hole? I think that is smart as well.

Likewise, where the outlet mall will be built (at the westside of the Sunnyside exit), it is very possible we may see a hotel built there. It is said now that shopping is a national form of relaxation and recreation. It makes sense to me why an outlet mall would want a hotel close by - as most of the outlet malls I’ve seen or visited do just that.

Given all this information, I believe it is time for the Walker Brothers to clarify exactly what is going to be built, or not, at TCOR. We deserve to know, after so long! My understanding is there are many meetings about this weekly.

Here is what I propse to readers of Idaho Fallz.Com: Let’s e-mail, fax or call McNeil Development to let them know we want to know IF the 13 stories are being built, and when dirt will be broken. We deserve that information when this hotel was promised to us. Some of us may have business interests that center around the hotel being built.

Also, let’s ask McNeil, if this 13 story tower will be built more in the Snake River Landing (between Pancheri and Sunnyside) to be closer to a propsed new Convention Center, or other superstore apparently which is looking at Idaho Falls as the site for another retail store.

Finally, let’s ask McNeil if another national hotel chain has purchased the land etc. for the hotel immediately south of Broadway and next to Smitty’s.

McNeil’s Phone Number: 524-3341
Website: taylorcrossing.com

Not sure of fax, but should be easy enough to get by calling or e-mailing.

Please join me, if you care about this project and what it will do, not only for the Skyline in Idaho Falls, but future development in the most recent Urban Renewal District, in contacting McNeil ~ AKA ultimately the Walker Brothers and LET THEM KNOW THIS ISN’T OKAY TO KEEP US IN THE DARK ABOUT THE MARRIOTT RESIDENCE INN. Even if they are limited in what they can say, a comment about due to ongoing negotiations (or whatever) we have to limit our response.

Please join me in expressing OUR wishes and OUR hopes for the success of the 13 tower hotel. If we don’t let them know how we feel, and ask for DIRECT answers back, how will wel know what is really going on and if they are serious about building this hotel/condo unit.

The outlet mall is suppose to break dirt “soon,” as the developers say. Along with that will be a convenience store and restaurant. The area is very large, so I’m positive more stores will go in there.

The outlet mall is just the anchor. When they post more about it, I’ll add the URL here.

Joe, You and I have talked about the I.F. Skyline and how much could be done at Christmas etc. Are you not as frustrated with waiting on this as the rest of us?

I guess the good side of all of this, is Idaho Falls is going to end up with more hotels than some probably planned on even 18 months. But, it feels a little like “Spin the Bottle” to know what will go where.

I have no doubt that all I’ve talked with have given me their most accurate information to date. My point was, that is how many times the plans have changed - the information looks conflicting.

The other good news, is despite what other hotels are built, it sounds like the Walker Brothers won the argument about keeping the 13 story towers, regardless of where they are built. That will help guide future skyline growth in I.F., INHO.

Toad,

That is the first I’ve heard of anything 21 stories. Do you know if it was for Taylor’s Crossing on the River, or a closely-affiliated Idaho Falls projected that perhaps hasn’t been announced? Or, could this project be for one of their other two major projects right now

The Walker Brothers are building a mixed use area in N. Provo. And, they have purchased land to develop thousands of homes near Hurricane, UT (north of St. George and close to Zions National Park). I HOPE the work if for I.F. as rumor has been around for about a year that a high-end hotel was headed our way. Everyone agrees it would be at least ****.

If it were a Marriott, it would be a full Marriott hotel, or even one of their higher end brands. There is also a possibility of a different hotel chain as another name is being mentioned often concerning Idaho Falls. It makes me wonder how much got re-designed, re-calculatd or whatever after Iogen and GNEP were announed.

Also, if the Walker Brothers finally sold Marriott on the idea of Idaho Falls area residents wanting towers downtown, this may well be a condo unit. And perhaps the ground they were going to use for condos may have been sold/leased or otherwise being developed by someone else allowing a cash flow to the Walkers for 21 stories. Then again, maybe it’s just one of those things that evolved - but it sure seems like there is NO talk about the condos at TC currently.

Thanks for the info! PLEASE update us if you hear more. Also, if you know anything about Snake River Landing, please share what you know.

The last drawings and descriptions sound as if SRL is being designed to be more upscale than T.C. currently is! And, consistantly, either a smaller convention center, including an arena for concernts and other community actitivies, or a large retailer that has started to build some stores int he west, is rumored to be in that area.

It’s an exicting year. I ust hope there is enough steel and concrete for all the projects.

Thanks again for the info!

I know this is veering off topic, so feel free to delete, but…

The problem with Holt Arena, isn’t getting bands, its changing the university policy to allow concerts to happen there again. As I understand it, the policy doesn’t allow (or at least severely limits) the ability of talent agents to book gigs in the arena.

I would love to see a large concert venue in I.F. If Blackfoot can have one, and can draw bands like Snow Patrol, Buck Cherry, and Three Days Grace (granted, not HUGE, but bigger than anything that had been here for some time) then why couldn’t I.F. with its larger infrastructure, more hotel rooms, etc.

I believe Holt can hold about 12,000 for football (not that ISU football will ever draw that many) not sure how many for concerts.

I agree with X man. The concerts I’ve attended at Holt Arena have been the most out-of-control events I’ve seen.

I’ve attended concerts in many venues and smelled some of the familiar “weed” that some like to bring etc. But, I’ve never witnessed such rude audiences or the enforcement of rules like at Holt Arena.

I remember one concert where those in the front section threw tomatoes and other fruit and vegetables at the singer. Wow, that speaks volumes to the sophistication of what Holt Arena wants to project.

No one is saying that there will be any public funding, IF, an arena type setting is built. So whatever the developer wants will be what he/they get.

But, maybe at some point, the residents of Bonneville County should address the issue of funding an events center where activities such as concerts and other athletic events can occur.

I don’t think we can depend on private developers, who have very specific reasons to build what they’ve had designed, to build an arena to attract more concerts/ athletic competition and other activies. I think we can let them know what we’d like, but until WE finance it, I wouldn’t plan on anything specific (although I’d like to).

Sorry Jeremy.

I agree and disagree. The Energy Solutions Center is awful for concernts. However, I’ve found the E Center, which holds about 10-12K to be superior. Lots of big names are booking at the E Center now.

So while I agree the big NBA-type arenas won’t work, a smaller one may be a different story (check the E Center’s schedule of big name concerts. I’ve seen Bare Naked Lady and some other big names there).

I agree with both.

I can see the allure of larger clubs, but those are private business ventures.

I have all my life wished for a larger venue right around Idaho Falls, holding about 10-15,000 people. This would be a huge venture, possibly requiring city funding (which then gets all political).

What are the biggest venues in SE Idaho?

How many people do the following hold:

Holt Arena?
Shilo Convention Center?
McDermott/Melaleuca Field?
High school football stadiums?
Civic Auditorium?

Celine Dion’s got a cozy little 4K audience in her view. It really doesn’t feel like there are 4,000 other people there.

Jeremy’s comment about Las Vegas made me think about different shows I’ve seen. And what level of talent will perform where.

More and more acts want smaller venues or a more intimate feeling among their audience and the state.

Voters defeated the Rec. Center. Do you think Bonneville County voters would ever vote to support a mid-size event facility? I think it would need to be connected with a convention center or local high school or something so there could be many uses for it.

What would make you check “YES” on a ballot for a new facility allowing more bands, comedy acts and entertainment in general?

The Ritz was a strip club / lounge for a bit, but I think I recall hearing that the owner sold it. My buddy Devin from Bleeding Star Clothing rented it not too long ago for a big concert, so I’m inclined to believe that it’s still going … but it’s about location. It’s in a crappy part of town near a grain elevator. Ick.

ps Great White is awesome live. AWESOME.