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City Leaders Approve MOU For Expansion Of Downtown Hotel

Paul Werth Associates

Columbus city officials have approved a memo of understanding with Franklin County and the County Convention Facilities Authority to collaborate on expansion of the Hilton hotel adjacent to the convention center. 

The county plans a 470-room expansion with a 22-story tower on North High Street. Estimated costs are between 165 and 190 million dollars. The expansion would be funded by CFA bonds that are backed by the city and county. City Council member Elizabeth Brown sponsored the legislation the panel approved this past  Monday. 

Columbus finance director Joe Lombardi says the non-binding memo will help attract more convention business.

lombardi_-_conventions_24.mp3

Lombardi says a separate deal that will include more financial details is expected to be final by September. When the deal is finalized, work on the expansion is expected to be completed in 2021. 

Jim has been with WCBE since 1996. Before that he worked as a reporter at another Columbus radio station, and for three newspapers in Southwest Florida.
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