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Belleville hotel development one step closer

New hotels, restaurants, and even a convention center could soon bring a $50 million boost to the Belleville, Illinois, economy.
Belleville hotel development one step closer

BELLEVILLE, Ill. - New hotels, restaurants, and even a convention center could soon bring a $50 million boost to the Belleville, Illinois, economy.

It would all be built across the street from the Shrine of Our Lady of Snows on Route 15.

City leaders took a big step toward approving the project, but it could come at a cost for taxpayers.

Members of the Finance and Economic Development committees voted with a near majority to go ahead with this project and will now be sent to the council.

They were voting on whether or not to include taxpayer's money in this project.

Its' a project two years in the making.

"We are very excited about where we are here today with these announcements," Belleville Mayor Mark Eckert said.

Plans show a 130-room hotel, 30,000-square-foot convention center, 5 restaurants and room for a second hotel.

All nestled on Shrine of Our Lady of Snows property on route 15 and leased to the developers by the shrine.

"This is truly a destination that's being talked about," Mayor Eckert said.

The plans include Hofbrauhaus, a brewpub and eatery.

"Hoffbrau is a 400 plus year old company, it's from Munich, Germany, and is the beer of Bavarian kings," Chane Keller, a developer with Oaktree Management, said.

Belleville city leaders say the completed project could bring in $500,000 a year in sales tax.

Project partner Forrest Langenfeld says the complex would also need a TIF or "Tax Increment Financing" district.

"The TIF financing the way it's done with the city is will be a reimbursement of up to 6 million dollars of money generated by projects on the site," Langenfeld said.

A 1 percent sales tax increase is also part of the agreement between the city and the developers.

Alderman Joe Hayden says he's for the development, but doesn't agree with the TIF or the increase in sales tax.

"We can't act as if the consumer isn't smart enough to know where they are paying higher sales tax," Hayden said.

The council will vote on this next week and the state will also have to approve the project.

If all parties agree they could begin breaking ground this summer.

Also see:

St. Elizabeth's move to O'Fallon on hold
Belleville considers development project
Local professors feed homeless college students

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