Civic center hotel project on hold for review

Developer seeks to expand hotel project into property committed to children’s museum

The fate of a two-hotel development at the Houma-Terrebonne Civic Center and the fate of the South Louisiana Wetlands Discovery Center (SLWDC) could be decided in two weeks. The Terrebonne Parish Council’s Community Development and Planning Committee, in action Monday night, approved a motion to keep the matter in committee.

Michael Ferdinand, chief executive officer of the Terrebonne Economic Development Authority, asked the council Monday to consider the new hotel project from the K Partners Hospitality Group. The project would consist of two hotels, a Marriot Springhill Suites and another hotel n either a Hilton Gardens or a Courtyard by Marriot.

But, there is a problem with the project. The council has already signed a contract with the SLWDC to build a children’s museum on part of the property the developer is requesting.

However, the contract has an escape clause allowing the council to void the offer of the land to the SLWDC if six council members vote to change the contract, Council Clerk Paul Labat said.

“From my standpoint the property is not available,” said Councilwoman Kim Elfert. “It’s off the table.”

Councilman Alvin Tillman had a different view.

“Options are in the contract for a reason. The out clause puts us where we are tonight,” he said.

Councilman Harold Lapeyre said he was in favor of the children’s museum, but “holding on to the site would be difficult for the council.” He also said there were several alternative sites where a children’s museum could be located.

But, Councilwoman Teri Cavalier agreed with Elfert that the agreement should stand.

“Is this common business practice that you don’t honor existing contracts?” she asked Ferdinand, who is negotiating with the developers.

“This is a contract,” Elfert said. “The (escape) clause was put in in case we had a Discovery Center not happening.”

The SLWDC has already spent $50,000 to hire engineers, according to Juana Woodard, chairperson of the museum’s capital fund drive. She also said the group has retained an architect.

“I have no reason to believe the council would go back on its word,” she said.

Lapeyre said the new hotel could have an economic impact of $25 million on Terrebonne Parish, and the SLWDC should look at another site for the exhibit center.

He said the USDA’s Sugarcane Field Laboratory in Houma may be available as a location for the exhibit center, emphasizing that “no one in this (council) room is against the Discovery Center.”

On Nov. 29, 2006, the council approved a sale agreement with the Birmingham-based Integral Hospitality Solutions to develop a Hilton Garden Inn at the civic center site, but the hotel developer did not carry out the project.

Lapeyre said he will have “a formal purchase agreement in two weeks” with the new hotel developer.