$9M, 115-suite Hotel Planned for Granite Run

. October 14, 2008

By Tim Mekeel

Lancaster New Era, Pa.

lancaster, pa, nOVEMBER 23, 2005. To one side is the Belair development in Manheim Township. To the other side is the Granite Run Corporate Center. And in between, as a sort of mix of elements of the two, might be a $9 million Homewood Suites by Hilton hotel.

"It's a good fit as a transition between a residential neighborhood and a corporate center," said hotel developer Steve Horst today. Horst, president of Horst Realty, said the four-story, 115-suite extended-stay facility could open on the northwest edge of the center as soon as March 2007, subject to township approval

Creating 30 to 35 jobs, it would be the first Homewood Suites in Lancaster County and the third hotel in Granite Run, joining a Hilton Garden Inn and Fairfield Inn by Marriott. Horst Realty is seeking five zoning variances and special exceptions for the project from the township Zoning Hearing Board. The board is set to hear the request at its 6:30 p.m. meeting on Dec. 5.

"An extended-stay hotel is very much in line with residential property," said Horst. "It's kind of a hybrid hotel-residence." The developer said the 82,000-square-foot building would be strictly maintained. It also would be flanked by landscaping that exceeds township standards, buffering Belair. The hotel's exterior would be inspected annually by Hilton and the interior more often. "It will be maintained in a first-class manner...," said Horst. "These franchises are about building a brand, and they're picky about how they do things. Ultimately, that's good for everyone."

Extended-stay properties, which are relatively rare in Lancaster County, are designed to be "a home away from home." Typical guests are professionals here on long-term assignment, people relocating here but whose new home isn't ready, and leisure travelers visiting for a few days or more. At the Homewood Suites, units with one or two bedrooms would come with a separate living area and kitchenette. The size would range from 420 to 470 square feet. "It's really not too different from an efficiency apartment, but it's definitely a different target market," said Horst.

The Homewood Suites would be a limited-service hotel, meaning it would have no public restaurant. But guests would get a free hot breakfast and light evening meal. Horst said traffic and noise would be less than a regular hotel has, because of its extended-stay niche. Granite Run is a corporate center nestled between Manheim and Fruitville pikes, Route 283 and the Belair development. The proposed hotel would be built on a 4.2-acre tract at Marble Drive and Granite Run Drive. Horst Realty had the tract rezoned in July from industrial to B-4, which allows hotels.

"It will be a very attractive hotel," said Brent Good, project manager for the project planner, ELA Group. "It has a peaked roof and some interest to its architecture....It's not just some shoebox put up there." The five variances and special exceptions being sought from the zoners include ones for building height and length. The Homewood would exceed the 35-foot height maximum by 9.5 feet and the 300-foot length maximum by 35 feet when a 40-foot entrance canopy is included. In addition, its parking lot would be just 65 feet from an adjacent residential area, the Belair development, rather than the minimum 75 feet. Other issues include driveway width and the length of time allowed for picking up permits.

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