May 31–“Yes, it’s official,” said Chris Rosselot, project spokesperson with Grant Forbes, developer for the proposed 54-room Cobblestone Inn hotel on Connellsville’s West Side. “We’re now property owners in Connellsville.”
Rosselot said demolition of the former Connellsville Bottling plant on First Street will begin as soon as the necessary demolition permits and the related demolition bond is posted. He said some limited demolition might be visible by June 6.
“We still have to finish planning,” said Rosselot, adding no definite date has been set for a ground-breaking.
Connellsville Councilman Brad Geyer also said the closing is a big step in the construction of the hotel.
“Yesterday was a great day, but is just one step,” Geyer said on Friday.
According to Geyer, Hotel D2 is expected to meet with contractors next week. That was confirmed by Rosselot, who said a contractor or contractors may be in place at that time.
“I think that stuff will go relatively quick,” Geyer said. “Now that the money is in place, the mortgage money is in the account, they are ready to go.
“They wanted to be in full construction mode by now. There seems to be a sense of urgency on the part of Hotel D2,” he added.
The hotel was expected to cost just under $5 million.
The hotel will feature a building with two wings, with a driveway running through a center section. The building site will be raised 3 feet higher than the current elevation to keep the first floor above the flood plain.
Potential guests include bikers and hikers along the Great Allegheny Passage.
Karl Polacek is a staff writer for Trib Total Media. He can be reached at [email protected] or 724-626-3538.
