I am glad to see my idea and information move forward that I spoke about during the Kroger proposal.

What a great idea!

Tim, Sorry, but the developer is not following anything you personally said. Glad you are happy with what you see so far. We shall see what occurs.

I think that the proposed density is way too high...114 hotel rooms and 82 additional apartments not to mention the office space, retail and parking required! They are trying to fit too much into the space.

Very cool, would be great to see a hotel downtown.

I am not against a hotel development even thought admittedly; I would have preferred a Kroger that I feel would benefit the citizens more. However I am concerned with the effect on traffic. When I see a simple valet at a small comedy club take over the street for their private benefit, what will a large hotel with the entrance 10 feet from Main St. do? Double parking, loading and unloading, which occur at every entrance to any hotel, will certainly cause traffic nightmares in an already congested Main St. Delivery trucks at the rear of a grocery store is a problem but this isn’t? I just hope they are held to the same standards that Kroger was.

I am very happy to see that the "right development" is on the table. Remember this is in the early stages. I also have expressed ideas and information on how to cut down on traffic issues and parking.

It’s a great “concept” but the project is short 200 parking spaces and the developer is still looking for a hotel that is interested in coming to Royal Oak.

The parking shortage is unacceptable.

The right hotel like a boutique or one of the modern brands. Great idea to offer folks a place to stay when they visit. It will also be a destination for out of town business travelers for all the entertaining options.

Parking is a must and either more police or a designated downtown group of officers. It would be great to see a foot patrol day and night. Just to keep things on the up and up.

great addition to the neighborhood.if you didn't want a grocery store down the street just what will you benifit from this eye sore?bring some ideas for the community instead of appeasing greedy developers please.remember when wards-cunninghams-Kresges were downtown?well they were.

Wards, Cunninghams and Kresege are no longer in business. Would you prefer downtown to be dead? We had friends in town, who live in the City of Chicago, last weekend and we went for a walk downtown. They were saying over and over how wonderful our downtown was. I think the hotel will be a hit.

Apartment building and a steak house is a lame concept. Hotel would be much more fitting. Sell all the lofts before we start in with apartments!

I hope this works out ... I've been wanting a hotel in town for years... They should make sure that it's easy to park and that there is plenty of extra parking... You can never have too much parking.

The city needs to insist the hotel is built first. Otherwise. we could get screwed like what happened down on the 696 property where the develper was supposed to build condos and the hotel, but just built the condos then bolted out of town. Require that the hotel materilaizes first Royal Oak. Otherwise, it probably won't happen and the developer will pull the old bait and switch. Fool me once.........

Pasternak, I take issue with you saying an outside consultant's opinion counts more than the housewife. Should they be consulted, yes, but nobody's opinion should matter more than the citizens of the city. Yes, it's a wonderful "concept" but it's only a concept. Fact is we've seen too many come and go for a quick profit and the citizens have to pay the bill. Why is it that anytime someone questions your opinion you resort to insults? The citizens not only have the right to question but should. If they don't watch out for there best interest, nobody else will.

This development is being marketed as a hotel development, yet a hotel operator hasn't been confirmed as of yet. Yes, I want a hotel downtown.

No tax incentives, or any incentives should be given until the hotel is built. Developers will promise the moon, but then delivery only the low hanging, profitable fruit, ie. apartments and restaurant/bar.

Don't fall in love with the drawing folks, these large developments NEVER turn out as they are pitched.

We were supposed to have a hotel, a office building and condos down at I-696. Instead we have a bunch of dense condos, a fitness center and an open field.

The Skyloft project promised condos, and upscale retail on the first floor. Instead we have condos and a food court and a bunch of bars.

The Fifth development looks like an unfinished building with no brick on the north and south sides of the monolith.

It is imperative that the hotel component of this development plan is constructed first along with an ADEQUATE parking structure, otherwise, Royal Oak will be holding the bag again on another major development that doesn't delivery what it promised. Without the commitment from a solid hotel operator, I wouldn't get too excited, just yet.

PS...........Years ago, supposedly, a Hilton hotel committed to the I-696 property, and it never materialized.

Personally, I'm glad that there is a local architect on the job who knows what good urban design is about...

I would think a hotel there would be booked a lot... There is not much competition around. I would think that they'd be busy and making some serious dough. I bet we get a second one in a few years as well... Down by Haberman Fabrics would be a good spot.

Royal Oak needs a decent hotel for graduations, weddings, anniversaries, reunions, and funerals, and it will also serve business and pleasure travelers. Imagine banquet rooms in Royal Oak. Office space and apartments will also be a nice addition to the area. People that live work, and stay downtown, will support retail downtown. For those anti-progress people your big box stores still await.

Larry, there may be video of me delivering this idea and opportunity to the commision before this ever came to light.

I take pride in my intellectual property, since I hold dozens of Trademarks, Copyrights and a Patent.

I am just putting this out there because it is common practice by many Royal Oak heads to take credit for ideas and opportunities they had nothing to really do with.

Tim, Tim,

Just because you talked about it at a meeting before it hit the websites does not mean you had anything to do with it. But, please, keep trying, it is good for the community.

As a Senior living at Barton Towers and my balcony facing Main St., I can hardly wait for construction to begin. i can hardly wait for the construction noise & air pollution. My view will consist of a parking garage or hotel room. How exciting!!! It will be exciting to hear cars entering & exiting the parking areas when the bar closes. Do I sound sarcastic? Excuse me. You people give me so much to look forward to. Progress? I call it insanity. I love Royal Oak but this is getting totally out of hand. Just one person's opinion.
Thank you.

P. S.
I would love to see some retail stores with automatic doors for Handicapped people to have easier access. I would love to see some retail stores that I can actually shop at for clothes. I would love to see some banks, post offices & other stores with automatic doors. Handicap ramps are nice but what good is it if you can't get in the door. I would love to see more restaurants handicap accessible. Let's make Royal Oak the best city for all people to enjoy.
Just some "food for thought"
Sincerely meant.

ERIK,
Please take a ride around my neighborhoood. Yes, I see many large homes with no grass or backyard. Instead their house & garage goes to the back of the property. It may be easy maintenance for some but does not seem to be very healthy or attractive to me. You call that progress? Well, you are entitled to your opinion as I am entitled to mine. Peace be with you.
Bonnie

LMAO.....I just love a Royal Joke......

If we could harness all the hot air expelled on this site the energy crisis would be solved.
Now I would like to offer some cogent suggestions:
1. The city needs to assure that construction will not disturb seniors and other neighbors in the proximity by not allowing work earlier than 8am, not the stated time of 7am.
2. The new owner of the property is an LLC, do not be fooled. What assurance do we have that members of the boards involved in the approval of this project are not principals, or have an vested interest in its construction? This is a good time to re-consider Patrical Cappello's suggestion for an oath, or affirmation by all individual board members that he or she does not have a personal conflict of interest in this project before voting. Preferably RO needs to propose first that before approval of any project in RO ALL LLC's must identify themselves, as in practicallity all agreements are null and void ( no legal recourse) in case of misrepresentation.
3. I would like to see the parking structure increased to five levels, or enlarged to assure that there will be ample parking. This would be logically necessary to assure parking for the eighty plus apartments which may require more than one car on the average per unit, as well as the hotel and proposed convention room, office and retail (emplyee parking?). Anything less will force surrounding streets to resort to permit only parking.

With RO's abundantly empty loft space...move them all to one and there will be a few ugly buildings to choose from for this hotel idea. Just a thought.......Merry Christmas everybody!

All the conceptual drawings - including site plan, floor plans and elevations - are now available on the city's website: http://royaloak.patch.com/articles/view-hotel-development-floor-plans-and-elevations-online

Why didn't the city provide these plans along with the planning commission agenda? Seems less than transparent for the city to provide these helpful drawings AFTER the public hearing at the planning commission meeting. How does one offer intellligent comments at the public hearing without this important information being available first.

Thank you for posting it PATCH.