News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
Saffron Development LLC of Cookeville identified by Putnam County Mayor Randy Porter as the party interested in developing a hotel by the new fairgrounds expo center.
Porter said conversations have began as to what the hotel could be.
“I met with these folks one time last week and started the process of how we would make this work and everything because it is on county property,” Porter said. “So, we’re going to work with them and the county attorney.”
Porter said moving forward, they will work out details such as the hotel’s size and brand as well as the amount of land used and leasing options. Porter said the process is preliminary right now, but he expects more information in the next 90 days.
“We’re looking at probably in the neighborhood of 100 to 120 rooms,” Porter said. “There’s been some different possibilities mentioned as far as brands, but I don’t think we should discuss those yet until this company gets back with those hotel chains.”
Porter said the company is the unnamed interested party he presented to the county commission in April. After that meeting, a 30-day request for proposal period was opened to gauge interest from other developers. Porter said Saffron Development was the only party to submit.
“We weren’t expecting a lot of proposals with so much construction and growth going on,” Porter said. “Most of the companies that are doing hotels a lot of them are already here. We’re excited to be able to have this one that’s a fairly local company.”
Saffron Development also built the new Holiday Inn on Willow Avenue. Porter said the proposal has the hotel in walking distance to the expo center.
When first introduced, some commissioners questioned if the project would remove proposed parking. Porter said there would still be plenty of space.
