Downtown Hotel Project Won't Finish In Time For March Madness
By: Alexandra Sutter
Updated: September 17, 2012
PEORIA -- Downtown Peoria's renovated Pere Marquette Hotel will not be open in time for next year's March Madness.
A report released by the city today said the hotel won't be open until the end of April.
The $44 million renovation includes new plumbing and lighting in all 248 hotel rooms.
The result will be a full service Marriott hotel.
Earlier this summer the construction team struggled with setbacks after discovering a large asbestos problem throughout the hotel.
City leaders had hoped the hotel would be open in time for March Madness. If the hotel doesn't open by March, the developer could face thousands of dollars in fines.
We spoke with Peoria Mayor Jim Ardis today and he said he is happy with the hotel's progress, despite it not meeting its original March deadline. He said, "I've made several visits over there to see the place and it's basically gutted. I mean, every time they took down a wall or went into a different area there were more things that were a little bit unexpected, which you would expect to find with a hotel that old but they are moving along well."
Ardis said the construction team has been working overtime to keep the project on schedule.
After it's built, a Courtyard hotel will be built next to it.
