Construction could well resume soon at the Breckenridge Hotel and Convention Center.
Developer Steve Haught joined KVOE’s Newsmaker segment Friday, nearly a week after announcing the hotel project was green-lighted to move forward. Work on utilities has highlighted the interior process for around a year, and that will continue. One major exterior project will be noticed by late spring.
Haught says there are several agencies that have “a high interest” in developers making sure it’s historic, practical and energy efficient.
When KVOE News first told you about the most recent developments last weekend, one major concern that arose was parking — especially with developers dropping their original plans for parking at the front of the hotel after ongoing resistance at the federal level. Developers are now working with the city of Emporia and Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism, but some parking plans are coming to fruition.
Haught says the hotel will be a major economic boost for the city and the region once it’s built.
Details on a funding package are not currently being released other than to say the US Department of Agriculture is a major player because of its interest in rural economic development.
The over 100-year-old building once served as Lowther North School — at one time serving sixth-grade, middle school and high school students. The hotel will have 87 rooms and suites. The basketball court and auditorium space will provide about 20,000 square feet of convention and meeting room space.
