The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

An artist's rendering of the streetscape along Willis Way in uptown Waterloo features a proposed new Westin hotel in the core. Local business owners got their dame to see the proposal and voice their opinions on the project last week. The overwhelming response was that it would be another boost for the core. The one major snag is the development is dependent on a new park- ing structure, which developers hope will have some public financing. Liz Stolper. owner of IBU, invited other uptown business owners to her store last week to gather information about the hotel and organize support for it. Lifting the curtain last week. Mote than 30 uptown business people gathered at the store's King Street location to learn more about the development. The meeting was ostensibly an education session, but Stolper also used it as a call to "If we want this to be a world-class city, we have to do our part," she said. "If we're not vocal about (the hotel), council will make whatever decision they deem appropriate, which might not be the best one for our busi- ness." The proposed hotel. which developer First Gulf is planning for Wlllis Way, is slated to have 170 rooms as well as a 130-seat restaurant. Uptown business owners given a chance to view proposed new hotel development group of local business owners voiced their support for a proposed Westin hotel in the uptown core at a meeting BYGREG MACDONALD Fi Chronicles) First Gulf has agreements with Westin and its operators, fo the project is ready to It will be a full-service hotel, which means it will have concierge services, 24-hour room service and a bar. This type of establishment will bring in the type of clientele that uptown businesses want, said Jeff Ball, a spokesperson for Westin. a" The average Westin guest is younger, more educated and more affluent than the com- petition - meaning they're more likely to eat, shop and spend money at nearby busi- nesses, he added. The main roadblock to the hotel's con- struction is parking, said Craig Beanie. First Gulf is director of development. _ The development oornpany wants the city to co-finance a parking structure for the hotel, but talks havebeen slow, he said. Part of the city's reluctance might be because of the financing problems sur- rounding RIM Park, but that situation CITY NEWS "If we want this to be a world-class city, we have to dd our part. " _ Owner of [BU shouldn't colour council's decision, Stolper While it's easy to convince the business community on the necessity of paying for a private company's development, it will be hardertoswaythetaxpayxmswhowillhaveto bear the costs. said Thresa Huegle, owner of Angiettkitchen. _ "Those mistakes are in the past. Let's not make another mistake by not making the right decision on this hotel because we dont "0isisanamenitytothemlikeareccen- tsewr?uldbtstoatiunilyinthesultue" 7'When you live in the city and keep get- ting another addition to your tax bill, you way to piss people off," she Besides, the opportunity for a full-service hotel won't last forever so the city should move quickly, Beanie said. "A full-service hotel is an amenity for the city and specifically the business community. which has helped make the city'what it WATERLDO CHRONICLE . Wednesday. May 21, 2008 . , think “what's in' it for me?" she said. But without the support of taxpayers and council the hoel will be a no-gp, Beanie said. "Having suiticient pareinghrr ... a hotel is critical to us in terms of our investment," he Beanie would not disclose the amount of investment First Gulf is looking for from the city, but did say that the developer will con- tribute to the project Debra Joseph, who owns Fab and Moe as Nice, thinks that the city should pony up and help the uptown grow. 'Tm hoping we can step out of our little town shoes and have some vision," she said. Joseph called on her fellow business own- erstotakeupthecause. _ 'lgt's put our petty ditrtsrences aside and urge council to have that virion,", she said. %sattie also encouraged business owners to lobby councillors to support the hotel parting structure. - _ " "I thirrk the retail voice is an important voice for the city (because it) will help give context, help move this hymn!) he said. "Our exirerience with the city, with any city, is that it always needs encouragement."