The DeKalb Plan Commission held a work session to discuss a new business plan for the city.
Capstone Management Group and Hillcrest Development are proposing to bring a Hampton Inn and Suites Hotel to the northwest corner of the intersection of Annie Glidden Road and Fairview Drive.

The proposal is to construct a 110-room hotel which would have a 11,000 square foot conference center with a ballroom that could accommodate seating for 320 guests. The facility would also provide two sites for future restaurants that would be constructed on the property.

Lance Schaefer, president and operating partner of Capstone Management Group, said he knows that with the economy the way it is, it will be difficult to open this hotel.

“This is probably the best time to build a hotel, not to operate one,” Schaefer said. “The timing works out very well for us to build now and get jobs when people are looking for work and not be open and then open this facility when... it looks like the travel economy is going to rebound about the middle to the third quarter of 2010.”

Hillcrest Development President Al Hill said there are very few college towns without a higher class of hotel.

“Name me one university town anywhere in the United States that doesn’t have a Hilton or a Marriot product,” Hill said. “It’s unheard of.”

Commissioner Michael Welsh said he was happy that someone was bringing this opportunity to DeKalb, because in the past, DeKalb had to go look for these ventures.

“I remember spending $20,000 to $50,000 15 or 20 years ago to tell someone that they ought to put a hotel here,” Welsh said.

The Plan Commission will hear the final proposal at a future meeting. If approved, the plan would then go to city council for approval.

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