Council Debates Omaha Conv. Hotel Options

OMAHA, NB— Some members of the Omaha City Council are struggling to determine the next step regarding the proposed convention center headquarters hotel. Some contest that a proposal to build a $94.5-million, 28-story Marriott hotel places the city at a great financial risk. While others feel the proposed seven-story, $59-million Hilton hotel with 400 rooms would be too small to support the convention center. The situation now lies in the hands of the mayor. Though the council controls the money, voting down a financing package four months from now would delay the anchor hotel project by months and councilman don’t want a convention center sitting alone, according to the Omaha World Herald. The center is slated to be finished in 2003. Though the majority of constituents overwhelmingly favor the Marriott plan to the Hilton proposal, Mayor Mike Fahey prefers the smaller Hilton project. The city must issue bonds for the project in the first three moths of next year in order to have the hotel ready to open by spring 2004. SOURCE: Omaha World Herald