Release Date: November 10, 2022
City Council to Consider Downtown Longmont Hotel Proposal
A proposal to build an approximate 84-room boutique hotel on the corner of 3rd Avenue and Kimbark Street will be presented to the Longmont City Council at their meeting on November 15. See the staff communication on the City’s Agenda Management Portal.
The Longmont Downtown Development Authority (LDDA) approved the plan at its November 9 board meeting and the next step is for consideration by the Longmont City Council.
“This is very exciting news,” LDDA Board Chair Chris McGilvray said. “We are on the verge of fulfilling a 30-year goal.”
The desire to add lodging in downtown Longmont has been in the works for several decades. It was first identified in a 1984 hotel study and reiterated again in a subsequent 1995 downtown master plan, a 1997 market analysis, and a 2017 updated master plan.
The Thrash Group, a Mississippi-based hospitality company, is developing the hotel in partnership with the City of Longmont, the LDDA, and the Longmont General Improvement District #1.
“Longmont truly was a natural fit for us,” said Joseph Thrash, Partner at The Thrash Group. “The individuality of Longmont and this unique opportunity to connect with the city made complete sense to our team. We were excited to learn more about this special community and collaborate on a boutique hotel project and upscale restaurant that truly encapsulated the spirit and culture of Longmont, Colorado.”
The hotel proposal fulfills a priority in the City’s Envision Longmont Multimodal and Comprehensive Plan. Adopted in 2016, the plan is an advisory document that outlines Longmont’s vision for the future. With limited availability of building on undeveloped land, the document emphasizes that future growth in Longmont will likely need to occur in the form of infill and redevelopment.
“A future hotel in downtown Longmont meets many planning goals for Longmont’s future,” Assistant City Manager Joni Marsh said. “This type of development creates community excitement, provides an area that promotes a sense of community, and is easily accessible by foot, bike, and transit.”
The proposed hotel currently includes approximately 84 guest rooms, 5,000 square feet of destination rooftop restaurant space, 2,000 to 4,000 square feet of meeting space, 2,000 square feet of commercial space, about 65 hotel parking spaces, and about 75 public parking spaces. See the proposed renderings.
The new hotel is expected to draw a wide range of visitors, unique events and conferences and add significant dollars to the Longmont economy. According to the Longmont Economic Development Partners (LEDP), the hotel property could generate more than $6 million in sales taxes, lodgers’ taxes, property taxes, and utility revenue over a 10-year span. The economic and fiscal benefits of added visitors is estimated to exceed $108 million over ten years.
“Downtown needs this type of first-class property that adds another element to our existing community and economic synergy,” McGilvray said. “It’s a project that will have a positive effect on downtown businesses both economically and culturally.”
“It is our priority to make Hotel Longmont truly local and affect all aspects of the local community,” Joe Thrash said. “From local food and beverage vendors in the restaurant to local artist installations and events with local musicians, the property will be unlike any other and will be distinctively Longmont.”
If all designs, plans, and processes fall into place, the new hotel could be open for business in mid-2024.
See a list of FAQs about the hotel project.
About The Thrash Group
The Thrash Group is a hospitality company that creates memorable experiences by giving the details priority. For each project, The Thrash Group carefully gathers a focused group of developers, designers, contractors, and managers with each team member empowered to make decisions within their field of expertise. They communicate constantly, discuss openly, adapt easily, and make decisions quickly. These beliefs, along with a firm commitment to hard work and sound investment strategies, produce successful real estate developments for their stakeholders and the communities in which they operate. From lifestyle hotels to thoughtfully concepted restaurants, their purpose is to create lasting impacts in the hospitality space.
About Longmont, Colorado
Longmont, Colorado, is a 29-square-mile city with more than 300 days of sunshine and a spectacular vista of the Rocky Mountains. With a population of nearly 100,000, Longmont sits at an elevation of 4,979 feet above sea level. With more than 1,800 acres of parks and open space, a robust craft beverage scene, thriving art culture, fresh dining opportunities, and a Main Street teeming with new energy, Longmont is perfect for everyone from young families to those young at heart. Longmont is also home to several high-tech companies and a nationally recognized school district. Longmont is located in Boulder County conveniently situated 37 miles from Denver, 16 miles from Boulder and 30 miles from Rocky Mountain National Park.