Renovated Manchester hotel's opening could come on Tuesday (The New Hampshire Union Leader, Manchester)

By Denis Paiste, The New Hampshire Union Leader, ManchesterMcClatchy-Tribune Regional News

Feb. 17--MANCHESTER -- Developers of the renovated 21 Front St. hotel and conference center -- set to reopen soon as a La Quinta hotel -- have received a $500,000 loan from Manchester Development Corp.

The 109-room, four-story La Quinta Inn and Suites could open as early as Tuesday, or as late as the second week of March, spokesman Kristin Hagerman of Eisenberg, Vital and Ryze Advertising said Thursday.

The Falls Center, a 3,500- to 4,000-square-foot conference center, and a restaurant are expected to open later at the property at the Amoskeag Traffic Circle on the west edge of the Merrimack River.

Alta Properties and Roedel Companies are completing the multi-million dollar renovation of the former Clarion Hotel off I-293, Exit 6.

ROK Builders renovated the hotel, and RGH Hospitality will operate the facility on behalf of the ownership.

Other partners on the project are TF Moran, BMA Architectural Group and RSJ Associates.

"The MDC loan provides the final financial piece needed to redevelop this property," David Roedel, Partner of Roedel Companies, said in a statement. "This is a significant project in Manchester that will lead to job creation and the revitalization of a once prominent property that has been underutilized for years."

Roedel also developed and owns the Hilton Garden Inn, adjacent to Northeast Delta Dental Stadium, and the company was recently honored by Lodging Hospitality magazine on its Top Design & Architecture Firms list for hotel renovation and improvement for work performed with the Claremont Cos., Waterford Hotel Group, La Quinta Corp., Sunburst Hospitality and Park Lodge Hotels.

MDC board President Newton Kershaw III praised the project.

"This is a perfect example of the type of development project MDC is looking to invest in and is at the core of our mission," he said.

MDC is a nonprofit economic development arm of the City of Manchester and is staffed by the Manchester Economic Development Office.

"The Falls Center and La Quinta Inn and Suites redevelopment project improves an important gateway onto the city while providing jobs, needed conference space and enhanced hotel accommodations" Economic Development Office Director Jay Minkarah said.

Renovations began in October.

___

(c)2012 The New Hampshire Union Leader (Manchester, N.H.)

Visit The New Hampshire Union Leader (Manchester, N.H.) at www.unionleader.com

Distributed by MCT Information Services NYSE:MDC,