Redevelopment Commission hires consultant for hotel/conference center

The Columbus Redevelopment Commission hired a Chicago-based consultant to help city officials find a developer for a proposed downtown hotel and conference center.

Heather Pope, the city’s director of redevelopment, brought forth the proposal Monday afternoon that the city would contract with Hunden Strategic Partners. Pope says that this organization has done past work for the city. Hunden will be charged with creating a market and financial feasibility analysis for the project. The commission voted unanimously to approve the contract, for an amount not to exceed $62,600.

Pope says Hunden is a good fit for Columbus, as the company specializes in hospitality industry projects. She adds that the project could include an urban grocer, as a recent study found that a proposed site on downtown Third Street could be utilized for hotel, conference center and grocer.

Pope estimates it will take six to eight months for Hunden’s work to be complete.