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Port Angeles: Hotel/conference center evaporating? Developer
says no, but city official says maybe PORT ANGELES -- The developer of a proposed waterfront hotel and conference center has yet to show ``proof of financing'' as the city's deadline approaches, the city economic development director says. ``I'm looking for proof of financing for the project and I'm not seeing that coming together yet,'' economic development director Tim Smith said Wednesday. ``It's clear to me that he's working very hard to pull it together, but you're not graded for effort.'' But developer Randal Jay Ehm remained defiant, saying he will present a potential public financing method to the city's Lodging Tax Advisory Committee on Aug. 16. Ehm, president of Ehm Architecture of San Diego, has proposed a $17.5 million full-service hotel -- possibly under the Marriott brand -- with 171 rooms and enough banquet and high-tech meeting space for up to 700 conferees on 3.8 acres at the corner of Oak and Front streets. The city has offered Ehm a $100,000 annual subsidy from hotel-motel room tax revenues for 20 years to pay for marketing the conference center. Permit's first anniversary The City Council has given Ehm until Sept. 4 -- one year from when he received his shoreline substantial development permit -- to begin construction. If he misses that deadline, the city's Lodging Tax Advisory Committee could recommend to the City Council that it revoke the subsidy offer.
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