New hotel will add to Griffiss growth
01.08.2007, 14:12
"This is a big day for not only Rome but for the whole region," said Rome Mayor James Brown.
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A four story Wingate Hotel will soon be the latest development at the ever growing Griffiss Park. Ground was broken Thursday on the $7 million project that will include 76 rooms, a pool, fitness center and jacuzzi.
I started noticing a lot of private companies, software development companies, cybersecurity start to grow up here and I just felt there was a need for a hotel," said Arcuri Development President Ed Arcuri.
In 1995 when Griffiss Air Force Base closed, there were very few businesses left on about 3,500 acres of land. Since then, what is now known as Griffiss Business and Technology Park has become an economic magnet.
Rome Mayor James Brown believes the 2005 federal government decision to keep military sites like the Air Force Research Lab and D.F.A.S. in Rome has made it enticing for companies to move in.
"You have to have the jobs and from the jobs then you have the offshoots and now you can see the benefits," said Brown.
In addition to high tech companies, a distribution center, banks and credit unions have moved to where military facilities once stood.
"We tore down more than two million square feet of building fabric to make to make room for new development. And so a lot of that investment was made through the nineties," said Mohawk Valley EDGE Spokesman Rob Duchow.
Officials said there's still plenty of room for future development and there's no telling what may come next.
The new Wingate Hotel will be located on Dart Circle at Griffiss Park. It is expected to open next May and employ about 25 people.