CHANDLER ECONOMY

Paul Bryant Photo Chandler Brownsboro Area Chamber of Commerce Chairman Dennis Mack says officials have entered the engineering phase of negotiations between Choice Hotels International, LaQuinta Inn & Suites, and Best Western International. One of the three chains, the chamber anticipates, will build a 50- to 100-room motel in Chandler. Officials have declined to provide a date on when construction might begin. Above is Choice Hotel International’s Sleep Inn in Tyler. The Chandler Brownsboro Area Chamber of Commerce has entered the engineering phase of negotiations in a deal to bring one of three national motel chains to the area.

“Everybody agrees it’s going to be 50 to 100 rooms,” chamber Chairman Dennis Mack said. “And the groups want it to have enough room to grow. We’re looking at three properties.”

Chandler officials insist a motel is needed inside the city limits to accomodate the tens of thousands who visit the city each year for its recreational and sporting events. Furthermore, they say, economic development in west and south Tyler make it even more necessary to built a motel here.

“We’re looking at the footprint,” Mack said. “In addition to that, we’re considering what ammenities to include, such as a pool, meeting room, and restaurant.”

Mack said the chamber is talking to three companies: Choice Hotels International, LaQuinta Inn & Suites, and Best Western International. Choice operates Comfort Inn, Sleep Inn, Quality Inn, Comfort Suites, Clarion Hotel, Cambria Suites, MainStay Suites, Suburban Hotels, Econolodge, Rodeway Inn, and Ascend Collection.

An unnamed lender told the chamber last year it wanted to finance the project for $50 million, but Mack said the city cannot support a financing deal that large.

“We want to be realistic. This community can’t that large of a debt service.”

The chamber is working with two unnamed capitalinvestment firms, Mack said.

He declined to say when construction might begin once a financing package is approved.

Separately, officials expected to meet with representatives from a fast-food chain and from another restaurant this week.

Mack also declined to name those companies, but the city has talked to such franchises as Dairy Queen and KFC, and to others in Tyler.

The construction of Loop 49 and population projections in Smith and Henderson counties over the next two decades is expected to generate substantial economic development from Tyler to Brownsboro.