Harrisburg's Cosmopolitan Hotel project falls victim to economy
By DAN MILLER, The Patriot-News
February 24, 2010, 12:05AM
Developer Jules Patt has apparently scrapped plans for a hotel at the Barto Building at North Third and State streets in Harrisburg.
The building, owned by the AFL-CIO, is for sale for $2.3 million.
Listing broker Daniel Alderman of NAI/CIR said Patt no longer has a sales agreement to buy the building. Alderman said the building is under contract, but the potential owner would develop the property as mixed retail/office use.
Patt, of Hollidaysburg, declined comment Tuesday.
The proposal to build the 88-room hotel, called the Cosmopolitan, was one of three plans for hotels in downtown Harrisburg in recent years.
Harristown Development Corp. has approval for a 42-bed hotel in the 300 block of Chestnut Street. But the poor economy has Harristown taking another look at project cost and financing and demand in the local hotel market, Harristown Vice President Brad Jones said. He said Harristown hopes to break ground in 2011 and finish in 2012.
Officials with WCI Partners and Hersha Development Corp. could not provide comment Tuesday on the status of the proposed 13-story 138-room Aloft hotel at Second and State streets.
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