By Howard Packowitz

NORMAL – The builder who wants to put up an extended stay hotel in north Normal hopes the town government considers tax breaks to help fund the project.

Normal Mayor Chris Koos is reluctant to offer incentives because the community already has plenty of hotel rooms.

Thursday evening, the planning commission approved plans for Home 2 Suites by Hilton in the northwest portion of Constitution Trail Center at Main Street and Raab Road, adjacent to Bradford Lane.

Jacob Horve of Horve Hospitality Management in Forsyth told planning commissioners extended stay suites don’t compete with run-of-the-mill hotels.

“This has a full kitchen in every room. It’s designed for people to stay for months, or in some cases, years,” said Horve.

“We’ve had people stay for five to six days a week for years at a time in some of our extended stay properties,” Horve also said.

Horve said the Decatur and Champaign extended day hotels built by his firm were aided by government incentives.

“We know what it takes to do these projects,” he said.

“Any incentives definitely help. The last few we’ve done personally here in Central Illinois have been incentivized heavily by the community. You get your hotel-motel taxes from the facility itself, so that obviously reimburses the community for any incentives that are provided,” Horve added.

He said Home 2 Suites in Normal would be four stories with 104 rooms. Horve said there would be up to 60 construction workers. Once it’s built, the hotel would employ up to 25 full and part-time workers.

The Normal Town Council vote is set for April 15.

Howard Packowitz can be reached at [email protected]