There's a reason why a strange pyramid-shaped structure has recently appeared atop Warren's yet unfinished parking garage.

Warren Mayor Mark Phillips said Monday, "A proposal has come before us and we hope to name an official hotel developer for 'Impact Warren'."
Warren City Council has scheduled a special meeting for 6:30 p.m. Monday, Aug. 1, in council chambers to hear and consider the hotel developer's proposal.

"Until then," said Phillips, the name of the national hotel chain will be "kept quiet."

He said that the proposal is from one of several developers who have expressed an interest in constructing the hotel along Clark St. as part of Warren's $50 million downtown and riverfront revitalization project.

The hotel will be located across Clark St. from the new 640-space parking garage and would be adjacent to a small conference center which could be developed in a portion of the former Loranger Manufacturing building.

Phillips said the developer who will make the proposal to city council has an established "track record" in the hotel industry.

"We didn't want this to be anyone's first hotel," said Phillips. "We didn't want it to be someone who has never developed a hotel before and it won't be. They have existing hotel locations and they bring experience."

Phillips said Susquehanna Development and other "Impact Warren" representatives "worked long and hard" not only with the company which will make the proposal to council but "a couple different" potential hotel developers who expressed interest in downtown Warren.

The city's only investment in the riverfront hotel, said Phillips, will be helping make the property available, although a transfer of the land to the Warren County Chamber of Business and Industry will probably be necessary before a transfer can take place.

The Clark St. property is also located in a Keystone Opportunity Zone which will enable the hotel developer to take advantage of several tax advantages which make the project more financially attractive, said Phillips.