After years of delays, crews have finally begun demolishing Carrboro buildings to make room for the town’s first hotel.
Last Friday, development group Main Street Properties of Chapel Hill LLC started the first phase of what will be an 18,100-square-foot, mixed-use project at 300 E. Main St. in Carrboro.
The development, which will cost approximately $20 million, has been in planning stages for five years and is expected to bring added visitors and revenue.
The new Hampton Inn & Suites will have 142 rooms, and the 500-space parking deck will be located directly behind the hotel.
Laura Van Sant, spokeswoman for Main Street Properties, said construction should take no longer than 14 months.
“Demolition should take a few weeks, and then we’ll start building the hotel first,” Van Sant said. “It took longer to get financing for this project than we expected, so we’re just thrilled to be under way.”
She said she expects the hotel and the parking deck to be finished in the spring of 2013.
Carrboro Alderman Dan Coleman said he has heard nothing but support for the project.
“It will be the first moderately priced hotel in all of Chapel Hill and Carrboro,” Coleman said, referring to downtown. “The development is in keeping with our planning direction for downtown Carrboro.”