| Portland developer announces plans for Prineville resort |
|---|
| Resort development to be first in city limits |
A Portland developer announced plans last week to build an upscale, nearly 300 unit hotel and condominium resort in Prineville's west side near Meadow Lakes Golf Course to be called RiverGate. "As we promote the resort we want to promote Prineville," Developer Jim Stotler said during a presentation to the Prineville-Crook County Chamber of Commerce. Stotler and his wife Jan bought a home in Crook County about a year and a half ago and have been working on a plan for the development since that time. The 15-acre plot where the development will be located is across the street from the Crook County Fairgrounds with Rimrock Park to the north, Les Schwab Fields and the Crook County Amphitheater on the south, and Meadow Lakes Golf Course to the west, with resort property bordering about 900 feet of the Crooked River. Stotler said the design plan included a grand lodge style building. "We want architectural integrity. It won't stand out like some casino building," e said, adding there will be no neon lights or garish colors. The space was annexed into the city during the purchase process and is zoned commercial Stotler said. An application has been submitted to the planning commission and a hearing date with the City of Prineville for the resort is tentatively set for March 20. The site is comprised of what was once seven different parcels. The resort will be constructed in five phases over three to five years, the first including 35 units, a check-in center, game room for kids, exercise facility, gift shop, outside swimming pool, barbecue pits and walking trails. Stotler said he would like to work with Meadow Lakes Golf Course to create golf cart access from the resort to the course. "We have had preliminary conversations," said Wayne Van Matre, director of golf operations at Meadow Lakes. "We would like to do something as long as we can control the (golf cart) traffic for safety reasons." Van Matre added the carts coming from the resort would be traveling against the flow of play, and would have to cross a Crook County Parks and Recreation-owned bridge to arrive at the course. He said many people would need to agree to the project and any changes to Meadow Lakes necessary for the trails would need to be funded by RiverGate. The development will include fractional and full ownership units with 80 "night-to-night" hotel spaces in 11 four-story buildings with outside corridors. The facility is also planned to include a media center, spa, and possibly meeting rooms. Stotler said the development will market itself to attract visitors for four days to one week stays. "It's a benefit for the entire area as far as tourism goes," Stotler said. He added on site tour coordinators will plan excursions including boating expeditions and day trips to the scenic Painted Hills. There will also be dedicated walking trails and Stotler said they have donated funds to help build a trail system in Rimrock Park. He said Crooked River water credits acquired will be donated to Crook County Parks and Recreation. "As a developer we are going to go above and beyond what is asked of us," he said. Some food service will also be available, but the builder said he intends to recommend guests dine at Meadow Lakes Restaurant. The resort will create 14 additional jobs year-round with added staff during the summer months. Stotler's most recent development, the $350 million Salpare Bay on Hayden Island in Portland, includes units from $750,000 to $3 million, though the developer said prices have not yet been established for this development, they will cost less than Salpare Bay ownership. The developer hopes to break ground on RiverGate in late summer 2007. |
Comments(0)