Crews could start construction on a new motel near Mercury and the Durango Mall by mid-July.
The final public hearing for the La Quinta Inn and Suites at Mercury Village is scheduled June 15. But a ceremonial ground breaking is planned for Thursday, said Michael Carnel, who is both an owner and developer of the project.
“We’re pretty confident we’re going to move forward,” Carnel said.
However, no construction on the three-story, 96-room motel will start at East Turner Drive and Translux Drive until the city gives final approval, he said.
Nicol Killian, the project planning manager for the city, said, “We think it will be a smooth process.”
Durango Mall owners initially objected to the proposal for the motel. But a compromise was reached in December. The motel developers dropped plans to build a second building on the lot and granted the mall easements to improve drainage at a nearby intersection.
mshinn@durangoherald.com