Panel scrutinizes tower proposal

COEUR d'ALENE — Hagadone Hospitality on Thursday received feedback from Coeur d'Alene's Design Review Commission and a few members of the public on the proposed 12-story tower addition to The Coeur d'Alene Resort hotel.

The tower would be about 40 feet wide and start on Sherman Avenue, running roughly 260 feet south and connecting to the existing parking structure. An additional floor would be added to the parking facility at The Resort.

"It's important, as owner-operator, that the new tower feel as if it’s part of the hotel," said John Barlow, who is managing the project for Hagadone Hospitality.

The addition would add 158 new guest rooms and eight guest suites on top. The new tower takes design elements from the existing resort to match the two.

"The whole design goal is to feel like it's one experience," Barlow said.

Commissioner Jeff Lemmon, a Coeur d'Alene architect, said the proposed tower looks like a box. The proposed tower design would look better if it had staggered roof heights like the current resort, he said.

The proposed tower "feels like a wall as you come into Coeur d'Alene," Lemmon said.

Commission Chairman George Ives said he also has concerns about the design of the roof-line.

"This one looks almost like you've kind of stacked on three Motel 6s and put a roof on top to try and hide that fact," Ives said.

Commissioner Mike Dodge said the applicant appears to have failed in the attempt to tie the proposed tower to the existing resort.

"This other one looks like a tourist warehouse, to be honest," Dodge said. "It seems like it ought to be moved over, in front of the parking garage, tying into the existing hotel with the same motif as the hotel."

"What you propose in moving it would not work," Barlow responded.

Such a move wouldn't be feasible, he said.

"We think it ties together just fine," Barlow said.

"This is a huge endeavor for our downtown," said Commissioner Mike Patano. "I'm kind of getting the feeling that we really don't have too much to say about what's going to go on here, because it's pretty well decided."

Barlow said he would like to continue taking input and respected the views expressed by the commissioners.

"I'm just trying to point out that some of this isn't going to work," Barlow said. "Maybe some of it will."

Cory Trapp, with Longwell+Trapp Architects which is working with Hagadone Hospitality on the project, said a strict project budget has handicapped some of the design decisions.

"For ease of construction and to keep it cost effective it is repetitive," Trapp said. "It's a long, thin building that faces the west side there."

A half dozen members of the public attended the meeting, and a few weighed in with comments.

"It looks like a hotel in Las Vegas," said Teuvo Orjala.

He said a project this size is important to get right for Coeur d'Alene.

"We should spend the time thinking about it," Orjala said.

"I think that this building does look separate from The Resort," said Jada Endicott, a Post Falls resident. "It doesn't look like an addition."

Thursday's meeting followed an initial meeting Dec. 3. A third and final meeting will be scheduled when the applicant is ready.

The commission may suggest changes or recommendations to Hagadone Hospitality prior to the third meeting, after which the commissioners would render a decision to approve or deny the design. The commission can also approve the proposal with specific conditions.

The commission members are appointed by the Coeur d'Alene City Council.