Hotel planned for Northport riverfront

NORTHPORT | Developers Todd Palmer and Danny Butler announced plans Monday to build a Hampton Inn and Suites hotel along the Northport riverfront.

The 112-room hotel will be built on the old gin site property at the end of Main Avenue. The project has been approved by Hilton Worldwide, owner of the Hampton Inn chain, and construction should begin this year, possibly within six months, Palmer said.

“I’m excited about this, and I’m excited for Northport,” Palmer said. “It’s a wonderful project, and it’s long overdue.”

Although a hotel has long been part of Northport’s downtown riverfront master plan, the City Council still must approve the design of the project to ensure it meshes with the overall scope of the riverfront area, said City Administrator Scott Collins. The council also must discuss street plans and traffic flow with the developers, he said.

But Collins said he is encouraged by the developers’ proposal.

“Obviously, we are excited and pleased and look forward to it taking place,” Collins said. “This should be used as something that generates interest in the riverfront and the downtown as a whole.”

Councilman Jay Logan, who represents the downtown area, said he is glad that construction will finally begin along the riverfront.

“It’s going to bring some much-needed jobs to the area, and that is one major thing,” Logan said.

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