Holiday Inn Express still planned in Marksville

By RAYMOND L. DAYE  

   A proposed multi-story Holiday Inn Express is still expected to be constructed across Tunica Drive from the Paragon Casino Resort, but the project has been delayed while the state approves the site for development.

   John Brocato, president of Nations Loan Services in Mandeville, said the proposed hotel is “waiting for the state to approve the site. They have found certain items that they have to check out to ensure the site is not of historic value.”

   He said items do not appear to be of significant value and are from the early 1900s.

   “Once the state clears the site, we will proceed with construction,” Brocato said.

  The four-story, 63-room Holiday Inn Express is being proposed by Lake Charles businessman Charles Demarie at the intersection with Airport Road. Brocato is the loan officer on the project.

   Brocato said the developer hopes to begin construction about 30 days after the state gives the all-clear.

   City Engineer Rene Borrel said developers have still not applied for a permit in conjunction with the proposed hotel.

  According to a feasibility study for the project, the hotel would also include a 260 sq. ft. meeting room, a breakfast dining area, an outdoor pool, an exercise room, a business center, a laundry room for guests and vending areas. It will cost about $4 million and have about 18 full-time employees, according to the study.

  The addition of the Holiday Inn Express would give Marksville three multi-story hotels in the casino area, improving the city’s ability to attract larger conventions to take advantage of the Earl Barbry Sr. Convention Center facilities at the Paragon.

   The city’s current multi-story hotels are the Paragon’s hotel and the Hampton Inn, which also operates across the highway from Paragon.