By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

A developer wants to build a new hotel in Hays immediately west of Old Chicago and is requesting the city establish a Community Improvement District as an economic development incentive.

Saffron Hospitality LLC has submitted a petition to create the CID, which will be reviewed by the Hays City Commission during its work session Thursday.

A four-story, 79-room Avid-IHG (Intercontinental/Holiday Inn) full-service hotel would be built on two acres south of Walmart at 208 W. 43rd. The estimated project cost is $7,046,870.

The CID application is “pretty straightforward,” according to City Manager Toby Dougherty.

The requested 2 percent CID sales tax for 20 years would generate about $480,000 for the developer.

“It is an added 2-cent sales tax that is used to reimburse the developer for hard costs — everything above ground,” Dougherty explained.

If approved, the total sales tax within the new CID would be 10.25 percent, excluding the city’s transient guest tax.

The city commission has previously authorized CIDs for the Hilton Garden Inn,currently under construction west of Walmart; TownePlace Suites, 4001 General Hays; and Holiday Inn Express, 4650 Roth. All four hotels are north of Interstate 70.

Other agenda items for the Nov. 7 work session include information about construction of a classroom in the Hays Fire Department’s new fire/rescue training facility south of the water reclamation and reuse facility.

The project would involve student designers and builders from Fort Hays State University and NCK Tech.

The meeting begins at 6:30 p.m. in Hays City Hall, 1507 Main.