- The Boone County Planning Commission unanimously recommended approval of Athena Hospitality’s proposed $100 million mixed-use commercial development.
- Plans include two hotels, a new Athena corporate headquarters and a restaurant.
- The zoning request now heads to Florence City Council, which previously approved a separate financing agreement.
A growing hospitality company has received the Boone County Planning Commission’s backing for a proposed $100 million commercial development at 3700 Houston Road in Florence.
On Wednesday, the planning commission unanimously voted to recommend approval of a zoning change request that would pave the way for the development of a 14,000-square-foot, one-story restaurant; a 15,368-square-foot, two-story office building; a 109,000-square-foot, three-story hotel; and a 152,000-square-foot, seven-story hotel.
The company behind the request, Florence-based Athena Hospitality Group, owns and operates several hotels throughout Kentucky, Tennessee, Louisiana and New Jersey. The firm’s portfolio includes brands from some of the world’s largest hospitality companies, including Marriott, Hilton, IHG, Choice Hotels and Wyndham.
Athena Hospitality is seeking to rezone the vacant property from commercial to office use, while maintaining its Houston-Donaldson Study Corridor Overlay designation. JDV Ventures, a holding company associated with Athena CEO Devesh Patel, owns the land, according to Boone County property records.
“Possibilities for the site include fast food, coffee shops, or local retail or convenience stores with or without an attached gas station,” said Boone County Zoning Administrator Michael Schwartz.
Athena plans to use the office building as its corporate headquarters. The project will feature a Residence Inn for extended stays and a full-service Hilton or Marriott hotel. The restaurant brand has not yet been determined.
Athena’s current headquarters are situated at 4750 Houston Road, right next to the proposed project site.
“We’re in agreement with all the divisions that have been placed forward,” said David Whitley, an Athena Hospitality representative.
The recommendation comes with several attached conditions that will govern the project’s design, landscaping and connection to surrounding infrastructure.
Athena will be required to provide landscaping along the roadway and around the development, comply with architectural standards for the Houston-Donaldson corridor, and preserve trees within 100 feet of the Interstate 71/75 right-of-way.
Athena will also have to extend Beam Boulevard to the property’s eastern boundary, which follows the site’s natural ridgeline to allow for a potential connection to the neighboring property. In addition, one hotel will be limited to five stories rather than the seven shown in the initial concept plan.
The planning commission’s recommendation now heads to the Florence City Council, which has final authority over the project because the property lies within the city’s jurisdiction.
Nearly a week before the planning commission meeting, Florence City Council approved a memorandum of agreement with Athena that allows the city to pursue industrial revenue bonds, or IRBs, and a payment-in-lieu-of-taxes agreement, commonly known as a PILOT, to help finance the project.
During the Aug. 25 meeting, Florence City Administrator Josh Hunt emphasized that the financing agreement was separate from the project’s zoning process. Hunt said the bond arrangement would not move forward without the necessary zoning approvals.
