Springfield aldermen have rejected a proposal to convert the Wyndham City Centre into a largely residential facility, with most of the 30-story building’s hotel rooms converted into apartments.
The hotel’s owner says because of COVID, he cannot make the hotel a financial success. The proposal would have turned 320 of the hotel rooms into primarily studio and one-bedroom apartments, in a complex that would also include a pool, food court, observation deck, and other amenities.
The vote to change the zoning to allow the development failed on a 5-5 tie, with seven votes required for approval. Aldermen expressed concern about taking so many downtown hotel rooms out of commission, but the hotel’s owner says the existing zoning will allow him to convert 200 of the rooms into government-subsidized housing… a move he intends to pursue.
