[StBernard] Best Western Hotel in Chalmette Holds Ground Breaking at site on Paris Road

[Westley Annis]

Best Western Hotel in Chalmette Holds Ground Breaking at site on Paris Road 

June 2011 opening date set on 65-room, three-story hotel

 

Developers and St. Bernard Parish officials broke ground on a new $5.3
million Best Western Hotel on Paris Road in Chalmette set to open in June
2011. The 65-room, three-story hotel will have six suites, a pool, a fitness
facility, a business center and meeting space. The 35,000-square foot hotel
will be located on the property that formerly housed the Sonic Restaurant at
3400 Paris Road in Chalmette. Construction will begin in October, and the
owners have projected a June 2011 opening.

 

"It is exciting to have a national franchise hotel to augment the positive
growth in our rebuilding," St. Bernard Parish President Craig P. Taffaro,
Jr. said. "The New Market Tax Credit program becomes a reality with this
project."

 

Chuck Loescher, co-developer and owner, recognized that the project is the
result of the cooperation of several government agencies, and he said he was
grateful for the support of the Parish President, Parish Council and the
officials at the St. Bernard Port, Harbor and Terminal District, who helped
the hotel in getting the New Market Tax Credits.

 

"The New Market Tax Credits helped up get enough equity to make it possible
to be financed. By getting that equity, it gave us the incentive to look at
St. Bernard Parish to actually develop a new hotel." 

 

Loescher is developing the property with his brother Cliff Loescher and
partners Sinh "John" Nguyen and Bui Nguyen. The facility will be constructed
by Hi-Tech Construction and managed by BN Management Co.

 

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