Times/News Correspondent

With unanimous approval by the Burien council members last week, the city's first hotel - with a projected value of $70 million - is on the road to becoming a reality.

"This new hotel will change the entire complexion of downtown Burien," said Mayor Noel Gibb, who believes it came about because of the Town Square project.

"It's going to interconnect with local businesses and the Transit Center, and will provide a lot of jobs and revenue for many things," Gibb observed.

Lawmakers authorized sale of the property at Southwest 150th Street and Second Avenue South, adjacent to Washington Mutual Bank, to Federal Way-based Park Hospitality Management Company, which plans to develop the hotel on that site.

The City purchased this property in January 2003 to provide temporary parking during construction of a transit-oriented project nearby and it no longer need the land for that purpose, according to staffers.

Council members authorized the sale agreement for the undeveloped land for $1,020,000.

Bob Park, principal of Park Hospitality Management, an experienced hotel franchisee and developer, later told the Times/News his company hopes to begin construction in September 2006.

Park Hospitality Management