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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowEvansville officials plan to build a new 11,000-seat arena in conjunction with a major remodeling of a downtown hotel.
Work could start as early as next month on what Evansville Mayor Jonathan Weinzapfel said will be a transformation of the city’s downtown.
The plan, announced yesterday, will put the $127 million arena on a different site than first picked after the city could not agree with property owners on a sale price. The new project will include partial demolition of an existing 470-room Executive Inn.
Indianapolis developer Browning Investments was chosen to renovate the remaining 250-room facility, which will be connected to the arena. Browning Investments has an agreement in principal with Mutual Hospitality, Inc., which has owned the Executive Inn since January. Demolition work will begin in mid-August.
No hotel brand has been chosen, but Browning said the hotel is likely to be a three-star nationally recognized brand.
Weinzapfel expects the arena to be completed by late 2011. Much of its funding will come from casino tax revenue and local food-and-beverage taxes.
The Evansville arena project director is John Kish, who previously oversaw development of White River State Park and the Indianapolis International Airport midfield project.
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