St. George asks for ideas on potential new projects at former site of downtown hotel

David DeMille, St. George Spectrum & Daily News
·2 min read
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An empty lot sits at the corner of 100 West and St. George Blvd. The City of St. George, which owns the property, is requesting proposals from developers with ideas on how to take advantage of the property and provide an economic boost to the downtown area.
An empty lot sits at the corner of 100 West and St. George Blvd. The City of St. George, which owns the property, is requesting proposals from developers with ideas on how to take advantage of the property and provide an economic boost to the downtown area.

The City of St. George looing to make the most of a prime piece of city-owned downtown property, and they're open to ideas.

The city announced Wednesday it would put out a "Request for Qualifications" on the 3.6-acre property adjacent to Ancestor Square at 100 West and St. George Blvd., calling on potential developers to propose ideas. The site, which once housed a small motel called the Inn at St. George, has sat empty for several years. The city purchased it for $1.6 million in 2016.

It sits in a potentially prime location though, smack in the middle of a special tax incentive zone made to prop up redevelopment plans in the city's historical downtown district. It would sit next to the busy Ancestor Square shops and restaurants and reside directly across from a large hotel and commercial area.

In announcing the Request for Qualifications (RFQ), city officials described the area as "brimming with immense development potential."

"We are eager to witness the contributions of the development community," said Chad Thomas, the city's economic development director. "Downtown St. George holds a pivotal role in the City's commercial landscape, and this prime real estate parcel will be integral to downtown's revitalization."

The City is extending an invitation to firms possessing substantial expertise in professional architectural design, land use planning, and land development services, encompassing market research and financial forecasting.

The City of St. George has seen its population rise to more than 100,000 residents, having surged by about 13% just since 2020, according to city estimates. It now accounts for some 56% of the entire population of Washington County. WalletHub recently ranked St. George as the second-best small city in the United States for launching new businesses — placing it behind only its next-door neighbor, Washington County, and right ahead of Cedar City, less than an hour north on Interstate 15.

Buoyed by its reputation for access to outdoor recreation, downtown St. George offers a diverse array of shopping centers, restaurants, art galleries, and other businesses. The hope is that whatever moves into the RFQ site could build on those offerings and be a viable financial addition to the city. The submission deadline is Oct. 20.

The new development should promise "to infuse energy into the area while fostering a profound sense of community among its residents," Thomas said. "This represents a rare opportunity to actively participate in the development of prime downtown properties."

This article originally appeared on St. George Spectrum & Daily News: St. George solicits more development plans for downtown district