Plans are moving forward to convert the Travelodge Hotel in Chatham into a retirement home combined with a rebranded hotel.
During Monday's meeting, Chatham-Kent council approved permitting the construction of the project. The hotel is located at 555 Bloomfield Rd. in Chatham, just south of Richmond Street.
According to the staff report, the plan is to enlarge the current hotel into a combined building with a rebranded 80-room Townplace Suites by Marriott Hotel and an 85-room senior citizen dwelling. Also included in the approved report is that construction should be permitted for a 3,000 square foot eating establishment at 545 Bloomfield Rd., a lot that currently sits vacant.
Current Travelodge Hotel on Bloomfield Road
During an August 2017 meeting, council passed a by-law to allow the redevelopment of either the Comfort Inn or Travelodge Hotel into a retirement home. The report presented on Monday states that the owner of the land has prepared and submitted plans to move forward with the rebranded building.
"The retirement home will contain individual units of varying sizes, along with communal rooms, including dining areas, game rooms, sitting rooms, a conference room, and activity rooms," the report stated. "Social and physical activities will be offered on-site along with opportunities for social interaction off-site through the availability of regular facility shuttles to and from community facilities, support services and other local amenities."
According to the report, the proposal is consistent with the Provincial Policy Statement, which encourages the development of fully serviced, underutilized land within existing settlement areas.