By MATT PIKE
St. Joseph Post
Sudden interest has popped up for land owned by Buchanan County at the North Village Shoppes in St. Joseph.
The Veterans Administration had an option on the land, but that was recently canceled, and Buchanan County Presiding Commissioner Scott Nelson says that prompted much interest in the land.
Nelson says that first there was interest from a hotel to build on the land, and then another party became interested as well, which Nelson says shows people know there are certain needs for St. Joseph
"That if it wants to grow, it wants to attract visitors, events, things like that, that we are in woeful need of rooms, hotel rooms, and meeting spaces," Nelson tells host Barry Birr on the KFEQ Hotline. "So, they're looking for prime spots."
Nelson says he believes that area is a prime spot because of its vicinity to the North Village Shoppes, as well as being right off the highway.
Nelson says that area of the North Village Shoppes is a prime spot for a hotel, despite there being three other hotels, because it’s like a community.
"There's areas of hotels, there's areas of entertainment, there's areas of shopping, now is everything in walking distance? Depends how far you want to walk, but that area has everything other than food in that regard, " Nelson says. "So, in the future I see that being a hub, not the hub, but a hub."
Nelson says there's also talks about opportunities for economic development in the corner of Frederick and 29th street.