On a slightly overcast Thursday morning, the Marriott Fairfield Inn & Suites at mixed-use development North Cornwall Commons was ceremoniously christened during a groundbreaking exercise with local dignitaries.
The project, which technically began in 2017, is the “next logical step” in the commercial development of North Cornwall Commons, according to Jonathan Byler, the president and CEO of Byler Holdings.
Physically, the project got underway about two weeks ago, after being delayed for nearly three months due to mitigation caused by the coronavirus crisis.
Read more: North Cornwall Commons hotel will be a Marriott Fairfield Inn & Suites
The new hotel possesses the potential to represent the next phase in Lebanon County’s economic development.
The $13 million project is expected to take a year to complete. When finished, the Marriott Fairfield Inn and Suites will be the crown jewel of the 81-acre North Cornwall Commons property, providing an unparalleled overnight presence for the southern portion of Lebanon County and ultimately intended to enhance the local economy by drawing tourism to the locale.
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“With the [Lebanon Valley] Expo Center across the street, it’s going to be the envy of North Cornwall Commons,” Byler told LebTown. “It’s just a great location for it. It’ll obviously enhance the property’s future potential.”
The four-story Marriott Fairfield Inn and Suites will feature 90 rooms and suites. The hotel will also include an indoor pool, a breakfast area, a spacious lobby and meeting rooms.
“Certainly the hotel will have more amenities,” said Byler. “The hotel will have more upside and be more luxurious than anything that currently exists in the county. There’s certainly a need for this type of property, especially in the southern end of the county.”
North Cornwall Commons, located on the east side of Cornwall Road at the corner of Evergreen Road in North Cornwall Township, currently houses an 82-unit townhouse community, a coffee shop, a nail salon, a community clubhouse, a fitness center, a pool, and meeting rooms.
Read More: Ancestor Coffeehouse & Creperie to open in May at North Cornwall Commons
“When you look at it with the expo center across the street, the VA hospital right down the road, the access to the turnpike, the proximity to the Renaissance Faire, Lancaster County and Amish Country to the South and Hershey to the West, it’s a great location,” said Byler. “We feel like we’re well-centered. We feel this is a site that meets a need. There’s certainly tourism in Lebanon County, and I don’t think people realize the number of people the expo center brings into the county.”
Among the possible future additions to North Cornwall Commons are apartments, a medical facility, a bank, a pharmacy, and a senior living community. Byler said that the 81 acres on the East side of Cornwall Road will be almost completely developed before the 35 acres on the West side are.
Read More: New Rails to Trails entrance opened at North Cornwall Commons
“We’re excited to kick off the next phase of the North Cornwall Commons property,” said Byler. “The hotel will be a great addition. I think it’s great for the community. It’ll certainly bring more people into the county.”
Currently, Lebanon County is home to a number of small motels, but just six or seven hotels — many of which are located north of the City of Lebanon.
In addition to the North Cornwall Commons property, Byler Holdings owns or operates five golf courses — three of which are situated in Lebanon County — Miner’s Pub, Iron Valley Tubing, three movie theaters, Boger’s Concrete, trucking services and a quarry, among other ventures.
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