Investment group eyes new hotel in Franklin

An investment group is looking at building another hotel along Interchange Road in Franklin Township. The hotel would be the third within less than one mile of each other.

Interchange Investment Group LLC, Bethlehem, has purchased 9 acres of land owned by the Hampton Inn for $1.1 million.

It includes parcels 955, 973, and 1055 Interchange Road, along with 10 Rock Street. The address of 1055 Interchange Road is the former Jimmy’s Gym.

The township’s board of supervisors will meet at 6 p.m. Tuesday to consider and discuss the preliminary future plans of the possible development of the land.

Contacted Friday morning, board of supervisors Chairman Jason Frey explained exactly how the meeting came about.

“They want to come in and pick our brain a little bit to find out what they can, cannot do there; find out more information to find out how they can develop it,” Frey said. “Basically to see how it’s zoned.”

Frey said the first 200 feet of the property is currently zoned commercial, while the rest of the area is residential.

However, the township is working on new zoning that would make the whole property commercial.

“We haven’t passed that yet; it’s only in the planning stages with the new zoning,” Frey said. “It’s to make more of the properties along 209 where you want your businesses commercial, so you can have more businesses in there along 209.”

Frey said he believes Interchange Investment Group LLC, which owns the Hampton Inn, is looking to put in another hotel at the site of the former Jimmy’s Gym.

“At this stage, I don’t know if the whole hotel is going to be on the whole nine acres,” he said. “I don’t know what else they’re going to put there.”

Frey said the state Department of Transportation previously said that whenever that property is developed, a traffic light must be put at the intersection.

“I know with that intersection, PennDOT has stated before, if that is developed, there will be a light going in there,” he said. “There’s going to need to be improvement with that intersection as well.”

Frey said the transaction shows how attractive the township is to developers.

“I think anything in Franklin right now, commercial, is a hot property,” he said. “I think the development in general is a good thing; obviously it’s more tax revenue for the township.”

Frey said the sale bodes well not only for Franklin, but all of Carbon County.

“It’s bringing more business in (which is) great for the whole community,” he said. “I think it’s a win all the way around for not only Franklin, but for the whole community.”

Frey said the sale’s impact will help lessen the load on the township’s financial matters.

“Getting the business in, we’re going to have more revenue to play with,” he said. “It will give us more room that we don’t have to raise taxes.”

The hotel would join the Hampton Inn, and Country Inn & Suites by Radisson, along Interchange Road.