Community Impact reports that during an April 13rh Conroe City Council meeting councilmembers approved a cost increase of $377,316 for the Hyatt Regency Conroe Hotel & Convention Center. Total construction cost is up to around $108.57 million according to Director of Finance Collin Boothe. The original budget was $99 million.
At an April 12th Workshop meeting, Councilmember Marsha Porter termed the increase as “outrageous.” However, she agreed to construction saying, “Are we going to let $1 million or $2 million keep us from closing the deal?” She said they “do need for the hotel to open.”
Councilmember Howard Wood voted in opposition to the revision, saying he “committed to one contract, not seven amendments.” Garfield construction manager Mike Bullard said, at the April 12th meeting, that he does not see any additional revisions in the future.
Finance Director Boothe said money “for the extension” will be derived “from interest earnings from the construction accounts.”
