GARDEN GROVE, CA-Local officials recently approved plans for a new resort hotel with an indoor water park, but a measure to subsidize the project is raising concerns with tax payers.
The Great Wolf Lodge would include 600 hotel rooms and 18,000 square feet of retail space in addition to an indoor water park and play area. The hotel would be built along Harbor Boulevard, about a 10-minute drive south of Disneyland.
The current plan calls for at least $69 million in public funds and land contributions that would go toward the private project.
“It's basically a way for us to get on the map” and bring tax revenue to the city,” councilman Chris Phan, told the local media. “This would be the first type of this hotel [on] the whole West Coast,” he added.
In a 2010 deal city leaders agreed to advance $5 million to Colorado-based developer McWhinney Enterprises, then pay another $42 million soon after the hotel opens. Officials also plan to give McWhinney public land worth about $22 million.
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David Phillips
David Phillips is a Chicago-based freelance writer and consultant with more than 20 years experience in business and community news. He also has extensive reporting experience in the food manufacturing industry for national trade publications.
