Three-story Fairfield Inn & Suites hotel proposed in Fenton

FENTON, Michigan — Another three-story hotel is trying to move into the city.

Fairfield Inn & Suites is proposing an 83-room hotel on land between the Home Depot and Shell Station in Silver Lake Village, a large shopping area at Owen Road and U.S. 23.

If the city approves the plan, it will be the first Fairfield Inn in Genesee County — a moderately priced Marriott property that caters to travelers.

Meanwhile, Holiday Inn Express received approval last week to build a three-story hotel with 80 rooms — less than a mile from the Fairfield Inn site — on Alloy Drive in Fenton’s Industrial Park.

And the existing Holiday Inn Express in Silver Lake Village will likely be sold to another hotel franchise, possibly a Comfort Inn, a Holiday Inn representative has said.

Jenny Richardson, vice president of Amerilodge Hospitality Group in Rochester Hills, which is developing the Fairfield Inn, said she is not concerned about the competition.

“We have very loyal customers,” Richardson said. “We wish the Holiday Inn Express well, but we are confident in our product.”

Richardson conceded the economy isn’t in great shape but said Amerilodge’s projections of future earnings are solidly favorable in the Fenton area.

“Fenton is obviously growing,” she said, “and we want to be part of that.”

The hotel will be constructed in eight to nine months after plans are approved, Richardson said. Amenities will include complimentary hot breakfasts and high-speed Internet use as well as a swimming pool and whirlpool.

The inns are located across the country and in many Michigan communities, including Lapeer, Grand Rapids, Jackson, Lansing, Saginaw and Frankenmuth.

No rates have been set for the Fairfield Inn in Fenton, but the weekday rate in Lapeer for a room with two queen beds is $89 plus tax and for a king bed, $99 plus tax.

Carter Churchill, a Fenton resident for 72 years, said he does not believe the city can support three hotels and should not allow them.

“We’ve got too ma ny people in this town now,” said the 84-year-old General Motors retiree. “The traffic is awful.”

Among the city approvals Fairfield Inn needs is a variance for the three stories. Fenton officials recently granted a height variance for the new Holiday Inn Express, and several years ago gave a similar variance to Fairfield Apartments in Silver Lake Village. The apartment complex is not affiliated with the hotel, Richardson said.

Amerilodge plans to construct the Fairfield Inn on land purchased from Joseph Hood, owner of Joseph Pontiac in Silver Lake Village. The hotel will be visible from U.S. 23, Richardson said.

The Fairfield Inn in Fenton is Amerilodge’s first Marriott venture. The group has Holiday Inn Expresses in Grand Blanc Township, Utica and Chesterfield, with plans to open ones in Howell and Bay City.

“We are so excited to be part of the Fenton market,” Richardson said.