Des Plaines gets last piece of hotel puzzle

Des Plaines has bought the last piece of property needed for a hotel development at Mannheim and Higgins roads.

Aldermen on Monday agreed to buy the Ace Rent A Car site for $2.75 million.

Ace, at 2985 Mannheim Road, will be allowed to stay at its current location through March 30, or whenever the developer needs to do construction work, city officials said. The city will sell the land to the developer as part of a redevelopment agreement.

A deal that would have given Ace a location in the new development appears to be off the table as far as city officials are concerned.

"That didn't work," Assistant City Attorney Ray Bartel said.

But an attorney for Ace said Wednesday the rental car business still wants a location in the new development.

"We are attempting to engage in discussions with the developer so that we're included in the development," attorney Vito LoVerde said.

Ace will be demolished to make way for two hotels and two restaurants at the northeast corner of Mannheim and Higgins roads near Rosemont.

The city still is working on terms of the redevelopment agreement with the Mannheim Higgins Redevelopment Team since the property is in a tax increment financing district. Additional tax revenue from the site will cover some of the redevelopment costs.

Des Plaines also bought a hotel and paving company to clear the property for the project. City officials paid $5.6 million for the Travelodge and $825,000 for the AC Pavement property.

The developer expects to break ground next spring, officials said.