JACKSON HOLE, Wyo. — In the end, Hotel Jackson’s bid to move forward with phase 2 of expansion was all about timing. As in wrong place, wrong time.
Neighboring businesses worrying that their time to make hay—especially coming out of the summer that wasn’t in 2020 due to COVID closures and restrictions—is a scant three months, made noise, lawyered up, and tried to stop the hotel from its buildout into Gaslight Alley.
They also argued a major project off N. Cache in the heart of downtown Jackson would disrupt the flow of already arduous traffic coming into town from the north.
One problem. The Darwiche family, owners of the hotel, already had approval for the project. Years ago. They were just trying to finalize a construction plan—normally something rubber stamped between town engineers and electeds without so much as a Zoom room.
The Seligmans, who owned Jolly Jumbuck Leathers, mainly complained they were ambushed by the project timeline.
This is the first we’re hearing of their plans, Annette Seligman said at one meeting. Husband Charles was blunter. “Everyone hates a construction site,” he moaned.
The Darwiches countered with the project timeline which included a building permit for phase 2, submitted in June 2019.
But this is Jackson, and anything and everything that happens here invites email blasts, NIMBY protests, and public comment that meanders more off-topic than a Kanye West interview.
After a couple stops-and-starts, the Darwiche team, that includes local builders Wapiti Construction, submitted a plan to the liking of town engineer Brian Lenz and public works director Floren Poliseo. Still, some neighbors balked at Monday’s meeting, asking if construction could begin in November when the tourists left along with their platinum cards.
Hotel reps pointed to what outreach they have accomplished including helping to relocate Gaslight Alley businesses like Teton Thai Plate (moving in on Glenwood across the street from the hotel) and Judge Roy Bean’s Old Time Photos.
Regarding the need to get started now, construction experts said excavation is nearly impossible in winter when the ground is frozen. The digging had to be done first and had to get started now.
How they voted
Mayor Hailey Morton Levinson voiced her biggest concern—pedestrian right of way—but was ultimately satisfied temporary walkways would keep crowds shuffling along to Browse ‘N Buy et al.
Jessica Sell Chambers, the harshest critic of the hotel’s construction plan, said she was satisfied with the progress made in the Darwiche’s outreach for the past month, particularly with the neighboring St. John’s Episcopal Church.
“I am encouraged by the progress that has been made regarding concessions about concerns. Many concerned parties who had come to the table are now pleased,” she said.
Johnathan Schechter said he wasn’t particular happy to support the go-ahead, citing relationships that were “not good,” combined with “angst coming out of COVID.” But the councilman agreed the hotel had done everything it could to come up with a strong plan.
Newcomer Jim Rooks said, “The devil’s in the details now,” regarding right of way and traffic flow. “It’s important to remind the community there are multiple large hotels in development right now. More are coming. I heard from a lot of people saying, ‘We don’t want any more hotels in Jackson.’ But the Comp Plan states appropriate areas for these in the downtown lodging overlay. Moving forward, these projects will get increasingly difficult.”
Councilman Arne Jorgensen recused himself for having done work in the past with St. John’s Church.
The vote was 4-0 to allow Hotel Jackson to immediately begin phase 2 of construction.
After the meeting, hotel general manager Sadek Darwiche thanked the elected officials and town staff for their hard work and dedication. He acknowledged the pressure of knowing his neighbors, and the town as a whole, would be watching closely the outcome of the hotel’s expansion.
“We were honored once when the council approved this hotel and we opened back in 2015,” Darwiche said. “Everything we have undertaken with the hotel from day one was done to make Jackson proud. It’s our intention to continue to earn that trust and win the community over with everything we do. And to strive to be a good neighbor to all.”
