By John McLoone

With the projected opening of the Confluence Development in Hastings possibly a year or more away, City Council member Joe Balsanek again voiced concern last week at the Hastings Economic Development and Redevelopment Authority meeting that the project isn’t meeting deadlines.

The renovation of the former Hudson Sprayer complex is being redeveloped into hotel, convention, retail residential use, and its project manager Rob Barse told HEDRA that the COVID-19 pandemic had an impact on the project and pushed back a successful hotel launch until such time as people are traveling.

“I know that HEDRA is fully informed with the history of this project and the development of the former Hudson manufacturing site,” said Hastings Community Development Director John Hinzman in introducing Barse. “We’ve been able to see a lot of great activity that’s progressed with the roof and the tuckpointing.”

Barse said there’s been a lot of progress in recent months.

“I’m sure you’ve been able to keep a visual progress on it. Most of the work this year has been on the exterior,” he said.

Phase one of the project is building shell restoration and site work. Replacement of the flat roof where apartments will be located in the complex near the river is wrapping up.

“That’s 90 percent complete, which is great to have going into the winter months,” he said.

Utility work is also 90 percent complete, he said. Some “soil correction” work will wait until spring to be done with concrete work and curb and gutter.

“One big hurdle we’ve overcome during this phase is the structural repairs and enhancements we’ve made,” he said, citing roof sheeting replacement and rafter repairs to make the facility more structurally sound. Brick work is being done, and exterior painting has taken place.

“The one other item that will be a spring-related item related to phase one is window installation for the apartments,” said Barse. “Most of phase one will wrap up this winter, a portion of the items will wrap up in spring.”

The hotel at The Confluence will be managed by IDM Hospitality of Madison, WI. The firm’s website reports that The Confluence is “opening 2021.”

“The hotel’s design is inspired by the building’s past as an agricultural manufacturing facility, while infusing it with sophisticated design gestures from the 1920s when the building first came into being. The concept mixes town and country style to welcome guests from near and far.”

Barse reported that IDM will also be the food and beverage operator of The Confluence.

“I would say one big step we’ve taken with our hotel operator, IDM, is they’re officially on board with us as the food and beverage arm of The Confluence as well,” he told the HEDRA Board. “That’s going to be under their umbrella as well.”

He said the COVID-19 casts a pause over everything, including the project.

“A continued factor is where the coronavirus continues to head, and the world of hospitality related to it. We’ve been taking a lot of time to work on this with IDM.

See The Confluence Page 12

Work was underway at the site of The Confluence last week. Photo by John McLoone. The Confluence

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They’re seeing positive momentum for next year. Consumers are setting up travel. Those were all good things for us to hear,” Barse said. “There’s appetite within the marketplace of where the hospitality business will bounce back to. That’s the big piece for us to overcome. We’re continuing to push along. We’re chugging into phase two so we can get open.”

Board member Scott Sinclar asked the million-dollar question.

“We all get asked when we see family members and friend,” he said. “It’s nice to have something positive to report back. Everyone wonders when it’s going to be done?”

Barse said the best-case scenario looks like October 15-30.

“That’s by far the best case,” he said. If it’s not ready by then, it could mean the following spring, because the hotel operator won’t likely want to open in January when business is typically slow.

“We’d try to line them up with maybe a spring opening,” he said but apartments, retail shops and possibly the restaurant could open prior to that.

Balsanek has been critical in the past of deadlines not being met.

“Why was this not completed like had been promised?” he asked, noting the development was to open this month.

“That’s a big question,” answered Barse, noting that the pandemic has been “quite disruptive for us, where we’re at in the process. It’s not an ideal time to be funding or operating a hotel.”

“We’re trying to set the project up for success and completing a hotel in December wasn’t the answer for us,” he said.

“I hope everyone associated with confluence knows what the heck they’re doing. You make a promise you’re going to be done in December, you should be done,” he said. “The city’s been so patient with everyone associated with that development. Hell, for all I know, it’s not going to be until 2022.”

Barse answered, “I appreciate the comments.”

“We’re trying to be as smart as we can with the timing of it,” he said. “We’re doing our best to keep construction moving on the site and deliver it as soon as we physically can,” said Barse.