Officials Gather For Harbor Point Construction Project Groundbreaking

Utica, NY (WIBX) - City of Utica Mayor David Roefaro broke ground for the new Holiday Inn Express coming to Harbor Point. Calling it a momentous occasion, Roefaro says the nearly $3 million construction project signifies the first time in more than 50 years, since ground has been broken for such a project in the area.

Rakesh Patel, Director of Operations for Visions Hotel, the company that owns the building, says it's their second project in Utica. "We also have the Hampton Inn. And, this strengthens the relations that we have with the city and we're happy to see the city growing. We're happy to be able to provide the jobs and grow the city. It's been a great relationship that we've had with the city," he said.

The three story hotel will have 75 rooms and be complete by June 2012, weather permitting. Officials say, during construction, the project will employ more than 100 people, and after completion the hotel will employ roughly 25 employees.