Mayor Thomas Announced Boutique Hotel, Green Parking Garage, and Outdoor Event Center for South Fourth Avenue
(Friday, January 11, 2019) — Mayor Richard Thomas today announced plans for the redevelopment of South Fourth Avenue that call for the construction of a boutique hotel, green parking garage, and an outdoor events center. The first phase will be the event center, which could be open as early as this spring.
This phased-announcement is a result of the strategy to activate the “South 4th Avenue Redevelopment Plan” and the “Art & Culture Master Plan.” It also promotes compliance with the Clean Water Act through the construction of new green infrastructure. These efforts will assist in the mission to reduce property tax pressure through jobs and commercial sales tax growth.
Mayor Thomas made the announcement at a press conference at City Hall flanked by the developer of the project Fred Stahl of Stahl Holdings.
The project will be centered around the Mangoville Jerk Yard with the events center featuring a stage, screen, Astroturf lawn, bar and barbeque area. The outdoor space is based on ‘The Eddy,” an urban courtyard in Reno, Nevada, credited as a successful revitalization model.
“Food and entertainment are at the core of Mount Vernon,” said Mayor Richard Thomas, “James Brown and The Jackson 5 played in Mount Vernon before they were “James Brown” or “The Jackson 5.” Mount was a platform for stardom and we are becoming a stronger platform for stardom again. Mangoville is part of our plans to use our arts and culture legacy to spark tourism, commerce and economic growth along the Fourth Avenue corridor and throughout the city.”
Developer Fred Stahl, who has owned property in Mount Vernon for 40 years, thanked the Mayor for his support. “We plan to build it in a way the city can be proud of,” said Stahl, noting that he hopes to have the events center finished in May. “We then look forward to an expansion with a hotel as the project grows.”
The idea would be for a hotel to have between 70 to 100 rooms.
Mayor Thomas said the city would also hope to add to the impact of the project with a new parking garage, which would have a green design that includes a playing field on the roof that could be used by youngsters in the nearby schools and the community in general.
Also at the press release was FatBoy SSE, a rapper, comedian and Instagram phenom star with millions of followers, who was in Mount Vernon as to support the announcement and said he was excited about the arrival of food an entertainment complex. “I want to come and stay here,” he said. “It’s a beautiful thing.”
Hip hop and entertainment industries are responsible for billions in consumption, travel, and tourism. Mount Vernon has a very special relationship with these sectors in that the city has given rise to Heavy D, Diddy, Pete Rock, CL Smooth, Al B. Sure JB Smoove as well as greats like Nina Simone, Sidney Poitier, Denzel Washington, Art Carney, and Dick Clark. As Good Morning America reported, this influential economic power led to record tourism rates for the Louvre Museum in Paris, France simply because Hip Hop Icons Jay Z and Beyonce shot a music video there. We expect the same response in Mount Vernon as we implement the Arts and Cultural Plan and the South Fourth Avenue Redevelopment Plan.
This phased-announcement is a result of the strategy to activate the “South 4th Avenue Redevelopment Plan” and the “Art & Culture Master Plan.” It also promotes compliance with the Clean Water Act through the construction of new green infrastructure. These efforts will assist in the mission to reduce property tax pressure through jobs and commercial sales tax growth.
