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Reporter: Todd Baucher

Opinions on Potential Hotel In Downtown Parkersburg

It may get a professional baseball team...and Parkersburg could also get a new hotel.

The current Salvation Army site on Division Street has been mentioned in recent days as the site of a new hotel...and city council discussed the matter Tuesday night.

While some view that as competition for the Blennerhassett Hotel, the reason given for the hotel is a way to attract convention business to the city.

"Downtown seems to be building back up again, and the oil and gas business has increased," Mayor Bob Newell said Wednesday. "They also know that with another hotel downtown, they can play off each other for some small conferences."

"We cannot have a major fund drive to build someplace else or to do something else," outgoing Salvation Army Major Vernon Dolby said about the possible effects on the Parkersburg offices. "So they'll have to buy us out here to move wherever we're going to go."

Yhe mayor says the city will work with the Salvation Army to find a new site for its headquarters.

People we spoke to on the streets of downtown Parkersburg Wednesday had differing thoughts about the idea.

"I like the Blennerhassett," said Megan Kahoa, "so if it would be something different to cater to a different crowd, that would be nice."

"It will allow for people to come in here to do business for Public Debt and others," noted Steve Swarr. "We typically find out there's not enough hotel space down here."

There haven't been any drawings made yet, and it isn't known under which franchise the hotel will operate.