Paresi Study: Congress Avenue Hotel

What more could you want from a property?

Waterfront. Check.

On-street parking. Check.

At the intersection of primary avenues that lead to restaurants, businesses, a high school, City Hall and the police station, and right down the street from the fire department. Check.

The property bordered by the Susquehanna River, Congress Avenue, St. John Street and Pennington Avenue—known in town as "the Asher property"—has plenty of potential.

In fact, it was the site of a proposed hotel/conference center in the Paresi Design Studio's 1997 study on Havre de Grace.

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This is the ninth post in a series of articles refreshing the visions of the Paresi Design Studio's "Urban Design and Waterfront Study," which was completed in February 1997.

The study said the site's use as a hotel "provides the greatest economic stimulus to downtown," based upon its location.

The hotel as proposed in the study would sit on a parking platform, and take on a C-shape, facing the water.

The hotel itself would have 150-250 rooms with a destination restaurant/cafe/lounge.

Similar to the other hotels proposed in the study, it would also come with a marina and waterfront walkways.

Streetscaping, lighting, landscaping and other visual improvements would accompany the project.

It also called for commercial mixed-use development along the streets closer to the other downtown attractions.

Presently, the area is comprised of multiple, privately-owned parcels—including one residential property.

TELL US: Would a hotel work at this location? What about a conference center and destination restaurant? Leave a comment.