Vote: Hotel on McGregor Grounds?

The vacant area at McGregor Drive near Park Avenue, known locally as the McGregor Property, has been hotly debated for years. Recently it was under consideration for the . 

Then at the second Capitola City Council meeting of March, it was decided that the city will .

Mayor Mike Termini said that four years ago city made a similar attempt, but came up empty.

"The last time we did this, everyone said 'No' because it's an environmentally-protected area and it had no water or sewer," Termini told Capitola-Soquel Patch on Thursday.

The land now has water, but still lacks sewer access, meaning it would require plenty of infrastructure work to make a new hotel a reality. Yet Termini remains optimistic about the prospect of landing a business on the property given an improved economic climate from 2008. And he thinks the property is a surefire location with the chance to help the local economy.

"We've always felt that it's a prime spot for a hotel with visiblity and the entrance to New Brighton," Termini said. "There's been pressure to make it a recreational area, but before we do that, we want to make sure that no one wants to bring in a hotel."

He said he hopes for something on the "slightly upscale" end of the hotel spectrum, rather than a chain motel known for questionable linen hygiene.

A skate park and dog park have also been considered for the city-owned McGregor Property, but for now Capitola is focused on potential revenue sources.  

"If we could work out a land lease, we could have somebody break ground in a year," Termini said.

What do you think? Would you like a hotel there? How about a recreational park? Skate park? Dog park? Vote in the poll below and tell us in the comments!

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