Construction of a new Hyatt Hotel on Newark’s Main Street is among the issues drawing interest in the city’s mayoral race.
The planned sevn story, 144 room hotel is slated to replace Newark’s Green Mansion, a registered historic landmark.
Mayoral candidate Jerry Clifton supports building the new hotel. The longtime City Councilmember believes it will be a boon to local businesses.
“I voted for it. I think it is an economic enhancement. I think that, the way our law is written, it was difficult to vote against it,” said Clifton.
An old shoe repair shop will be demolished to make way for the hotel, which will incorporate the historic Green Mansion’s outer facade.
Another mayoral candidate, Brandon Farzad, believes the hotel’s economic potential outweighs the mansion’s historic value.
“It is a special building but, to prevent that level of opportunity for the city because you like this building is just ridiculous," said Farzad. "My mother grew up in Naples, Italy. The home that she grew up in was over 250 years old. It was not a historic landmark.”
Newark mayoral candidate Catherine Ciferni opposes construction of the hotel.
Ciferni is a tutor at the University of Delaware’s English Language Institute and a self-described “community advocate.”
She objects to the proposed hotel’s size, saying she doesn’t think it’s a good fit.
“I’m against that structure in that space," said Cerferni. "If they wanted to take the Green Mansion and make, I don’t know, a 20-room bed-and-breakfast, that I would not have a problem with. The building, as its designed, in the capacity its designed, I have a problem with. I think there’s problems when it comes to development and planning.”
Newark residents select a new mayor Tuesday.
Ciferni, Clifton, and Farzadare joined on the ballot UD graduate student Kasai Guthrie.
