This is a collection of official documents related to the hotel and convention center project in Lancaster, PA.
The first group is a series of studies which were commissioned to justify the project.
The second group are documents that govern the implementation and operation of the convention center.
The agreements in this section were obtained from the Lancaster County Convention Center Authority through individual "Right To Know" requests.
To the best of our knowledge, all of these agreements are still in effect as presented here.
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Studies used to justify the hotel and convention center project
LDR International report from 1998 (from the Lancaster Alliance/Lancaster Campaign web site), a comprehensive plan for downtown Lancaster which first mentioned a convention center - on N. Queen St. in Lancaster Square. This report called for the "mixed-use development" of the Watt & Shand building.
Ernst & Young marketing study from 1999. The first report commissioned to justify a hotel and convention center at Penn Square.
PricewaterhouseCoopers marketing study from 2000. This is the report which is still being used to justify the hotel and convention center project, even though its authors withdrew it in 2005.
PricewaterhouseCoopers 2002 update which was used to justify increasing the size of the convention center from the originally announced 61,000 square feet to 183,917 square feet plus 66,745 square feet of "shared space". Also withdrawn by its authors in 2005.
C.H. Johnson Report from 2003 which is completely based on the previous PricewaterhouseCoopers reports, also used to justify the quadrupling in size of the convention center.
PKF Report from March 2006, commissioned by the Lancaster County Commissioners to address their concerns about the hotel and convention center project. This feasibility study calls into question the conclusions of the previous studies which were commissioned to justify the project.
Official documents governing the operation of the convention center
Booking Policy and Room Block Agreement which sets policies for booking the convention center, and setting up "room block" agreements with other local hotels.
First Amendment to the Booking Policy and Room Block Agreement
Declaration of Condominium which spells out the division of the hotel, convention center, and "shared space" between the Penn Square Partners and the Lancaster County Convention Center Authority.
Easement, Operating, and Use Agreement spells out terms and conditions which the LCCCA and PSP have with each other's facilities.
Food and Beverage Concession Agreement which guarantees that the Penn Square Partners provides ALL catering services to the convention center.
First Amendment to the Food and Beverage Concession Agreement
Governing Letter sets terms and conditions for the rest of the agreements.
House Bill 148 of 1999, State Sen. Gib Armstrong's bill which legalized government owned and operated convention centers in areas where they were previously illegal, and allows for the creation of convention center authorities. This bill also created the "hotel tax" (see pages 41-43).
Historical and Museum Commission letter from 2003. This is a letter from the Pennsylvania State Historical and Museum Commission, Bureau for Historic Preservation, dated April 24, 2003. It is addressed to the High Real Estate Group, to officially announce that the proposed hotel would not be eligible for historic tax credits, because of proposed changes which would be totally out of character of the Watt & Shand building.
Hotel Tax Proposal from 1999. Letter from the "Lancaster Campaign" to County Commissioner chairman Paul Thibault, asking for enaction of a "hotel tax" to fund the proposed hotel and convention center project.
Hotel Tax ordinances from 1999. Ordinances enacted by Lancaster County Commissioners Paul Thibault, Terry Kauffman, and Ron Ford, which created the Lancaster County Convention Center Authority, and enacted the "hotel tax".
Historic Preservation Trust agreement from 2006. Agreement between the Lancaster County Convention Center Authority and the Historic Preservation Trust of Lancaster County.
Joint Development Agreement between the Lancaster County Convention Center Authority, Penn Square Partners, and the Redevelopment Authority of the City of Lancaster, which details the responsibilities of each party involved in the project.
First Amendment to the Joint Development Agreement
Professional Services Agreement between the Lancaster County Convention Center Authority and High Associates, Ltd., setting terms and conditions for High to develop the convention center for the LCCCA.
Qualified Management Agreement between Interstate Hotels and Resorts an the Lancaster County Convention Center Authority, which grants Interstate Hotels total and complete control over the operation, staffing, and booking of the convention center.
Sources and Uses 2007. Final "Sources and Uses" document before LCCCA bond sale, dated March 27, 2007.
Hotel Tower Lease Agreement between the Penn Square Partners and the Redevelopment Authority of the City of Lancaster. Provides for taxpayer dollars to construct the hotel tower, then lease it back to the Penn Square Partners in exchange for payments on a construction bond. This agreement also provides for purchase of the RACL-owned hotel tower by the PSP at the end of the lease for a nominal fee.
Transfer Agreement from 2005 details the sale of the Watt & Shand building from the Penn Square Partners to the Redevelopment Authority of the City of Lancaster, in exchange for reimbursement of ALL the PSP's expenses to date, plus forgiveness of several loans from RACL to PSP.
Wachovia Commitment Letter from December 2006 guarantees that Wachovia Bank will loan the Lancaster County Convention Center Authority the funds needed to build and finance the convention center project, along with the LCCCA's portion of the "shared space".
