Groundbreaking For New Hotel In West Chester

WEST CHESTER, Pa. (CBS) - Groundbreaking is set for today for conversion of the former Warner Theatre in downtown West Chester into a hotel-conference center.

The project involves conversion of the theatre, built in 1930 in the 100 block of North High Street  into a 74-room hotel with meeting and conference space.

Chuck Evans, managing director of Southeast Economic Development Company, which is helping to fund the project with Univest Bank, says the Centerstone Hotel will fill a vital need in the coming year.

"We'll have increased tourism, increased business travel in downtown West Chester and the West Chester University has a need for additional hotel-motel space."

Evans says the hotel is projected to create about 30 jobs and be completed by May 2012.

Reported by Mark Abrams, KYW Newsradio 1060