Hotel Challengers Win Right to Stay in Fight

A Jackson County judge has refused the City hall’s plea to throw a challenge to it downtown convention hotel out of court.

Judge Jennifer Phillips ruled against the city’s motion to dismiss the case.

The Citizens for Responsible Government wants a city-wide vote on the $311 million convention hotel project.

The group says its entitled to the vote because it submitted enough valid signatures, as the Kansas City charter requires.

The city says the vote can’t proceed because it violates Missouri state law.

The city says the voter would interfere with tax increment finance agreements already in place.

The city is planning to put about $40 million dollars into the convention hotel up front.

It is also committing another $42 in various tax breaks.

Judge Phillips, however did agree to let the hotel development team, KC Hotel Developers LLC join the case to fight against the public vote.

A hearing is set for February 2.