OXFORD — The $15 million Hampton Inn is accepting reservations for rooms on Monday, Dec. 19, and beyond, according to its website — but no one is answering the hotel’s telephone.
The long-awaited opening date of the 93-room hotel on Route 26, across from the Oxford Casino, has only been confirmed by its website, which states: “This hotel will soon be joining the Hilton Worldwide Portfolio of Brands and is presently accepting reservations for arrival December 19, 2016 and beyond.”
As of Tuesday, Nov. 29, no occupancy permit had been issued, according to Oxford Code Enforcement Officer Rodney Smith.
Smith said an occupancy permit had been requested about two weeks ago but was denied following an inspection by Fire Chief Wayne Jones and then-interim Code Enforcement Officer Joelle Corey-Whitman because of a number of issues.
“It has to be finished completely,” Smith said, before an occupancy permit is issued.
A conditional certificate of occupancy was issued Nov. 17 by Corey-Whitman with nine items, ranging from addressing holes in the main lobby and cafeteria area to electrical conduit work that needs to be addressed. Additionally, all state inspection forms must be forwarded to the town.
Plumbing that was found to be incomplete or incorrect during the Nov. 17 inspection will be reinspected, according to the conditional certificate of occupancy.
Completion of the hotel has been beleaguered by liens from contractors. In October, Calamar Construction sued a local framing company for nearly $470,000, citing deficient work and failure to complete the scope of work.
The complaint filed in Oxford County Superior Court on Oct. 5 against Stephen Bourassa, owner of Alexander Construction in Minot, asks for a judgment of $469,564 for breaching the subcontractor’s contract, including not having an adequate workforce, not completing work on time, causing delays to other subcontractors and major deficiencies in its work.
Alexander Construction was hired by Calamar Construction, which was hired by developer GIRI Oxford I of Massachusetts, to build the inn on Route 26. The company was fired in January.
Former Town Manager Derik Goodine reported in late October that GIRI President Ash Sangani assured him the hotel would be open in about a month. That time has passed, as have other earlier expected opening dates.
The roughly 4-acre property on Route 26 was sold by Suzanne Hall, owner of Crestholm Farms, to GIRI Oxford I, a subsidiary of GIRI, in November 2013.
ldixon@sunmediagroup.net
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