Construction on new Montpelier hotel to start soon

Construction on a new hotel in Vermont's capital city is expected to begin by the end of the year.

The owners of the Capitol Plaza Hotel in downtown Montpelier plan to begin construction on a new Hampton Inn and Suites next month. They were waiting for voters to approve a $10.5 million bond for a new parking garage adjacent to the new hotel. Voters gave it the green light Tuesday by almost 600 votes.

The old structure is expected to come down next month so work can begin on the new hotel.

"Expect progress. We are gonna start with taking down the red barn by the end of November, which I think has been an eyesore to everybody in town. And then this week, we're meeting with the contractors and the city to discuss the logistics of the project," said Lilli Cain, whose family owns the hotel.

Construction will continue through 2019. The hotel is expected to open in early 2020.