Vision grows for Robidoux Hotel as City Council shows support for $60 million plan

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — Local elected officials signaled their approval of a plan to help finance two state-of-the-art hotels and a new conference center on Frederick Avenue, with new designs showing the scale of the proposed facilities.

Councilmembers on Monday approved a resolution of intent to issue $60 million in industrial revenue bonds to help spur the project at 4016 Frederick Ave. with developer STJ Hotel Group and property owner Steven Craig.

The bonds, which will be issued when work begins, will be repaid by future revenue generated from the project. The city will own the title to the property via transfer and is not liable for debt associated with the project if there is a default by the developer.

"As a partner we want to make sure there's a fine line to ensure the success of the project but also that there's not a windfall at the expense of the taxpayers," St. Joseph Planning and Community Development Director Clint Thompson said during a work session.

Industrial revenue bonds are a popular tool used by municipalities to incentive large economic development projects and spur job creation, similar to $18.5 million in revenue bonds recently issued for Nortian Foodtech's new protein manufacturing facility in the south end.

Thompson said while the total project is $60 million, the actual redirection of future taxes with the developer is around $12 million, largely for the cost of the conference center.

"It's kind of at the gateway of the city when you talk about getting off the highway and coming into Saint Joe, it's going to be something that is exciting for the community," Mayor John Josendale said. "It's something we've been working on for a long time."

Developer shares vision for "Robidoux" hotel and conference center

The entire project would bring 249 new hotel rooms, new fitness centers, lobby bars, restaurants and pools to a 7.7-acre site at the southeast corner of Woodbine Road and Frederick Avenue, which previously was occupied by the former Ramada Inn, Americas Value Inn and Applebee’s.

One of the two proposed hotels on the property is an 88,000-square-foot Hilton-brand hotel, which would be named the Robidoux House, paying homage to St. Joseph's history.

Adjacent to it is the Robidoux Event Center, which includes more than 12,000 square feet of event and ballroom space for 600 guests, along with lawn and patio space for outdoor events.

"That should be able to handle almost all of your large events," Craig said. "It will also have the largest LED signage of any convention space in the country."

Design renderings and a site plan were one of several updates provided by Craig at Monday's council meeting as the project comes into focus. The goal is to have the facilities available by next June or July to accommodate visitors for the 2026 World Cup, with Kansas City being one of 16 host cities in North America.

A new state-of-the-art event center would not only provide a much needed amenity to accommodate local events and conferences that often have to go elsewhere due to a lack of options, but help attract a variety of new business from outside the city.

"Now they can host an event here of that type and stay in town. Keep the people who are coming from all over the country staying in the hotel, which is driving revenue for the community and just improving your tax base all the way around," Craig said.

The event space is designed to accommodate a wide variety of functions from corporate events and business meetings to weddings and ag showcases.

The second proposed hotel on the property will be a 94,000-square-foot SpringHill Suites facility operated by Marriott International. The all-suites hotel brand targets business and leisure travelers.

Buchanan County generated $237 million in fiscal year 2024 from tourism despite a lagging hotel landscape and one true conference center space in Stoney Creek Hotel, which will see a new $7.5 million Marriott Hotel constructed just next door.

More than 400 parking spaces will be included on the property, a change from the 300+ previously reported.

Craig said coordination with the Chamber of Commerce and CEO Natalie Hawn and St. Joseph Sports Commission Director Brett Esely was critical in developing a strong concept that caters to the community's needs.

Craig purchased the property several years ago from an Omaha-based company and was steadfast in his goal of developing a unique hotel and events center. He's also excited to offer pet-friendly suites at the Robidoux House, a popular amenity with many hotels now.

"Probably what's most exciting is this hotel has a lot of great features to it. … we've taken it a step further," he said. "A lot of thought and time and energy was put into designing something really great."