The $14 million Staybridge Suites being planned for Campbell Lane will be a unique option for those visiting or moving to Bowling Green.

The fact that it is in Western Kentucky University’s backyard should be positive for the university and groups attending meetings or other activities there.

Georgia developer Douglas Artusio’s company broke ground this week for the property, which is behind Walgreens and adjacent to WKU’s parking lot that backs onto the Carroll Knicely Center.

The property is being backed by a family investment group headed by Ray Chen, a California businessman who already has a business here. It is great that Chen has enough confidence in the Bowling Green market to locate here.

The 124-room property is not your average hotel. It will be an extended-stay facility that includes larger rooms than other hotel properties in the area, with kitchens, complimentary guest laundry facilities and outdoor grills for guests. It will also offer a full breakfast daily and three nights a week will have a hospitality program.

From the description, the hotel sounds like it is going to be a very nice one, offering many amenities and more of a residential feel, which we believe is needed here.

This new hotel will be great for people who are moving to Bowling Green but have not yet purchased or rented a place. Instead of having to feel like they’re living day-to-day in a small room, this new hotel offers a feeling of community.

Being next to the Knicely Center should be a great location for this hotel. The location should have a built-in customer base also, considering all the industry that is just down the road from the property.

WKU officials want to focus their attention on bringing a hotel to Block 12, adjacent to the main campus. Artusio says he is aware of WKU’s plans for the block and is interested in talking to them about it.

Perhaps Artusio and WKU could develop plans for another hotel in Block 12, where a parking garage, residential wrap and alumni center are being built.

Staybridge Suites is great news for our city. Almost all our hotels are located on or near Scottsville Road. This part of town needed a hotel and this facility will meet that need.

It would be nice if the Staybridge generated interest in a new hotel in the downtown area.