Greg Steinhauer, president of Steinhauer Properties, which is developing the hotel, said in the city press release that a partnership with Long Beach would allow it to incorporate the historic Jergins Tunnel that runs below the site into the facility and redevelop it as a small speakeasy venue. Steve Goodling, president and CEO of the Long Beach Convention & Visitors Bureau, said the additional hotel rooms “are going to permit Long Beach to pursue larger conventions that previously would not have been able to come to the city.” Long Beach has a rich musical heritage, with iconic acts such as Snoop Dogg and Sublime originating from the city. The hotel and its worldwide recognized brand, the mayor said, will also help bring back big musical acts like Iron Maiden and others that recorded live albums at the Long Beach Arena.
The city’s objective, Richardson said, is to bring a high quality hotel to the city while making a big economic investment.
