The completion of a game-changing hotel that was originally expected to open in Northport last summer has once again been delayed by the coronavirus pandemic, unforeseen issues and supply shortages.

City leaders and hotel developers from Mansa Hospitality broke ground on a 100-room, $15 million Courtyard Marriott hotel in August 2020, and at the time, said it would likely open in the summer or fall of 2021.

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Last May, Northport City Council President Jeff Hogg, who also chairs the council's Retail Development Committee, confirmed that unexpectedly poor site conditions and COVID-19 had pushed back the estimated completion of the project a full year.

It was then expected that work would wrap up sometime in the second quarter of this year, but now even that amended timeline is being pushed back.

When the project was first approved, the city council OKed a $2 million tax incentive to help convince Mansa to build the first-ever hotel of its kind within Northport city limits.

That incentive package included deadlines the developers needed to meet, though, and the council is expected to pass a resolution Monday night to push that deadline to December 31, 2022.

The resolution says Mansa has shown good cause for the delays, including the first round of COVID-19, a previously unknown underground stream and a natural gas line that were discovered at the site of construction, the emergence of new COVID variants, a shortage of building materials and long delivery delays of what materials were available.

"It seems that the supply chain has caused many effects across our country and construction material shortages and labor shortages have prolonged numerous projects throughout the City," Hogg told the Thread. "I see every day that the limited construction crews on site are going as fast as they can to meet deadlines however given the circumstances stated, the deadlines aren't realistic. The City is very pleased to be working with the developer to bring such a nice and welcoming project to our area. It is much needed and we are all looking forward to its opening. I am reminded of the old saying 'good things come to those who wait.'"

For more updates on the development of the four-story, 100-room Courtyard Marriott, stay connected to the Tuscaloosa Thread.

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