The hotel business these days has posed its share of unusual challenges for the Patel family, ever since the COVID-19 outbreak dating back to 2020.
The latest chapter played out at the Porter Plan Commission meeting Wednesday night, with a request to rezone Ind. 49 property to B-3 for a future hotel/restaurant. More immediately, it would allow for an advertising sign for the Spring House Inn complex on the property. The matter was set for public hearing next month.
Vyomesh Patel of Munster owns the 3.1 acres on Ind. 49 — across from the Indiana Dunes Visitor Center — that could be the site of a new hotel/restaurant, but it is unlikely anytime soon. Vishal Patel is the owner of the Spring House complex on North Mineral Springs Road in Porter, which includes the inn, Uno Pizzeria & Grill restaurant, a bar and banquet facilities. Vishal Patel represented his cousin Vyomesh, who was unable to attend the plan commission meeting.
Vishal Patel said his business, like so many others, suffered through the pandemic shutdowns that started in March 2020.
But then, Vishal Patel took another unexpected hit when the North Mineral Springs Road Bridge that leads to his Spring House complex south of U.S. 20 was suddenly closed on Dec. 1, 2023, after an inspection revealed the structure’s deteriorated condition.
Porter County was unable to immediately fund a replacement. Bids for the new bridge will be opened in mid-September, with construction expected to be finished in 2026.
Vishal Patel said with the bridge closing, he has lost up to 50% of his hotel business, and receipts are down 40% with his restaurant business.
Meanwhile, Vishal’s cousin, Vyomesh Patel, purchased 3.1 acres of wooded property on Ind. 49, directly across the street from the Visitor Center. Under the name Aria Hospitality LLC, $277,000 was paid for the property on Feb. 9, 2022, Porter County land records show.
The intent of Vyomesh Patel was to one day build a hotel on the property. But Vishal Patel said the pandemic also drove up construction costs, and the hotel business has faced its share of financial challenges.
“So we put a pause on that one,” Vishal Patel said, regarding the construction of a hotel. However, one day, a new hotel could be built on the property, which provides prime proximity to U.S. 20 and the Indiana Dunes National and State parks.
With his business suffering from the bridge closing, Vishal Patel came up with the idea of erecting a sign on his cousin’s property that would advertise the Spring Hill Inn and Uno Pizzeria & Grill. The sign would strategically face the entrance of The Indiana Dunes Visitor Center.
The sign went up in August 2024.
Within days, Michael Barry, Porter’s development director/building superintendent, said it couldn’t stay up.
The sign stayed up, but has been covered for more than a year.
That prompted the rezoning request, which could allow the sign to be unveiled.
But there are a number of procedural hoops to go through. The Plan Commission must have its hearing and vote on the rezoning, and it would then be sent on to the Town Council for a final vote.
Barry said even after the property is successfully rezoned, the Patels would have to get a use variance from the Porter Board of Zoning Appeals. And, the Indiana Department of Transportation would also have to give its approval for the sign.
Jim Woods is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.
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