Latest on AHRC and La Quinta in Biloxi

The City of Biloxi continues to work out details allowing the development of a La Quinta hotel on the property between Hopkins Boulevard and Seal Avenue.
To start making that development a reality, the city, residents of Seal Avenue and the Architectural and Historical Review Commission must be on the same page.
Yesterday, Mayor Andrew ‘FoFo’ Gilich asked five members of the AHRC to voluntarily resign because they were not in compliance with the ordinance that states seven of the nine members must live in a historical district. If they did not comply with the ordinance, any decisions made about the proposed inn would be null and void.
City Attorney Gerald Blessey says there are four options the city can choose, one of those being to eliminate the requirement that seven members must live in a historical district.
Ellie Vasilopoulos is an AHRC member who was asked to resign. She said, “When you say you’re going to compose a board with seven people they must live in the historic area, I think they’re restricting their pool of talent and to me it’s a big mistake. I think, just look all over Biloxi and find the best and most capable people.”
During today’s workshop, an updated design for the La Quinta Inn and Suites was rolled out. The plans show a hotel that developers believe is more appealing to residents on Seal Avenue who wish to preserve the Biloxi historic look in their neighborhood.