Last night, architect Ed Olsen presented the State College Borough Council with an overview of his plans for the nine-story hotel that would be located on College Avenue between Sowers and Garner streets.

Plans call for the hotel to encompass the entire block of College Avenue with the exception of McLanahan's, 414 E. College Ave., and Baby's Burgers and Shakes, 131 S. Garner St.

Olsen is representing local businessman Charles Herlocher, who owns the existing properties that would become the base of the hotel.

The projected complex, named Greenwich Plaza, will be nine stories, equipped with hotel rooms, a rooftop restaurant and garden and the possibility of condominiums, Olsen said.

"Our rooftop garden is a very great goal Mr. Herlocher wants to pursue," he said.

Council Member Tom Daubert issued concern of sunlight in the surrounding areas, because of the hotel's mass and height.

However, Olsen assured the council that different levels of the complex would be stepped back from the street to allow sunlight to filter down.

Olsen supplied the council with multiple photo illustrations of the project, as well as studies on its mass to compare the hotel's size with other buildings downtown.

The mass study slides were presented to council to portray a model of the downtown with the addition of the projected building.

The first floor of the hotel would be an open-air commercial mall, which would be 30 feet wide and extend from College Avenue to Calder Way.

"I think the plaza will offer a great pedestrian opportunity," he said. Olsen said he is not sure what businesses will be included in the commercial area, but that it will be a mix of stores to please both students and nonstudents.

The Greenwich Court apartment building will remain and be used as base for the additional floors to be built upon, Olsen said.

The space will still be used for apartment rentals, he added.

The complex will also offer three levels of underground parking, with garage entry on the Calder Way side, he said.

Council member Don Hahn commended Olsen on the multiple parking levels, citing this area of town as problematic for parking.

Zoning Restrictions will need to be amended before the complex can be approved.

The council will continue to discuss zoning issues regarding the area at next Tuesday's meeting.