NORFOLK- Norfolk City Council approved moving ahead with a new conference center and hotel Tuesday night. Only Councilman Thomas Smigiel opposed the project.

The $126 million, 23-story complex would be built on the empty lot at Granby and Main streets. It would add 300 luxury hotel rooms downtown and 50,000 square feet of conference space.

'I think it's going to put us in a whole other league in terms of being able to go after some of the events some of the functions that we couldn't go after in the past,' said Vice-Mayor Anthony Burfoot.

Hotels already in downtown are concerned about the impact it would have on their facilities, saying there aren't always enough guests so another hotel would only make things worse.

The city will put $89 million into the project.

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