PORTLAND — The developer building a six-story hotel complex on the former Jordan’s Meats property is seeking approval for a 207-space parking garage adjacent to the hotel.

Opechee Construction, doing business as Fore India Middle LLC, was approved for 90 surface parking spaces in April as part of its hotel plan. Opechee would now like to build a two-story garage to replace the surface parking with 104 first-floor spots and 103 spots on the second level.

The plans submitted to the city Planning Department also include four townhouses along Middle Street, but Opechee President Mark Woglom said last week the townhouses would be built later.

“This adds a little more infrastructure,” Woglom said. “We are advancing phase 2.”

Phase 1, which is currently being built on the part of the lot bordered by Franklin, Fore and Middle streets, includes a Hampton Inn hotel, top-floor residences and a restaurant. Workers are laying foundation now and Woglom said he expects steel beams will be up in about six weeks.

The hotel is expected to open in late spring 2011.

The first floor of the proposed parking structure would be for guests of the hotel and residents, and would be accessed from Fore Street. The second story would be available to the public for a fee or as leased parking, and accessible from Middle Street.

The developer has indicated that a building may be constructed on top of the parking structure in the future.

The Planning Board was expected to get its initial view of the proposed plans at a workshop meeting Tuesday, July 13, at 3:30 p.m. A public hearing has not been set.

The project site used to contain a Jordan’s Meats factory. The vacant building caught fire on May 6 while crews were preparing to demolish the old factory. The massive fire destroyed what was left of the building and was ruled accidental.

Kate Bucklin can be reached at 781-3661 ext. 106 or kbucklin@theforecaster.net

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