Courier Express -- The Keystone Opportunity Zone request to build a hotel and restaurant in downtown St. Marys was rejected Monday by the St. Marys Area School Board. The owner of the Best Western in St. Marys, Sam Shah, said he fears allowing the hotel to be built would put him or other hotels in St. Marys out of business since the new hotel would not have to pay sales tax or state, city and school property taxes. He said the job projections reported were unrealistic for a hotel of that size.
