Times Observer photo by Josh Cotton Warren City Council is expected to stop further efforts to develop a hotel on the riverfront at a meeting next week.

Warren City Council in a meeting next week is expected to put the brakes to the development of a downtown hotel.

Mayor Maurice Cashman told the Times Observer that he’s spoken with two councilmembers that “want to put a stop” to the proposed development at the “downtown site.”

It’s unclear at this point what the motion will be – neither Cashman or John Wortman, council’s vice-president were sure what the action would look like.

But the effect of the action will be to stop the riverfront development city staff have been working on for several years.

“I believe that will be true,” Cashman said. “I believe the votes will be there.

“I think that is going to pass.”

“I just think the project proposed right now can’t be considered on its merit,” Wortman added, citing too many “unanswered questions.”

Wortman said some of those questions include harm to businesses in the area as well as the direction the community has for development in that area.

Cashman has shepherded council through two very controversial items – the parking wars that resulted in the meters as well as the roundabout decision for the intersection of Pennsylvania Ave. and Market St.

“Now this has even topped all of that,” he said.