Happily it looks as if the Fort Shelby Hotel will have a future besides demolition. I have assurances that renovation plans for the building are moving forward. The idea is to put hotel rooms in the lower floors and apartments in the upper floors of the tower. For this purpose I feel the Fort Shelby is well suited. Apparently Holiday Inn had a problem turning away some 3000 guest a day in the metro area due to lack of rooms.

This is not wholely unlike the Shelby Hotel concept of the 1970's. However, the economic climate has changed completely and the project will lack the disco/youth theme.

The project has been slowed by the 9-11 attack but, so I have been told, will move forward.