By
now I assume you've reviewed the pages outlining
the Statler's glorious past and seen the pictures
of its current state.
Now that I may have depressed you its time for
some uplifting news.
Throughout
my study of the Statler I felt as if I was documenting
the life of someone on death row. After seeing
the hotel's shattered interiors and witnessing
the demolition of Hudson's I was certain the Statler
was doomed. What was frustrating was that no one
else seemed to care. Even my preservation minded
friends said it wasn't worth saving. The summer
of 1999, however, provided hope.
That
June I became aware that the city and the Greater
Downtown Partnership were holding Request For
Proposals for both the Statler and Kales Building.
A little bit of investigative work revealed parties
interested in the renovation of the Statler. Once
bids were due that August I eagerly awaited the
results.
Things
don't come fast but what has happened looks promising.
It appears that the Statler will be rehabbed into
residential units. Thanks to the hard efforts
of the Greater Downtown Partnership and the people
at the Downtown Planning and Development offices
E.M.'s third hotel will not become his third demolished
hotel. Though the results of the RFP bids have
not yet been made public (unlike the Kales Building)
positive work has begun. The Statler, after years
of being open to the winds, is now secured. A
State funded cleanup has pumped the standing water
out of the basement to allow for a more complete
structural assessment. I have also since discovered
a State website accepting bids for interior demolition
set to begin this summer.
At
the time of this writing interior demolition has
started. For the first time in 25 years the Statler
is showing signs of life. Soon a new chapter in
its story will begin.
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