Future of Wilmington hotel turns iffy again February 12, 2008
Posted by Ron in Motels, Preservation.1 comment so far
The owner of the circa-1837 Eagle Hotel in downtown Wilmington, Ill., is asking for yet another extension on his city contract, reports the Joliet Herald News.
Bill Scales, who owns the building, has asked for another 18 months after his current five-year pact expires.
The Ottawa developer had agreed to purchase the building for $45,000 and the city returned the funds in the form of a grant to jump-start the development. The plans were to turn the building into a hotel and upscale restaurant.
“I have had support from the federal, state and county levels,” Scales said. “I just cannot get the support I need from this community.”
The agreement gave Scales 60 months to renovate the building and open the business. He had counted heavily on grant funds to pay for the work. Those funds have not materialized.
Based on some other stories about the hotel restoration project, it seems Scales has a somewhat prickly relationship with the city, or vice versa.
Then again, this renovation project has been going on for nearly seven years. There’s a time for patience, and there’s a time for impatience, too. Perhaps Wilmington has reached that latter stage.
(Hat tip: Lynn “Lulu” Bagdon)
