Renovations of historic buildings

[Cricket]

The King Edward is a historic hotel in Jackson, MS, and I was very excited a few years to hear that about $90 million dollars worth of renovations are being made to bring the hotel back to the masses in true Golden Era style.

Before the renovations began, the grand hotel was about to cave in with massive roof problems, broken windows, vandal art and several homeless people drifting in her halls.

I have searched for older photos of the hotel and I have only found recent photographs of her from years of neglect. I did manage to find one of her when she was open for operation.

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I can't wait for this project to be completed so I can book a room!

I would love to see photographs or hear stories about any renovation projects done to hotels in your area. It doesn't necessarily have to be hotels but what historic buildings in your area have people refused to let go.

It is so heartbreaking to me to pass by historic places that have been forgotten. Please share.

 

[WideBrimm]

Since Colorado voters legalized Casino gambling back in 1991, a large chunk of tax revenues has gone to historic preservation by way of the Colorado Historical Society. Many millions of dollars have gone for saving old buildings, a great many of them "Victorian" from Colorado's early years. Churches, schools, residences, hotels, town halls, etc. all over the state have been saved and continue to be used. It's been a real boon to communities, and a big boost to the tourism industry. Then again, there's that "law of unintended consequences" which is now resulting in a 33 story new hotel in the gambling town of Black Hawk. Yikes.

A couple of article links:

http://www.csindy.com/colorado/gambling-with-history/Content?oid=1119305

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/22/us/22gaming.html

 

[vintage_jayhawk]

This is the Mayo Hotel in downtown Tulsa. It was built during the height of the oil boom in the 1920's.

After a failed restoration in the early 80's the building sat in a state of disrepair until it was purchased for $250,000 in 2001. After an $11M restoration, the hotel is back to it's original glory serving as a hotel/apartment building. I went to a wedding reception there recently, and it is truly breathtaking. Wonderful art deco details.

 

[Story]

This is the Mayo Hotel in downtown Tulsa. I went to a wedding reception there recently, and it is truly breathtaking. Wonderful art deco details.

Woah. That IS nice!

The Camino Reale in El Paso is another 'save'.
http://www.thefedoralounge.com/showthread.php?t=33671

 

[adamjaskie]

The Book Cadillac hotel in downtown Detroit was recently renovated. Hopefully they actually get enough guests to stay open, and it won't fold and go abandoned again. The developer who renovated it is apparently working on plans for the Book Building/Book Tower, just up the road from the Book Cadillac, which is a really amazing-looking building, at least from the outside.

 

[ThesFlishThngs]

The Skirvin Hotel, closed in the late 80s and left to crumble, even threatened with demolition at least once. Restored by the city and now operating as the Skirvin Hilton. I can't say I admire all of their modern deco-ish touches (some look too cheap and trendy to my eye), but the architecture and original details are gorgeous.

 

[Story]

Meanwhile, in Philadelphia

There comes a point in the life of our workhorse industrial buildings when we stop seeing them for the marvels they perform, and soon after that, we stop seeing them altogether. In Philadelphia, which abounds with the unused relics of a mighty industrial past, it's all too easy to forget that these are the structures that made the city modern.

Such has been the sad fate of the art deco steam plant behind 30th Street Station, built in 1929 by the architects of the rail terminal, with the same progressive ideas and design skill. Although the plant's octagonal smokestack soars 323 feet off a six-story base, making it one of West Philadelphia's tallest structures, one wonders how many of the thousands of passing commuters ever consciously note its presence. In two weeks, it could be gone, unceremoniously deleted from the skyline by Amtrak.

http://www.philly.com/philly/home/69353897.html

At least the Station's still standing.
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:30th_Street_Station