Wednesday, September 8. 1999
The University Daily Kansan
Section A·Page 5
Historic Lawrence hotel to expand
By Derek Prater
Kansan staff writer
A symbol of rebirth for the Lawrence community soon may be reborn once again.
Like the phoenix on the City of Lawrence seal and like the city itself, the Eldridge Hotel has risen — repeatedly — from the ashes. It has become one of Lawrence's most historic buildings.
Rob Phillips, general manager of the hotel, announced plans yesterday to create a four-star hotel with an expansion to the south and west that would cost between $15 million to $18 million.
Phillips said that for the hotel to truly prosper, it needed to add a substantial number of rooms and sufficient parking.
"The Eldridge Hotel is the crown jewel of historic downtown Lawrence," Phillips said. "We intend to keep it that way for the next century and beovond."
Although the plan is only in the conceptual stage, Phillips said he anticipates that the expansion could add as many as 150 rooms to the existing 48 suites, as well as meeting rooms, a ball room, a larger restaurant and an exercise facility.
The plan also includes a multi-level parking structure that would be built on the city lot on the southeast corner of Seventh and Vermont Streets and the vacant building at 714 Vermont St., which is south of the city lot. The structure could have shallow retail store fronts along Vermont Street and at least 300 parking spaces for the public and hotel guests, Phillips said.
Phillips presented initial plans to the city yesterday, but city manager Mike Wildgen said that a lot of work was needed before the city would begin considering the plan.
"He has got a lot of hoops to go through," Wildgen said. "He has a great idea, but it's very preliminary."
Wildgen said that the first step that the city would take would be a review of actual design plans by the Historic Resources Committee. Right now there are no design plans. Phillips said that he wanted to emphasize that the architecture of the expansion would enhance the integrity of the building, which was placed on the National Historic Register in 1986.
A new entity, the Eldridge Hotel, L.L.C., has been formed to acquire the hotel, the vacant lot and the land for the parking structure and oversee the construction. Phillips said he anticipated that a professional hotel management company might take a minority position in the hotel.
The group is looking at financing alternatives including tax-increment financing, industrial revenue bonds and city money for the parking structure. Phillips said.
If all goes as planned, the addition will be finished within the first year or two of the new millennium. Phillips said that he thought the project would take 12 to 18 months to complete.
The Eldridge's stately design and accoutrements speak to the historic value of the site and building. The Free State Hotel was completed May 21, 1856 and burned that same day by Sheriff Jones, and the Eldridge House was burned during William Quantrill's infamous raid, Aug. 21, 1863.
The Eldridge Hotel, 701 Massachusetts St., could undergo a facelift in the next three years. The corner was originally the site of the Free State Hotel, which was burned in 1856. The building built in its place also burned down. Photo by Nick Krug/KANSAN
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