It has apparently been “decades” since a developer has built a new hotel in downtown Elkhart, although that long dry spell could soon be broken.

A new hotel would be located in a building that is indisputably the tallest in the City of Elkhart and is arguably among the more historically significant (500 S. Main Street).

“Many presidents and dignitaries stayed there and we’re learning all about the history of the project which actually keeps us even more enthused,” said Ed Bradley will Cressy Commercial Real Estate.

The hotel’s heyday seems to have come in the 1920’s when it cashed in on being close to the New York Central Railroad.

In the 1970’s, the building was converted into apartments where the rent was based on a tenant’s income.

“There's people that lived here for 22 years, and there's older people and there's a lady here that's 100 years old, she turned 100 in May,” said tenant Ina Smith.

Ina doesn’t want to have to leave, although today only one of the two elevators was working, and she said the entire third floor was vacant because it was in such bad shape.

Perhaps the survival of the building itself may hinge on a return to the hotel days and the $12 million investment that comes with it.

“The project itself is the largest privately held redevelopment project in Elkhart County history, that is projects that are not ground up, but projects that have been redeveloped and that’s a big statement,” said Ed Bradley.

Those researching history say it has been at least three decades since a new hotel opened in the downtown, perhaps as many as four, depending on your definition of ‘hotel.’

“I hope the best days are ahead of it. I think it says a lot about the city that some developer is looking at contributing to this and bringing a new market rate hotel downtown again, you know, it’s been awhile,” said Redevelopment Commission member Kyle Hannon.

Also in the downtown, work is underway on a new pool or ‘natatorium’ that’s expected to bring some 60,000 visitors to the city each year while a new apartment complex is going up near the riverfront. Some see a hotel as the next logical step.

The Elkhart Redevelopment Commission will consider the proposal at a meeting on tap for Tuesday afternoon. The city is being asked to play a role in the financing.

The hotel project has already qualified for a $900,000 grant from the Regional Cities Program designed to fund development that will be “transformational.”