Is this time the charm for the long-vacant all-but-freeway-side former hotel at 801 Saint Joseph Pkwy., on at least its 3rd round of intended redevelopers since it was vacated in 1998? The building began its career in the early 1970s as a Holiday Inn, later becoming a Days Inn before being turned into Heaven on Earth hotel by a group founded by embraced-then-renounced Beatles spiritual advisor Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. That group eventually shut down their increasingly dilapidated hotel and turned the place into a Vedic school before code violations forced the structure’s not-just-for-summer vacation; the spot has been courted by fickle would-be-remodelers on and off ever since.

But some work permits have been issued this year to the most recent owner, SFK Development, which bought the site in late 2012 per county records, and Catie Dixon reported last fall that the building will be turned into a Sheraton (an assertion backed up by some more recent tidbits from the structural scrutinizers over at HAIF). Meanwhile, reader Garrett Robles reports that the site is now the most active he’s seen it in 5 years of wandering around the area. Robles sends this set of recent photos peering at, around, and into the ground floor of the structure:

***

Robles spots new-ish locks in place, as well as state-of-the-art plywood security features:

At least 2 dumpsters had taken up residence on the property at the time of the Midsummer photo gathering:

Some of the graffiti on the structure looks to have been cleaned up:

Or at least partially obscured:

Robles notes that building seems to have some electrical infrastructure back in place — an electrical permit was issued last November:

The building sits catty-corner to the former First Church of Christ, Scientist, which is becoming a steeple-themed night club. The nearby Skyhouse Downtown and Skyhouse Main highrises to the east will have a good view of the scene as it unfolds:

Photos: Garrett Robles

Rebuilding Heaven on Earth