A new hotel, a restaurant and a number of retail outlets are expected for the original site of the Holiday Inn on Crawfordsville’s north side.
Paul Parry, director of marketing at Holiday Inn Express & Suites Crawfordsville, took the time Tuesday to explain that while it is uncertain which franchises will become tenants of a new building (or multiple buildings), the owner of the former Rodeway Inn has plans to continue using the site that hosted the Crawfordsville landmark for 53 years.
“There’s about five acres or so there ... the owner told me he’s not selling the land but would like to lease it out (for tenants),” Parry, who managed the original Holiday Inn for more than 30 years, said. “The land he’s keeping for the hotel, he’ll operate himself.”
Crews from Walden Transport and Recycling began demolishing the Rodeway Inn on Jan. 7. Working quickly, a representative from the Crawfordsville-based recycling company said razing efforts will be complete by Friday.
The move comes after the original building, opened in May of 1966, was deemed depreciated beyond repair late last year, Parry said.
“It’s been remodeled and remodeled, but things change and efficiency becomes a priority,” he explained. “It can make operation pretty difficult; it was in really bad shape.”
City officials contacted Stars Group Inc. President and CEO Mohan Reddy in the months leading up to the demolition to encourage him to do something with the site, which he purchased in 2007.
Reddy operated the Holiday Inn under the name until 2009 when the franchise agreement expired. It was then renamed the Quality Inn as the new Holiday Inn Express was being built next door.
Brandy Allen, director of planning and community development for the city of Crawfordsville, said she is eager to see what happens next.
“It’s a great site for business and we’re excited about the potential retail development for the site,” she said.
Allen also said the site is zoned as B-3, or a “district intended to be limited to business ... and to provide for conveniently located unified shopping destinations,” according to Crawfordsville’s Code of Ordinances found at www.crawfordsville.net/egov.documents.
Furthermore, while businesses will need to apply for permits to operate a business in the upcoming buildings, the upcoming hotel and restaurant paths have already been cleared.
More information is expected in the coming weeks.
