The City of Springfield, Ill., is applying for a grant to repair the long-declining Bel-Aire Motel and eventually convert it into a Route 66 museum, reported the Springfield State Journal-Register.
The grant sought for the Bel-Aire is $1 million from the Illinois Transportation Enhancement Program. The city plans to cover the other $600,000 for the project.
The city once considered turning the motel into the Illinois Historic Route 66 Discovery Center. But without money, the project has been on hold.
In October 2008. Mayor Tim Davlin said the city was willing to take temporary ownership of the Bel-Aire, whose owner has said he’s willing to sell, and then turn it over to the Illinois Route 66 Heritage Foundation or a similar group. The building could then be restored to resemble a 1950s or ’60s motel and could serve as a Route 66 museum and visitors center.
More about the Bel-Aire project can be found here.
UPDATE: The State Journal-Register posted an updated story about the grant application here.
I think a motel chain should buy it and keep it running for the weary Route 66 traveler and advertise it for that purpose. It’s a shame that the city would just let it go and let it fall down