After the Eagle Hotel‘s owner failed to show up, the Wilmington (Ill.) City Council unanimously voted to reject an 18-month extension that he requested for the historic property off Route 66, reports the Joliet Herald News.
Eagle Hotel owner Bill Scales had been working to restore the property for seven years and had requested another 18-month extension. In previous interviews, he blamed the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks and Hurricane Katrina for his not being able to land federal funds to finish the project. The Eagle Hotel was slated to be converted into a French restaurant.
In the initial contract, Scales paid $45,000 for the property, which the city refunded to him. When the contract expires April 28, Scales will have to pay the city back its $45,000.
“Let the record show we are in full support of the Eagle Hotel,” said Alderman Marty Orr after the vote was in. “We are not doing this because we are not in support of it, it just looks like it is the right thing to do.”
Puracchio said Scales will now be treated like any other developer in the city. He will have to pay for things such as building permits and the city’s portion of property taxes that had been abated.
“We will still provide him with letters of support to help him obtain funding,” Puracchio said.
City officials said there have been three phone calls from people inquiring about the property. Interested parties should call Sokol at (708) 460-2266.
One of my sources in the area said that even a prominent Route 66 preservationist “has bailed” on Scales. So that’s not good. It’s appearing more likely that the city will simply turn the property over to someone who is less sloth-like in his restoration efforts.
A city official confirmed that Sen. Dick Durbin was trying to get federal funds for Scales, but the fate of that proposal won’t be known until June or July.