Building that once housed hotel on road to restoration

EVANSVILLE, Ind. (AP) - Restoration of the former McCurdy Hotel is well underway, and the Kunkel Group expects to have apartments ready for lease by mid-2016.

The McCurdy turns 99 this year. In recent times, the eight-floor building's history and character were overtaken by years of neglect. It became a poster child for Downtown Evansville blight while still towering above Riverside Drive.

The Kunkel Group wants to bring the McCurdy's glory back. Its effort encountered numerous roadblocks and battles with city officials over taxes and code violations. With those matters settled, Kunkel in August closed on the project's financing. Developers received tax credits for historic preservation through the U.S. Department of the Interior.

When the work is done, guests and residents will walk through a revolving door into the expansive foyer, just as they did when the McCurdy hosted the likes of Clark Gable, Katharine Hepburn and Richard Nixon.

Recently added wall art of a mermaid and sea creatures will remain, and the space will be available for rent. Restaurants are possible in ground-floor spaces adjacent to the foyer. On the second floor, guests will be able to stroll out onto a balcony with a spectacular view of the Ohio River.

Apartment dwellers, too, will be able to see the river to varying degrees.

"It's an elegant place that frankly you don't see much of anymore," project manager Adam Kunkel said of the McCurdy. "We feel it's important to restore it to what it once was."

The restoration is costing more than $10 million. Most current work is focused on the interior. Exterior work will intensify in the spring.

Kunkel plans to lease 113 apartments, some with one bedroom and others with two, with 600-900 square feet. The renovated McCurdy will seek to blend old with new.

"We have to honor the history of it, but at the same time we have to be able to evolve and take the building into the next century," Kunkel said. "To us that means we have to bring the modern amenities people would want inside their apartments. We'll have granite countertops, stainless steel appliances, hardwood floors and custom showers. A lot of things we've done over the last 10 years have proved successful, and we want to replicate that here.

"We want finishes good enough to where Downtown becomes your destination - something you can't get in other developments across the city else."

The historic landmark at Southeast First and Locust streets opened in 1917 at a cost of $550,000. The once-opulent hotel fell into bankruptcy and closed in 1969.

After its life as a hotel, it functioned as a residential facility, retirement home and a health care center. It closed in June 2006 amid several violations from the Vanderburgh County Health Department, and its condition continued to deteriorate.

A redevelopment effort by City Centre Properties of Indianapolis failed, and the Kunkel Group took over the project about four years ago.

Downtown Alliance Director Joshua Armstrong is among those looking forward to seeing the fully restored McCurdy.

"It's a beautiful landmark building that will be returned to its glory. That in and of itself is a great thing," Armstrong said. "We'll have 130-160 new residents adding vibrancy to the Downtown, singles and couples and families, eating and shopping, taking advantage of the Greenway and everything that is Downtown.

"I think we'll see a very fast absorption of his units, and that will indicate to other developers that there's an even bigger market Downtown," Armstrong said. "Sometimes developers need to see things happen before they jump in."

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Source: Evansville Courier & Press, http://bit.ly/1KKZDym

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Information from: Evansville Courier & Press, http://www.courierpress.com