Whatever happened to the Patrick Henry Hotel (Roanoke, Jefferson: sale, apartments)

[xxmagex]

Many years ago I visited Roanoke. I stayed at the Partick Henry Hotel and enjoyed myself as I was able to walk everywhere I needed to go. Also there was some kind of festival going on downtown and I enjoyed being able to walk around that.

I've heard that the Patrick Henry Hotel is no longer open. Hate that because I liked it and the location. Does anyone know if there are plans to reopen the Patrick Henry?

[seanpecor]

The Patrick Henry Hotel building is likely heading for a tax sale and a total re-development of the property. A NYC holdings firm has more than $80K delinquent taxes unpaid and they appear to have abandoned the property to the sale. I suspect that the building will be bought at auction for a relative bargain (in this market) and will eventually be redeveloped into mixed commercial and residential use. As you say, its location is very convenient to downtown. I wouldn't be surprised to see it redeveloped primarily as upscale downtown apartments.

It's a great time to redevelop a property like that. Everything from financing interest rates to construction costs would be at historic lows. The challenge is finding a developer who isn't already over-extended with existing unsold inventory!

Sean

[xxmagex]

Oh if I only had a lot of money.

The Patrick Henry would be great to redevelop. I loved the atmosphere of the hotel while I was there.

[Diamond Dave]

That and the Heironimus Building need to be restored, badly.

Can't you imagine the Patrick Henry with a new facade and flags hanging over Jefferson St., like you're in DC or somewhere?



The Renaissance Mayflower, Connecticut Ave., Wash., DC

Our current eyesore:

[seanpecor]

Yeah DD that would rock. I'm not sure there is enough critical mass to justify another downtown hotel, but there could be. So far I think every upscale apartment conversion they've completed in downtown Roanoke has sold off promptly. The way I see it, the more people living downtown, the better. We all benefit from that I think.

[Beenaroundabit]

I'm sure experiences vary, but my wife and I checked in to the Patrick Henry when we were on a house-hunting trip before our move to Roanoke in the summer of 2000. I say "checked in" because we didn't stay. We got past the trash in the lobby, the uncleaned carpet, and the large "F$$$" expletive scratched into the wood paneling on the inside of the elevator. But we couldn't get past the horrible room, the smell, the old 50's-style furniture, the broken bed, etc.

I'm not picky at all - I spent the first 6 months after I got out of the Marine Corps. sleeping on the floor in a room I had rented with 2 buddies in Northern Virginia. But this place was just nasty, especially for billing itself (at that time) as one of the top hotels in Roanoke. We immediately checked out and went to the airport Amerisuites, which was 100% better at less than half the price.

It surely is in a great location, but given the condition it was in when I was last there, I'm not surprised to see that it's no longer in business.

[roanoker 4]

It is very sad to see this landmark slowly fade away. It is certainly a gaping hole on Jefferson Street in downtown Roanoke. I think some sort of housing/office/commercial type development would work there. I understand downtown may soon need more office space and with increasing numbers of people moving, working and visiting downtown it sounds like a prime piece of property.

[dasari4321]

I love that place, nothing in roanoke with character can last, plan 9, ph hotel r.i.p.! when will these "hip" roanoker's get it!?!?!?!?!

[roasox]

I believe, that maybe its the people of Roanoke that need to pull together and get the PH back up and running.

[Teebyrd86]

Originally Posted by roasox

I believe, that maybe its the people of Roanoke that need to pull together and get the PH back up and running.