When can I make reservations for New Years Eve in the Grand Ballroom? Does the Kent Hotel have a Grand Ballroom? I remember that it had a functioning tavern on the ground floor about 1990.

When I was in the building, I think around 2007, it definitely could accommodate that kind of function. I'd love to see that building restored rather than demolished, that's for sure.

I hope hope hope it is salvageable. It would be fantastic to have a great old restored building like that downtown.

Here's a similar story from Wilmington, OH, where the General Denver Hotel sat vacant and in worse shape for years before it was restored. http://www.generaldenver.com/

Ditto's on all the above great comments! Although never been inside it but-I love the place ~~! Can we please get pictures submitted by readers from back in the early vaudville heydays to the last days it was stil opened???? I saw one very old pic at the Kent Historical Society on their hallway wall. I think It was called the Franklin Hotel at the time. Most of all I would love to see a pic of the grand entrance and check in desk. This place has had many a famouse guest stay there - she has a noteworthy history behind her.

Keep us updated on the city's plans for the building, I know that it can be salvaged with if enough work and community support gets behind it.

Check Kent Patch Tuesday and Wednesday to find out what happens next.

it should be restored, not torn down. the last time i was in it would have been the late 90's when the cornerstone bar/grill and Y2K were open. when you entered the Y2K space it was immense and open and very nice. that building holds so much potential but will need lots of work to restore.

Yippeee... thanks city council!

I've heard that building is strong. I'm thinking it can be restored.

Way to go Kent! I'll supply the wrecking ball to that place. Let's step aside and let Ron Burbick work his magic.

I really hope they don't tear it down! It would make a wonderful museum or a great place for some businesses. It should be restored, it would be a shame to tear down a historical landmark like that!

I sure hope it is saved and reused, but I won't be surprised if it isn't. My guess is that the city will try to market it at a fire-sale price to attract developers (Ron Burbick anyone?) since the renovation costs are going to be high. I know Vilk stripped a lot of the walls and windows out already when he tried to make it more marketable a few years ago, but that also brought the ire of local architects because it also stripped much of the historic architecture out of the old lobby and such that would've helped qualify the building for restoration grants. Selling it cheap for the city will obviously be an initial loss, but getting business in there and getting the property value back up will end up generating far more revenue via income and property taxes than any loss they take on a sale.

Any old pictures of the hotel can be found at the Kent Historical Society on E. Main St.
When I was a child I remember going into the hotel often--it was so grand then--the lobby was extremely beautiful. I also hope who ever buys it from the city would redevelope it again and even put senior housing apartments on the upper floors, but please don't tear down this grand old hotel!!!

Pray this deal goes through and it can be restored... it's a Carbuncle in the middle of Kent's resurrection !

Thanks Jon for the movie. Interesting. I never went into the hotel, but I remember a jewelry store in the building when I was at Kent in the 50's.