Dead pigeons and missing windows aside, members of Kent City Council are optimistic the old Kent hotel can be restored.

Kent City Manager Dave Ruller and Kent Service Director Gene Roberts took council members and local media on a tour this afternoon of the vacant, five-story downtown landmark, which the city bought for $735,000 from former owner Gregg Vilk last week.

For many, it was their first time in the building — or their first visit in a number of years.

Council agreed to buy the building last month with the goal of seeing it restored either by a private developer or through a partnership with the city.

Councilwoman Tracy Wallach said she believes the building has the potential to be restored, and she suggested a community-based initiative that involved residents buying stock in the property or donating time and resources to restore it.

"If it weren't structurally sound, we wouldn't be standing in it," Wallach said today on the first floor of the building.

Ruller said he would like to sell the building to a private developer before the year’s end to take the responsibility of maintaining the building off the city’s shoulders.

As he noted on his blog Sunday, “the building is showing its age, both inside and out, and it will take a lot more than a little (tender loving care) to get it back in shape.”

The city’s engineers and building officials have yet to thoroughly inspect the building.

Still, the council members who toured the building this afternoon — Erik Valenta, Garret Ferrara, Wallach, Heidi Shaffer, Jack Amrhein and Mayor Jerry Fiala — all seemed optimistic and talked about its potential to house loft condominiums, senior apartments, a restaurant and more.

Look for more video and photos from the hotel tour Thursday on Kent Patch.