Taylor Hotel developer must submit more rehabilitation plans

By Alex Bridges - abridges@nvdaily.com

WINCHESTER -- The fate of the old Taylor Hotel remains uncertain even as a developer met a deadline to give city officials his plan to restore the building.

Denver Quinnelly had until Friday to submit a plan to zoning officials to rehabilitate the structure or the city would take action to declare the building blighted. The city then could begin the process of seizing the property through eminent domain.

Quinnelly now has until this Friday to submit more detailed plans to rehabilitate the building -- and make emergency repairs -- as well as proof that he would make good on his proposal.

In a letter to Zoning and Inspections Administrator Vincent Diem dated Aug. 12, Quinnelly states "based on the notice of predetermination of blighted property and the proposed structural repairs proposed by the engineer we feel that the best and most economical course of action would be to demolish the rear (tower) and middle (center) portion of the building and stabilize the front (hotel) historic portion of the building."

The plan calls for the construction of a new building, in place of the demolished area, connected to the stabilized section. Quinnelly outlines a time frame for submitting required requests for permits, the demolition and cleanup, then construction of the new building.

But that plan wasn't enough.

"After further review of your submitted proposal, I must respectfully inform you that the City finds the submittal to be incomplete and without demonstrated certainty," Diem states in a reply letter to Quinnelly dated Friday.

City Building Official John Knight issued an outstanding notice of violation to Quinnelly dated Aug. 6, Diem notes. The notice gives Quinnelly until Aug. 14 to begin, and Aug. 28 to complete, repairs to "nine unsafe conditions in need of immediate action."

"There has been no demonstrated effort to comply with the Notice of Building Code Violation," according to Diem.

He states Quinnelly would have an additional three business days to start the repairs. Failing to commence on the work would result in the city completing the emergency repairs, with liens then placed on the property to recover these costs.

Diem also calls Quinnelly's description of the demolition plans broad.

"The proposal lacks specificity as to a confirmed and committed source of funding ... considerable speculation remains as the whether or not demolition and/or any portion of new construction would actually come to fruition," Diem's letter states.

The city will require Quinnelly to obtain and present an "irrevocable letter of credit" or other surety bond for $2 million "as affirmation of your intent to proceed with any Spot Blight Abatement effort." Such an instrument doesn't guarantee the city would accept submitted plans for Spot Blight Abatement in the future, Diem advises.

Quinnelly has until Friday to submit an amended proposal, according to Diem.