According to News 2, The Kings Inn could be receiving a facelift early next year if the sale goes through Nov 15. The plan is to convert it to 144 apartments. It could cost up to $10 million to renovate the world's largest pidgeon coop into livable apartments, which would include brand new elevators, brand new fire sprinklers, fire alarms, interior, brand new plumbing, basically everything but concrete floors and the support beams.
This facelift couldn't come soon enough!
I recall one of the biggest reasons the Mapes was razed was because of compromised concrete which made the property too expensive to renovate. Sad because it was a gorgeous building and the location would have been great for high end urban flats.
The poor old King's Inn hasn't been open since sometime in the mid 1980s. I believe there were several attempts, in the 90s and beyond, to open it again as a hotel casino or as apartments. (And, of course, nothing happened). I used to walk by it on my way to the Sands. You could just make out rows of dusty old slot machines. Then came the broken windows, the boarding up and the ugly paint. It's sad that this place, where people once had fun, has sat vacant and neglected for so long. Good luck to those who plan to revitalize it. I sure hope it works out this time. I'll believe when I see it.
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This is certainly good news, indeed! I just can't help but wonder how this was made possible for such an, up until now, unattractive and oddly located building, yet no such positive outcome could have, or was accepted, to have saved the Mapes Hotel.