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The Colgate Inn is moving forward with a renovation that will significantly improve and update the facility while preserving the historic character of the building. Construction is expected to begin in June and be completed in the summer of 2011.
Over the years, the Inn’s public spaces have been improved, and this renovation is aimed at addressing the building’s infrastructure, guest rooms and food preparation facilities. As a result, the Inn will be brought up to modern standards with the goal of better serving current patrons, encouraging longer stays and attracting new guests.
"We are excited about the improvements which the Inn will undergo this year,” said Ben Eberhardt, General Manager of the Colgate Inn. “This is a major step as we continue to strive for a better hospitality experience while maintaining the Inn as the front door for the college and the mixing pot for the community."
Improvements to the Inn’s exterior will be focused on the corner of Madison and Payne Streets, where a new outdoor seating area will be connected to the Tap Room, which will be relocated to the space currently occupied by the dining room. Parking will be expanded and the important pathways behind the Inn property will be preserved. The kitchen facilities will be relocated and upgraded for more efficient service of the range of functions held at the Inn and all of the Inn’s guestrooms will be refinished. Overall, the first floor will offer more capacity for banquets and meetings.
“The Inn renovation represents the Hamilton Initiative and Colgate University’s ongoing interest in investing in the Village of Hamilton in a variety of ways, including through the maintenance and improvement of the properties it owns,” said David Hale, Vice President for Finance and Administration at Colgate University. “The renovation plans represent a targeted investment to improve the visitor experience and encourage people to spend more time in our community. This renovation is expected to support the shared, ongoing vibrancy of Colgate and Hamilton.”
This renovation will be the most significant Hamilton Initiative project undertaken in several years. Formed by Colgate in 2000, the Hamilton Initiative is a for-profit limited liability company with a focus on real estate and economic development in downtown Hamilton. Previously, the Hamilton Initiative supported the relocation of Colgate’s bookstore to the heart of the Village, the revitalization of the Hamilton Movie Theater, and an ongoing program to upgrade the facades of Village buildings, among other projects.
The Colgate Inn was built in 1925, replacing the Park House hotel, which had stood on the same site for more than a century. As the project progresses, updates will be posted to the Colgate Inn website at www.colgateinn.com