Plans for Downtown Hotel Renovation Await Only Regulatory Approval
COLUMBUS – Courtesy of The Dispatch
Former New Stone Hotel – Dispatch file photo
Plans for a complete renovation of the old New Stone Hotel and The Arcade Hotel building have been completed and submitted to the City for review and approval. The current owners, developers Tommy Howard and Chris Chain, purchased the century-old property in 2016 from Susan Mackay and her brother, Wayne Price. They plan to restore the now dilapidated building to its former glory as a mixed-use development. Chain said. “Once we get the building permit, we can move forward and start working on the rebuild.”
Columbus Building Official Ken Wiegel said the documents presented will be reviewed thoroughly before a building permit is granted. Now that the plans have been submitted, the city building department and fire department will review them, which generally takes up to 10 business days, unless concerns are raised during the review. Once this process is complete, a permit can soon be issued.
Chris Chain, left, and Tommy Howard
The two buildings were first constructed in 1905, and they have since hosted hotels, an auto parts store, a children’s clothing store, a print shop, and the first Party and Paper location. The structures had been in Mackay’s family until 2016.
Chain owns Renovations of Mississippi Inc., and Howard has restored downtown buildings, including 208 Fifth St. S., just down the street from the hotels.
Please click here to download/view a PDF file of the plans for the hotel.