Save Hotel Baker |
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This blog is regarding the plight of the spectacular and historic Hotel Baker in Saint Charles, IL that is in serious trouble because the owners went bankrupt.  St. Charles Public Library - Hotel Baker History E-mail me **!! Sealed Auction Information site - bids due July 22nd 2003 !!** City of St. Charles website City of Geneva website Hotel Baker iPix Tours AIA Chicago 1998 design awards page AIA Chicago 2000 design awards page *PING* Archives 
Other weBlogs by Daniel Stafford: The Great Lakes Zephyr - Wind Energy & Hydrogen Journal *Spell Book* Affirmation Station Remembering Mom Save Hotel Baker Uncle Harold's Farm |
Thursday, July 17, 2003
Letters in support of this fine old hotel continue to come in on occasion: 07/17/03: "Hi, I grew up in Northern IL and have fond memories of St Charles, and particularly the Hotel Baker. Splendid architecture situated in some of the finest geography in Illinois, if not the Midwest. I was in St Charles in '99 for my grandfather's funeral and was fortunate enough to stroll through the renovated lobby and ballroom, and have a drink at the bar. I always wanted to return and stay at the hotel, but have not had the chance. Too bad the current owners couldn't make a go of it. Regardless of whether the building stays a hotel, I hope the next owners will do the right thing and retain the grandeur of the building. I wish I had more to offer you than this brief message, but know that my thoughts and prayers are with you and your community as you work to save this gem. Regards, Steven J." 07/12/03: "I saw your blog on the Hotel Baker and wondered what is the present state of the hotel. My wife and I stayed there three years ago and enjoyed it. We then bought a $200 gift certificate for my brother and his wife for their wedding. They never got a chance to use it. I was hoping that someone would reopen the hotel, or is it still in limbo? Thanks for your efforts. Steve D." 06/10/03: "Do you know the current status of the hotel? I am anxiously awaiting the re-opening of the beautiful, historic landmark and to see it bloom back into a full scale hotel and banquet facility. Christina M." 05/14/03: "Hi Daniel. I am interested in what you are doing to save Hotel Baker. (*I no longer am actively involved - DS) I am glad that a few people have stepped up to save yet another beautiful example of architecture and community history. I have read through all your postings to date on your weblog and find some of your ideas for the property (processes) very “doable”. By “doable” I don’t necessarily mean successful, but any effort to involve the community and set a guide for what residents want the Hotel Baker to become will play a role in what it actually does become no matter who ends up owning it. As for me, I have only attended a reception there once and fell in love with the hotel. I have an Associates Degree (not much) in Hotel and Restaurant Management, have supervised/managed the front office of a 4 star premiere property in Kansas City, MO as the charge for VIP and corporate groups. My husband has been in the restaurant business for over 20 years in the front of the house and in the franchise/corporate partnership. My non-profit experience includes the American Heart Association in Florida, the Northwest Burn Foundation in Seattle, Washington and Northwest Benefit Auctions in Seattle. I have fundraising, grant writing, and event planning experience. Most of all right now I am a stay-at-home mom who would be interested in giving some time to this project. As you can see below I do run my own business part-time from home. As I babble on I should tell you that I am pretty good at research (a hobby of mine) and that I started researching this project when my husband told me today that he was interested in finding out more about why the hotel closed. We were in hope of finding out about some angel investing to operate the hotel and restaurant as is. I find your reasoning for wanting to use some rooms for terminally ill patients heartfelt and touching. My prayers are with you and your family in your time of need for your mother. I do feel, however, that the property would bring much more to the community and garner more support for this project to run it as a hotel property. A viable plan may be to get the restaurant up and running and open the hotel public areas for special occasions and the concerts that you had talked about leaving the occupancy of the rooms for the last project. This would give the project a chance to raise funds to operate the hotel as a whole property. These are just my ramblings and thoughts and I hope that nothing I have said has offended you in any way. I truly admire that you started this project on your own out of sheer passion for the Hotel Baker. More babbling….here are some links I thought you might find interesting as well. The Hotel Baker is still listed on a website for hotel employment opportunities as being managed by Allied Hospitality Group, Inc. in Des Plaines. They may have some say in what happened and what might happen in the future. Also, http://www.landmarks.org/award_projects_copy.htm is a link for the LPCI award for landmark preservation projects and importantly is the link on the page at the top for endangered building grants (the hotel is not endangered, yet, but it may be helpful). I’m not sure what I can do for the project or how much time I can give but let me know. Sarah S., IR" 04/18/03: "Hello, I am trying to find out the status of the Hotel Baker. I and some family members have a great interest in it. Is it for sale? Any information you have would be much appreciated. Sincerely, Colleen B." Sunday, July 13, 2003
I just received an e-mail from a kind gentleman informing me of a website detailing a sealed bid auction for the Hotel Baker with bids due on July 22nd 2003. Full details may be found at: http://sheldongood.com/hotelbaker.htm I have forwarded this information to at least two parties that were interested at an earlier date. |
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