Motel owner says project will move forward
Saturday, August 4, 2007
Work will resume soon at the former University Inn, 1839 Merchant St., The Gazette learned Friday.
Mohammed Elsalmi said remodeling work to transform the hotel will be completed.
“We are just busy doing other things,” Elsalmi said in a telephone conversation Friday morning. “We are still working.”
Elsalmi said he didn’t return telephone calls to the Gazette for an article published earlier this week because he was out of the country.
In an 2006 article, Elsalmi said the hotel was going to be transformed into a luxury hotel with more than 50 rooms including suites and presidential suites. He also said the hotel would have meeting rooms, an outdoor pool, restaurant and Internet access.