The story of a forgotten America.

Kanawha Hotel

Hotel Kanawha

The Hotel Kanawha served as Charleston, West Virginia’s premier hotel between 1903 and 1965. It served as the state headquarters of John F. Kennedy’s 1960 primary campaign and was later used from the 1960s to 1997 as the site of the state’s Job Corps. Post-closure, the Hotel Kanawha was slated to be restored into a boutique hotel but financing for the plan collapsed and it was demolished.





History

The Hotel Kanawha received a charter from Secretary of State William O. Dawson on December 24, 1902, 24 and opened in 1903 at the corner of Summers and Virginia streets in downtown. 1 2 4 24 The seven-story hotel was expanded in 1906 with a wing along Summers Street 8 and again in 1917. 6

On August 1, 1923, the Hotel Kanawha was sold to Angus MacDonald, B.W. Peyton, Prentice Ashton, and J.B. Crowley for $525,000. 24 The Daniel Boone Hotel opened in 1929, displacing the Hotel Kanawha as the city’s upscale hotel.

The hotel has hosted numerous dignitaries over the years, including Presidents Roosevelt and Hoover, 23 and served as the state headquarters for John F. Kennedy’s 1960 primary campaign. 3

Hotel Kanawha closed in 1965 and was renovated into an office building for the Job Corps, a federal program that was designed to training underprivileged young women, an initiative of the President Kennedy and Johnson administrations. 4 6 23 24 Job Corps moved out of the former hotel building in April 1997.

Proposed Renovation

Charleston developers Brooks McCabe and Rudy Henley announced shortly after Job Corps moved out that they would renovate the former Hotel Kanawha building into an upscale boutique hotel at the cost of $20 million. 2 3 It would require the demolition of the historic circa 1895 Arcade, 8 with the land used to serve as an underground parking structure for the hotel and the adjoining Kanawha Bank & Trust building. The former bank would be restored into Class A offices on the first three floors and upscale condominiums on the upper eight floors and would be connected to the Hotel Kanawha. 30 The Wagner Building would be torn down for a small hotel office building, while the main entrance to the Kanawha Building would move from Summers to Virginia Street. 2

McCabe and Henley attempted to list the Hotel Kanawha on the National Register of Historic Places in order to apply for state and federal historic preservation tax credits. 8 It was hoped that the hotel would open by 2000.

The Arcade was demolished in September 1998 in preparation for the hotel project. 7 8 The roof of the Arcade, a series of iron trusses that once contained a glass skylight, was salvaged to form a canopy over the new main entrance to the hotel. 8 Some of the ornate cast iron columns were also saved to be used in a new entryway to the hotel.

In May 1999, McCabe and Henley approached the city for a $7.7 million loan considered essential to the Hotel Kanawha project. 11 Under the plan, the city would acquire and guarantee the loan under the 108 Loan Program that had never been used before by the city. The Kanawha Bank & Trust building was opened to Charleston’s business and government leaders for viewing on June 23. 10

The developers received $6.6 million in federal loans from the Department of Housing & Urban Development on July 9, which provided the basis for the financial requirements for the restoration of the Hotel Kanawha. 9 Of the loan, $6 million was classified as a 108 Loan, which required McCabe and Henley to commit 93 of the expected 133 jobs at the new Hotel Kanawha to low-income and moderate-income residents.

On November 9, 2000, McCabe and Henley received final approval from the Charleston Urban Renewal Authority for the renovation plans for the Hotel Kanawha. 13 The project’s cost had escalated to $30 million but would include a 140-foot, 11-story tower to connect the hotel with the refurbished Kanawha Bank & Trust building. 13 14 The underground parking garage had been canceled as it was determined that it was not feasible due to the small lot size. 14

By December, city officials became uneasy regarding the Hotel Kanawha project fearing that it would never be fully realized and that the 108 Loan would need to be repaid. 12 An agreement was reached between the city and McCabe and Henley that would limit the city’s liability for the loan; the loan repayment would be split into three equal sized payments between the city, the developers, and the Charleston Urban Renewal Authority. 12

Demolition

Unfortunately, the lack of investors in the project and the weak economy following the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks doomed the project, according to the developers. 23 In June 2002, McCabe and Henley offered to sell the property to the Kanawha County Public Library, 28 and in September, the Hotel Kanawha redevelopment project was dead. 29 Additionally, the adjoining Kanawha Bank & Trust building project was also shelved as all of the commitments for the residential units had backed out because of the Hotel Kanawha failure. 30 McCabe began paving over the former excavated lot that was once the home of the Arcade for a surface parking lot. 29

The Hotel Kanawha was sold to Midwinter Investment Group LLC, led by the law firm Robinson & McElwee. 20

The company released a proposal for a four-story, 68,000 square-foot office building to house the Robinson & McElwee law firm and a branch of Fifth Third Bank and an adjoining two-story parking garage at the cost of $9 million. 18 21 It would require the demolition of the Hotel Kanawha, which was approved by the Charleston Urban Renewal Authority on April 16, 2003. 24 26

Demolition of the former Hotel Kanawha began in May. 23 25 It was discovered that asbestos lined the windows and roof, the latter which had to be chiseled apart by hand. Controversy surrounded the demolition as two contractors conducting the teardown, Astech Corp. and Tenth Diamond Inc. were actually operating names for the same owners. 19 20 21 22 Allegations were also revealed against Goldizen Excavating.

Tenth Diamond listed its employees as “general construction” workers, which meant the firm paid just $9 in Workers’ Compensation premiums per $100 of wages instead of the $48 required for demolition and asbestos removal. After the local newspaper disclosed its findings, the state agency that compensates injured workers stated that Tenth Diamond misclassified its employees for years, and owed $800,000 in back premiums. 19 20 21

Subsequently, the Affiliated Construction Trades Foundation protested that hotel debris, which contained toxic lead and asbestos, was being dumped illegally at the end of Newhouse Branch north of Charleston. The state Department of Environmental Protection stopped the debris dump immediately after. 19 20 22 It was soon discovered that the debris was also being dumped along the Poca River beside Camp Virgil Tate outside of Sissonville, 20 which was stopped by several sheriff deputies on July 26. 19

Plans for the office building were approved by the Charleston Urban Renewal Authority on August 20, 17 and the new office building was opened in July 2004. 17 23

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Sources

  1. Andre, Richard. “The Way It Was Kanawha Hotel, 1905.” Charleston Gazette 18 Sept. 1997. 10 Dec. 2008: P1A.
  2. Marks, Rusty. “Developer says he will have to tear down Arcade to save hotel.” Charleston Gazette 2 July 2006. 10 Dec. 2008: P3B.
  3. Silverman, Amy. “Renovations for hotel may be too steep – Developers plan to decide on project by September.” Charleston Gazette 5 Aug. 1997. 10 Dec. 2008: 1A.
  4. Marks, Rusty. “Developers ponder restoration of hotel.” Charleston Gazette 18 July 1997. 10 Dec. 2008: P1A.
  5. Marks, Rusty. “CURA had planned to buy and tear down buildings around theater.” Charleston Gazette 15 April 1997. 10 Dec. 2008: P1B.
  6. “Old hotel still on market.” Charleston Daily Mail 4 April 1997. 10 Dec. 2008: 2A.
  7. Woodworth, Alison. “City loses the Arcade.” Charleston Gazette 18 Sept. 1998. 10 Dec. 2008: P1A.
  8. Balow, Jim. “A piece of history The Arcade, or at least part of it, will live on as part of new project.” Charleston Gazette 13 Sept. 1998. 10 Dec. 2008: P1B.
  9. Moore, Greg. “Pieces in place for hotel project.” Charleston Gazette 10 July 1999. 10 Dec. 2008: P1A.
  10. Moore, Greg. “Proud developers show off renovated KB&T building.” Charleston Gazette 24 June 1999. 11 Dec. 2008: P1A.
  11. Frankel, Todd C. “Hotel developers seek help with loan – Council members OK plan to repaint South Side Bridge.” Charleston Daily Mail 4 May 1999. 11 Dec. 2008: 1C.
  12. Moore, Greg. “Hotel liability plan may appease city.” Charleston Gazette 10 Dec. 2000. 11 Dec. 2008: P1B.
  13. Moore, Greg. “CURA approves Kanawha Hotel plan.” Charleston Gazette 9 Nov. 2000. 11 Dec. 2008: P7C.
  14. Tranum, Sam. “Downtown hotel renovation may begin soon.” Charleston Daily Mail 2 Nov. 2000. 11 Dec. 2008: 1A.
  15. Stone, Greg. “McCabe hotel project gets council approval.” Charleston Gazette 18 Sept. 2001. 11 Dec. 2008: P4C.
  16. Wilson, Paul. “CURA approves $117,000 for streetscape, restaurant.” Charleston Gazette 12 Feb. 2004. 11 Dec. 2008: P2C.
  17. Wise, Kris. “Renewal group rejects plan for parking garage , Structure doesn’t fit adjacent buildings, officials say.” Charleston Gazette 11 Oct. 2003. 11 Dec. 2008: P2A.
  18. Wilson, Paul. “Urban Renewal approves site to replace Kanawha Hotel.” Charleston Gazette 21 Aug. 2003. 11 Dec. 2008: P2C.
  19. “Crackdown Action needed?.” Charleston Gazette 30 July 2003. 11 Dec. 2008: P4A.
  20. Finn, Scott. “Hotel debris illegally dumped Landowner gave permission, ‘wanted yard filled in’.” Charleston Gazette 29 July 2003. 11 Dec. 2008: P1A.
  21. Finn, Scott. “Hotel demolition crew owes workers’ comp, records show Company misclassified workers, investigators find.” Charleston Gazette 24 July 2003. 11 Dec. 2008: P3A.
  22. Finn, Scott. “Kanawha Hotel debris dump illegal, ACT says Union group alleges lead, asbestos being discarded near homes.” Charleston Gazette 27 June 2003. 11 Dec. 2008: P1A.
  23. Hafenbrack, Josh. “Kanawha Hotel is coming down.” Charleston Daily Mail 3 June 2003. 11 Dec. 2008: 1C.
  24. Wilson, Paul. “Requiem for a landmark Soon to be reduced to a pile of bricks, the Kanawha Hotel has been witness to history.” Charleston Daily Mail 29 April 2003. 11 Dec. 2008: P1D.
  25. Wilson, Paul. “Don’t tear down Kanawha Hotel , Contractor seeks support from residents to save 100-year-old landmark.” Charleston Daily Mail 19 April 2003. 11 Dec. 2008: P7A.
  26. Wilson, Paul. “Hotel’s razing OK’d.” Charleston Daily Mail 17 April 2003. 11 Dec. 2008: P1C.
  27. Hafenbrack, Josh. “Landmark to be demolished, Kanawha Hotel to be replaced by bank, law office.” Charleston Daily Mail 16 April 2003. 11 Dec. 2008: 1A.
  28. Wilson, Paul. “Developer proposes demolition of old hotel.” Charleston Daily Mail 1 April 2003. 11 Dec. 2008: P1C.
  29. Stone, Greg. “Capitol Street corner gradually improving.” Charleston Gazette 16 Sept. 2002. 11 Dec. 2008: P1A.
  30. Schwarz, Bob. “McCabe pitches deal to library Old Kanawha Hotel could accommodate expansion, he says.” Charleston Gazette 27 June 2002. 11 Dec. 2008: P1A.
  31. Schwarz, Bob. “Three sites proposed for city library McCabe’s Kanawha Hotel property conspicuously absent from list of top choices.” Charleston Gazette 10 July 2002. 11 Dec. 2008: P1A.
  32. Foster, Margaret. “Kanawha Hotel Demolition Under Way.” Preservation Online 19 June 2003. 11 Dec. 2008 Article.

3 Comments

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In 1964 the first 2 floors were leased to Morris Harvey College for student housing. Most of the students housed there were freshmen and from the NE. The room were small and each had two male students. Getting to the campus each day was a real pain..But we had a great time. We raised hell on the weekends. Dean Bumgardner would visit periodically and try to lay the rules down but he was largely ignored . It was a good time there!

There are so many stories I could tell about the place and the students that were housed. Too bad its gone! While the physical structure no longer exists, the memories live on,

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I went to Job Corps there in 95&96. I always wanted to show my kids where I went to trade school at. Kinda sad now I won’t be able to.

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