Hotel Royer, formally known as Lincoln Hotel, continues to undergo renovations and is expected to open its doors by December.
The hotel, built in 1923, has been undergoing renovations since 2021. However, its opening date has been extended four times since the original proposed opening date, including in February of this year.
The city of Urbana offered $5.5 million to the developer, Icon Hospitality, but it will not be issued until they obtain an occupancy certificate and approval to operate as a Hilton Tapestry Collection property. If another extension is needed, Urbana will take away $150,000 from the incentive for every three months past the Dec. 31 deadline.
Because of its 100-year-old structure, the updates are taking longer than anticipated to preserve the historical aspects while also modernizing to meet today’s standards.
“We’re pleased with the overall design and happy that so much of the historic interior is being preserved while the entire building has been modernized to meet today’s needs,” said Diane Wolfe Marlin, mayor of the City of Urbana, via email.
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Despite the delays in the project, Mayor Marlin is expecting the final product to impress the public.
“Hotel Royer will be stunning when it’s finished,” Marlin said. “It’s a unique property in an excellent location in downtown Urbana.”
According to Hilton’s website, Hotel Royer won’t be accepting any bookings until Jan. 31, 2025.
