HOT SPRINGS, Ark. (KTHV) – Forty-seven rooms in Arkansas's oldest hotel are back on the market Thursday after electrical violations and other issues were discovered during an inspection last month.
The Arlington hotel still runs the risk of being shut down if the new owner does not fix a list of other problems.
"Obviously, there are a lot of other issues and you would assume those would be addressed," Hot Springs Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Jim Fram said.
A letter sent to the hotel's manager from the man in charge of building inspections cites numerous exterior issues that pose as potential threats this winter.
According to City Manager David Frasher, the issues include cracked plaster and bricks that can potentially fall when it gets below freezing, posing as a threat to people on sidewalks below. Frasher said public safety is Hot Springs number one priority, and they take it very seriously.
Al Rajabi bought the hotel from the Scott family a few weeks ago, but has not yet submitted a plan for remodel.
"He has a history of redoing old hotels. Most recently, he did a remodel of the Four Seasons in Little Rock and we're hoping he'll do the same thing to the Arlington hotel," Fram said.
The new owner has until November 8 to fix the hotel, otherwise, the city will shut it down.
"It's a very historic, very iconic building. Those of us that have lived in Arkansas for decades have memories of being at conferences and conventions and celebrations at that hotel,” Fram said. “It's great for the state of Arkansas."
Hot Springs city manager David Frasher said the poor condition of the hotel's exterior is what forced the city to act. They picked November 8 because it is a day weather experts say there is a 50-50 chance the city could see freezing temperatures