The old Hiawatha Lodge is to be rehabilitated, with the first project being to replace the dilapidated and unsecure catwalk to the second-floor rooms on the south wind building. The city has deemed the building unsafe. Photo credit: Greg Bebermeyer/MSC News.

(KNZA)--The old Hiawatha Lodge, which has been vacant for some time, will be rehabilitated.

Owner Mary Ananzeh, who also owns the Sunflower Motel, discussed her plans with the Hiawatha City Commission Monday evening.

Ananzeh says she has hired Roland Keller with Eagle Sundown Services, of Hiawatha, to serve as lead contractor on the project.

Ananzeh says Keller is to begin work around October 20.  She says the first project will be to replace the dilapidated and unsecure catwalk to the second-floor rooms on the south wing building, which the city has deemed as unsafe.

Once complete, she says Keller will start with renovation of the building itself and after that will move on to the main building.

Police Chief John Defore confirmed Keller has obtained a building permit for the project, which is good for 6-months.

Once the rehabilitation project is complete, Ananzeh says her plans are to re-open the motel and attached restaurant and bar.

She says she also plans to make improvements to the adjacent Gateway Inn Motel.

The city sent Ananzeh a notice in late August giving her 45-days to bring the south building up to code or it could be condemned.

Defore says once the building is made safe, it will be taken off the condemnation list.

He says Code Enforcement Officer Beau Hasenohr did a visual inspection of the motel September 27 and believes the buildings are salvageable and able to be rehabilitated.

Commissioners asked Defore to provide them with periodic updates on the project.