BULLOCK SAYS SHE'LL FIX UP HOTEL HERSELF

The caretaker of the 72-year-old Marquette Hotel pledged Tuesday that she will renovate the building's lobby after years of frustration at being unable to attract a serious buyer for the property and a looming city-imposed demolition deadline.

Carol Bullock, daughter of property owner Ruby Bullock, said she was inspired by the estimated 500 people who came to an open house in the building's lobby Jan. 20 and by the recent outcry from concerned residents who don't want to see the historic building torn down.

"People keep saying they wanted me to do it," she said. "It's a big undertaking, and you really have to want to do it. You can't do anything like this halfway. It's all or nothing."

Deadline looms

Last fall, the city vowed to proceed with demolition of the building unless the owner found a buyer, made repairs or presented some sort of plan for the property within 120 days, imposing a deadline of March 21.

Bullock will make a presentation about her plans to the City Council during its March 19 meeting at City Hall. She will answer questions and hopes that some of the people who came to the Marquette's open house will go to the City Council meeting.

"I'm going to shock the pants off some people," said Bullock, who lives in Maryland. "I'm not asking for more time. This is the beginning, this isn't the end of anything. The 120 days isn't my 120 days. That's something the city came up with. At the time I thought somebody might buy the building, but I don't need to sell the building. I'm keeping it."

But if a serious potential buyer shows interest, she will sell it.

"The hotel is still for sale," she said. "If somebody walks into Tom Meyer's office tomorrow and plunks down the money to buy it, we'll take it. But the price is only going to go up the more we renovate it."

Bullock said her plans call for turning the hotel lobby into boutique-style shops that she will lease out. She also wants to lease space to a coffee shop or other dining establishment.

After renovating the lobby and leasing its space out, she hopes to work her way upward with other renovations.

"My thing is, I want to get some life in there," she said. "If I don't do something, who's going to do it? I can't let my mother's last piece of property be taken over or destroyed. It's worth saving."