Historic St. Cloud Hotel undergoing steady restoration

The St. Cloud Hotel, a pillar of the city’s downtown for over a century at the corner of 10th Street and New York Avenue, has undergone many attempts to bring it back to its former grandeur but has suffered numerous setbacks over the decades —from sudden fires to code violations. Now, four years after its most recent purchase, the historical monument is undergoing steady restoration.

“Many of the buildings date back to the 1910s but they have not tried to do a historical restoration and that’s what this is,” Camille Levee, curator for the Women’s Club Heritage Museum, said.

The St. Cloud Hotel was originally built in September 1909, but burned down shortly a few months later. Over time, it sustained constant damage by hurricanes that swept through the area. It was purchased in 2005 and then taken over later that year by the city due to another suspicious fire and code violations in the building.

In 2018, the hotel was purchased, and a restoration project began, but that was halted due to the COVID-19 pandemic and resulting restrictions. Recently, the owner picked up the project again, but was told by contractors the building needed a new foundation.

Since February, the wonderful monument has been shrouded in scaffolding while repairs have been made. St. Cloud Main Street Executive Director and State Rep. Paula Stark stated the project is moving forward steadily. Currently, they are in the process of working on strengthening the internal foundation and completing the roof, which will likely be finished in time for the summer rainy season.

“I wish it was usable, especially for the amount of activities going on around here,” Marcede ‘Cede’ Hoffman, Manager of the Women’s Club Heritage Museum, and a resident of St. Cloud for over 35 years, said, Mateo Hodo, the project manager for the Saint Cloud Hotel, spoke at the Women’s Club Heritage Museum in downtown Saint Cloud about the process for this restoration earlier this year. Over the past few months, he’s been reaching out to members of the community for assistance.

“I’ll be delighted,” Hoffman said, in response to hearing about the restoration, “My greatgrandparents came down and had to stay there until they purchased their home, and at the time it was the hotel of the day. You should’ve seen it; it was gorgeous at one time. We’re hoping Mateo can get it back to that so more can enjoy it.”

Levee and other members of the Museum expressed that this project could have great economic benefits for the community. From being restored to its former grandeur as a hotel to new additions such as rental apartments, shops, and an overview of the downtown scene. This hotel will not only bring revenue into the town through tourism, but it’ll also bring a pleasant view for the community.

“It deserves to be put back into use.” Levee said. “It’s a part of St. Cloud’s history. A landmark in the community.”