Hotel-convention center concept ‘ambitious,’ worth considering, but decision to sell former Lowther North may open up other development options for Emporia

Downtown Emporia may still have a hotel and convention center at the former Lowther North school building at some point down the road.

For now, though, that concept is on hold with the current ownership group deciding to sell the building.

Emporia Main Street Director Casey Woods tells KVOE News the concept was “ambitious” and is still worth considering.

However, with things currently on pause, there is a chance for the city to look at existing facilities — at least on the convention center side — like the Granada Theatre, Emporia Arts Center and Lyon County History Center. And there could be an expanded partnership between the city and Emporia State University.

City commissioners are reserving comment until potential developers begin offering ideas for the property. Steve Haught, the longtime project spokesman, is declining comment for now. Woods, however, says Main Street is not taking the concept “off its war plan” at this time — and he says city leaders need to focus on identifying assets and how to enhance them for a bigger economic benefit, instead of the city’s approach of “segmenting and splitting.”

Depending on the developer, a mixed-use concept, commonplace in larger cities, could be what fills the former Lowther North building. Woods says there are developers that specialize in repurposing historical facilities as well.

A local development group involving the late John Mallon, the late Fred Spellman, Haught and others purchased both the Lowther North and Lowther South buildings from USD 253 Emporia Public Schools in 2011. The south building became the Humanitarian Center and turned into a hub for nonprofit organizations like the Humane Society of the Flint Hills and Kansas Children’s Service League, a secondary campus for Flint Hills Technical College, office space for KansasWorks and business space for entities like Gourmet to Go and Sunflower Gymnastics.

The conversion plan for Lowther North, however, has not materialized despite lengthy renovation work and ongoing research to make potential changes in light of the building’s historical status.

5 pm Wednesday: Historic Breckenridge Hotel concept on indefinite hold with former Lowther North building on market

Plans for converting the former Lowther North school building into a combination hotel-convention center will have to develop under new ownership.

Ek Real Estate is listing the building for sale. The asking price is $1.5 million for the building, which was constructed in 1914.

A local development group involving John Mallon, Fred Spellman, Steve Haught and others purchased both the Lowther North and Lowther South buildings from USD 253 Emporia Public Schools over a decade ago. The south building became the Humanitarian Center and turned into a hub for nonprofit organizations like the Humane Society of the Flint Hills and Kansas Children’s Service League, a secondary campus for Flint Hills Technical College, office space for KansasWorks and business space for entities like Gourmet to Go and Sunflower Gymnastics.

The conversion plan for Lowther North, however, has not materialized despite lengthy renovation work and ongoing research to make potential changes in light of the building’s historical status, and the passing of Mallon and Spellman over the past few years may have impacted the project. Developers had included several banks, the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks and other partners in the process through the years to bring nearly 80 hotel rooms and about 20,000 square feet of convention and meeting room space. The city of Emporia adjusted its street rehab schedule to fix nearby sections of Congress and Constitution streets, as well as to redo the water main on Seventh, at a total cost of over $400,000.

Haught is declining comment at this time.

This is a developing story. Stay with KVOE, KVOE.com and KVOE social media for updates.