Owners submit plans to demolish motel.

Byline: REAL ESTATE NOTEBOOK By Jack Moran The Register-Guard

The Manor Motel at 599 E. Broadway in Eugene is showing signs of age, leading its longtime owners to consider calling for the wrecking ball.

Representatives of the Patel family have submitted preliminary plans to Eugene city officials outlining a scenario where the existing motel is torn down and replaced with a new, 50-unit inn.

"It's an old property," co-owner Anand Patel said of the Manor. "It has served its purpose, and we decided it was time to do something like this."

Patel said the first section of the 25-room motel was built between 1945 and 1947, with a second segment constructed a few years later. Numerous modifications have since been made to the building, he said.

The Patels have owned the inn near the corner of East Broadway and Patterson Street since 1977, and have spent considerable time maintaining the property to keep it in good working order for guests.

"This is supposed to be a hospitality motel, and when you're trying to accommodate people in an old building, maintenance costs a lot more," Patel said.

According to plans submitted to city officials, the new lodge would be a three-story structure with an exercise room and spa. The proposed building would total 23,292 square feet.

Patel declined to say when he hoped to see the project completed. He estimates it would take a year to demolish the existing motel and construct a new one.

For now, Patel and representatives of Mortier Engineering of Eugene will focus on tightening up their plans in order to gain city approval for the project.

"It's very early in the process right now," Patel said. "If it turns out that we can't build a new one, for whatever reason, we'll just put more money into this one to make it more modern."

If a new inn is built, Patel said it would likely be a Sleep Inn or a Comfort Inn. He said he is discussing potential franchising with both motel chains.

Real Estate Report runs Tuesdays.