Because I do not officially "start" until July 1 - I was not privy to the official communications (and certainly not part of the approval process) on these items.
I'd like to think as part of the lease that certain building restrictions would be negotiated if the NLI is razed. But with the PSU admin, it's anyone's guess.So they are selling the hotels but leasing the land. Does this mean that the Nittany Lion Inn could be demolished and a new super high rise hotel be built?
I wonder who on our BOT has an affiliation with the Scholar Hotel Group?
The Nittany Lion Inn is dilapidated. It's sad.One of the primary reasons this is happening is that the previous director responsible for both locations kicked the maintenance can down the road year after year after year that the total of deferred maintenance that is badly needed at both locations is in the tens of millions. Penn State cannot afford to do so and this allows that deferred maintenance to happen without Penn State having to foot the bill. Not only reason. And to think that guy is getting a nice monthly retirement check from Penn State, when he really failed in one of the key aspects of his job. Not to mention he was an arrogant SOB.
“America has rolled by like an army of steamrollers.I'd like to think as part of the lease that certain building restrictions would be negotiated if the NLI is razed. But with the PSU admin, it's anyone's guess.
The Nittany Lion Inn is dilapidated. It's sad.
This is the same group that owns the Fraser Center(the Hyatt, first high rise in State College) and they just rehabbed the building at Pugh and Beaver.
It's not a bid/open bid process. Typically an entity trying to dispose of properties of this type engages a financial advisor who develops alternative structures and gauges interest. It's not widely advertised, but word gets around.Yeah, I'm wondering how many bids, who was bidding, was it an open bidding process, did groups refuse to submit a bid, were groups allowed to resubmit additional higher bids, if the winning bid was the last or close to last submitted, how close were the bids in value, how much did the winning bid win by, what were the contractual terms of all the bids, etc.
Whose palms are being greased this time around?
Yes. When everything closed the NLI did as well and never reopened. They housed some students in there. First it was going to be used to quarantine/isolate students but I think that plan changed and they housed non-Vid infected students in there thru Covid. It is currently not being used for anything and is closed. Although, I did see a meeting occurring this past semester in that room with all the windows you can see into from Park Ave just before you get to Atherton. Rode my bike by there this past week and it looks like it is not being used for anything now. They are maintaining the grounds but not the building as paint is peeling from lots of places.
“While specific plans between Penn State and Scholar Hotel Group are being defined, the University’s goal is to support students, faculty, staff, visitors and community members,” said Sara Thorndike, senior vice president for Finance and Business and treasurer. “Though still in the preliminary stages of this process, the University is focused on supporting employees who work at the Penn Stater. There will be a variety of employment opportunities for current hotel employees with the new operator or in other areas at Penn State.”
The article goes on to say, “The Penn Stater will remain open, and the University anticipates The Nittany Lion Inn will remain closed until 2024.” I guess that’s why The Nittany Lion Inn isn’t mentioned above. Was it closed due to COVID? Why is it still closed?
Also stated in the article:
“The selection of the Scholar Hotel Group, which was founded and is owned by a proud Penn State alumnus, for this critical partnership was done with the utmost diligence following thorough RFQ and RFP processes and with the University community at top of mind, according to Thorndike.“
Grease not Vaseline, different substance....Mine.
The NLI was a dorm during the last two academic years.
“While specific plans between Penn State and Scholar Hotel Group are being defined, the University’s goal is to support students, faculty, staff, visitors and community members,” said Sara Thorndike, senior vice president for Finance and Business and treasurer. “Though still in the preliminary stages of this process, the University is focused on supporting employees who work at the Penn Stater. There will be a variety of employment opportunities for current hotel employees with the new operator or in other areas at Penn State.”
The article goes on to say, “The Penn Stater will remain open, and the University anticipates The Nittany Lion Inn will remain closed until 2024.” I guess that’s why The Nittany Lion Inn isn’t mentioned above. Was it closed due to COVID? Why is it still closed?
Also stated in the article:
“The selection of the Scholar Hotel Group, which was founded and is owned by a proud Penn State alumnus, for this critical partnership was done with the utmost diligence following thorough RFQ and RFP processes and with the University community at top of mind, according to Thorndike.“
Yes. When everything closed the NLI did as well and never reopened. They housed some students in there. First it was going to be used to quarantine/isolate students but I think that plan changed and they housed non-Vid infected students in there thru Covid. It is currently not being used for anything and is closed. Although, I did see a meeting occurring this past semester in that room with all the windows you can see into from Park Ave just before you get to Atherton. Rode my bike by there this past week and it looks like it is not being used for anything now. They are maintaining the grounds but not the building as paint is peeling from lots of places.
I wonder which students got the rooms with the jacuzzi tubs??The NLI was a dorm during the last two academic years.
How Penn State's Nittany Lion Inn made switch from hotel to residence hall
Penn State’s historic Nittany Lion Inn, which has housed alumni, visitors and students alike since 1931, will continue to serve as a residence hall for a second academic year, disappointingwww.collegian.psu.edu
There has been no maintenance on it for at least the last two years, maybe longer. It's in bad shape. They will do a major renovation of the NLI.
Because I do not officially "start" until July 1 - I was not privy to the official communications (and certainly not part of the approval process) on these items.
He said grease. Not KY Jelly.Mine.
Are they still there?Thanks. I remember the plan to use it to isolate students with COVID, but I had no idea it was closed.
Pillows?
I hope the landmark is saved. Nothing is sacred anymore.Smart Move. Get paid. Keep the landmark. Get out of the day to day operations.
I hope the landmark is saved. Nothing is sacred anymore.
CEO Brandeis is a PSU Smeal grad. Do you recognize anyone else as having PSU connections that would explain their relation with PSU? Perhaps they overpaid by offering a deal even PSU couldn't refuse.