Hotel Hamilton project at King George Inn receives approval

South Whitehall Township Commissioners approved the Hotel Hamilton project, which will bring a 100-room extended-stay hotel, bank and pharmacy to a 5.36 acre tract of land on the corner of Hamilton Boulevard and Cedar Crest.

The project, which has been in the works for nearly five years, will preserve the core structure of the historic, 17^th century building that, until a few years ago, housed the King George Inn restaurant.

The original plan called for the demolition of the building along with a former Carvel Ice Cream shop and Burger King located on the property, but developer HMB Management in Upper Macungie Township changed that plan after a public outcry to preserve the building.

Storm water management issues, which have plagued the property, were blamed for much of the delays on the project. Those issues were one of the reasons cited for not wanting to maintain the King George Inn building as a restaurant.

Instead, the developer removed more recent structures attached to the main building and is rehabilitating the property. The developer had previously stated the building could have other uses, such as office space, but the final plan did not specify a use for the structure.