The Hotel Clarence In The News

There’s a lot new at the old Gould Hotel

By DAVID L. SHAW / Finger Lakes Times 2009

SENECA FALLS — There’s a lot new at the old Gould Hotel. New owners. A new, $5 million makeover into a five-star hotel and restaurant. A new lease on life as the anchor of what village officials hope is a revitalized downtown area.

And a new name. It will be the Hotel Clarence, named after the lovable angel in Frank Capra’s classic 1939 “It’s a Wonderful Life” movie. Many here are convinced that Bedford Falls was based on Seneca Falls, which Capra visited at one time en route to visiting relatives in Auburn.

Mayor Diana Smith said it’s “always hard to let a tradition go, especially one with special meaning to a community.” “But I fully supported the name change when I heard it, especially the link to the It’s A Wonderful Life Festival,” Smith said. “It represents a fresh start for the building, the business and JGB Properties. We look forward to its grand opening next summer.”

JGB Properties Inc. of Syracuse formed Bedford Falls Enterprises LLC to acquire and renovate the hotel, vacant the past several years. Joachim Ohlin, director of hospitality development for JGB, said work is focusing on the interior. Over the winter, there will be asbestos abatement work, plus demolition and reconstruction of the main floor bar and dining room areas and the upper three floors of rooms.

“We are also close to having title to the adjacent buildings that are needed for our parking lot,’’ Ohlin said. “Once we acquire them, they will be demolished and prepared for the parking lot, which will be installed in the spring.’’ They plan to reopen the hotel in June, an ambitious goal, but one that Ohlin said is right on schedule.

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