$3.5M Renovation Starts at Hot Springs High-Rise, Despite Penthouse Holdout

Parth Patel is still pursuing plans to redevelop the Medical Arts Building in downtown Hot Springs into a hotel. (Luke Jones)

The renovations at the historic 16-floor Medical Arts Building in downtown Hot Springs are in progress.

“We are doing exterior facade work now,” the building’s owner, Parth Patel, said in a text message to Whispers. That includes power washing, painting existing windows frames and installing new windows.

“We are just hoping to finalize financing soon, so we can really go at it once the building permit is approved.”

Arkansas Business was unable to reach him in time for last week’s story about the court case involving the building and the owner of the penthouse. The owner of the penthouse, Melanie Chambers of Fayetteville, is challenging $46,000 in assessment fees along with interest and has filed a counterclaim in the case.

If you recall, Patel filed a building permit with the Hot Springs Planning & Development Department on Sept. 11. He’s looking to completely renovate the property.

The work is valued at $3.5 million, but the city still needs approved mechanical, electrical and plumbing designs before it can grant a permit. Once the permit is approved, Patel said, it should take between 18 months and two years to get the work completed.

“The whole rehab of the building is going to be quite an undertaking,” Patel said.

The building will be transformed into an Aloft brand hotel by Marriott International.

Patel also said that the 16th floor isn’t included in the plans for the project.