This guy has some great photos of Alexandria on his Flikr site.
Curiously, given the recently renewed conversation on the Hotel Bentley, I wonder: What do you think should be done with the old hotel?
What is the old hotel’s highest and best use?
Should the City be focused on the convention center model as the primary engine for downtown redevelopment?
From the Brookings Institution:
Faced with increased competition, many cities spend more money on additional convention amenities, like publicly-financed hotels to serve as convention “headquarters.” Another competitive response has been to offer deep discounts to tradeshow groups. Despite dedicated taxes to pay off the public bonds issued to build convention centers, many—including Washington, D.C and St. Louis—operate at a loss.
I have my own thoughts, but I’m interested to hear yours.
CenLamar 
Why is it that no one can seem to mae a profit with the Bentley? There are a dozen or more hotels in our area that are making money, so why is it that the Bentley requires public financing? Perhaps no one is willing to pay the higher rates necessary to make this older facility profitable? Perhaps Alexandria is not a “destination” where tourists are willing to pay to stay in such a nice hotel? I sure can’t figure it out, but the Bentley was a really nice spot when it was open. I just can’t see public financing for a private group to come in and make a profit, while we taxpayers foot the bill.
Before Bob Dean got hold of the Heidelberg in BR, folks always said that the Capitol House (the later name of the Heidelberg after it was adjoined with new construction and new rooms) could not make $ because it needed affiliation with a national franchise. Apparently, Admin Asst’s or travel departments from NYC or Chicago reflexively book their bosses in national chains.
Was the Bentley ever part of a national franchise?
The Bentley could be used for a multitude of purposes. Hotel, townhouses, small gift and speciality stores,offices, small special events, etc.
Its a no brainer with the right promotion. The stand alone hotel scene would never work…Actually the group who has expressed interest in it has done some great work with the old Kress building in Baton Rouge…As far as the building itself and it’s history check out: hostoricbentley.com This is a fantastic site that has been totally ignored by the mainstream media.
I think the Bentley had a short stint as a Radisson Hotel, before it closed for the final time. With the correct internet connections, that national chain thing could be gotten around, and I don’t know if any national chains would be interested. Not likely.
It just won’t work as a stand alone hotel. The $$$ just aren’t there. The cost of keeping it heated, cooled, and staffed as well as paying debt service when there are no big conventions in town – which is probably 80% of the time – will always outweigh the income. I hate to bust anyone’s bubble…but Alexandria is not the center of the cultural universe. Just because you hang up a national chain hotel sign doesn’t mean that folks are going to flock here in droves to stay at the Bently. Now, set the thing up as a multi use facility and the numbers will work. Offices, a boutique hotel, ballroom rental, restaraunts, bars, hair salons, studios for artists, etc all would bring people and income 365 days a year. We need a hustler like Jay Pearson to run the thing. Look at what he did with the old Rapides Country Club. Before he bought it they couldn’t give it away. Now, with a little out of the box thinking, the place is alive again.