Oshkosh hotel transformation under way

OSHKOSH - Volunteers with Habitat for Humanity are putting in 16 hour days thanks to a helping hand from the UW-Oshkosh Foundation and the other new owners of the City Center Hotel in downtown Oshkosh.

"To receive a donation this size is nice because it's not only going to help the community here in Oshkosh but also communities throughout Northeast Wisconsin," said John Morelli of Habitat for Humanity of Oshkosh.

Earlier this month the investment group shut down the hotel for a $9 million facelift. The project starts with volunteers from Habitat For Humanity working their way through each of the hotel's eight floors and 179 rooms.

From dressers to desk, bed frames and more, these volunteers have two weeks to clean house for a good cause.

All the furniture will be distributed among Habitat Restore sites throughout Northeast Wisconsin and sold to the public.

"It helps the Restore's fund the affiliate to build more affordable homes throughout Northeast Wisconsin," said Morelli.

Hotel manager Abby Theys is excited about putting the new face of the old hotel back on the downtown map.

"The whole place for the most part including the bar and the restaurant will have a facelift, so it will be starting from fresh with a whole new hotel...people won't recognize it," Theys said.

As workers haul cart load after cart load, many are happy to see their hard work pay off.

"You can say yes, I did part of the work on that and have a little bit of pride in your workmanship," said Tim DeHart of Habitat for Humanity of Appleton.