The historic Richford Hotel was built in 1915 and is located at 65-67 Chestnut Street at the corner of Elm Street in the middle of the Downtown Rochester Innovation Zone and the rapidly growing Midtown District. The building has been vacant since since the year 2000. Efforts to rehabilitate the building have failed in the past due to a number issues, one being a significant presence of asbestos that must be removed the building. With the staggering level of investment - $2.2 billion - since this building went vacant nearly two decades ago. The plan is to create an 80 room limited service national brand hotel with additional extended stay units on the top two floors. The lowest level of the building will house a full service luxury salon and spa. [br /][br /] The plan is to completely demolish all the interior of the building, including mechanical and electrical systems. Everything inside the building will be constructed with "state of the art", environmentally friendly and energy efficient. Finishes will be modern and sustainable. The plan is to complete the designs and permitting by December 31, 2018, complete the construction during 2019 and put the project into service by January 2020.[/p]