The historic 1927 hotel, now a Days Inn, was earmarked to becomea boutique hotel with 80 luxury suites and three floors of condos.It was to reclaim its original name, The Carlton. The property hadbeen on the market for nearly a year for $7.5 million It was put upfor sale by Hodges Ward Elliott, which bought it in 1985. That firmhas been selling its properties in a move toward brokering.

A joint venture of Crow Hospitality Investment Group,Dallas-based Foresthills Hotels and Resorts and Larry Evans, apreservation architect of New Place Cos. of Brunswick, GA signed adeal this past August to buy the hotel. The group designed a $22million renovation to be completed by the middle of 2001.

Financing has been hard to come by. The partnership is stillnegotiating to buy the property even though the hotel isessentially back on the market.