NATCHEZ — The owner of the Natchez Eola Hotel building told the Natchez Board of Aldermen Tuesday that he is exploring the idea of reopening the building as a hotel instead of senior-living apartments.

Virginia attorney Robert Lubin said based on his previous experience with purchasing the Eola in 1992 and the hotel business not working out, he had decided against that option for reopening the Eola, but is now reconsidering.

“Maybe what Natchez needs is for this building to be restored as a hotel,” Lubin said.

Lubin bought the building in 2014, and his plans to turn the building into apartments were approved last year, but construction has not started.

Lubin said reconfiguring the project to open the Eola as a hotel would cause a delay, but construction could start as early as November. The current layout of the hotel, Lubin said, would need to be reworked so that rooms are larger. Instead of 125 rooms as in the previous hotel, he said the hotel would be better suited with 75-85 larger rooms.