BY MICHAEL OLOHAN
OF NORTHERN VALLEY PRESS
TENAFLY, N.J.—Owners of Clinton Inn Hotel & Event Center—a local landmark on its site for more than a century—have purchased two properties south of the inn and plan to construct a new facility and eventually convert the popular and well-known hotel into an assisted living facility.
While the original Clinton Inn built in the 1870s burned down in 1907, another inn was built in 1908 and was operated for 60 years until demolished in 1968.
In 1968, the current Clinton Inn Hotel with 119 rooms and dining facilities for 700 was built, according to “Images of America,” by Alice Rigney and Paul Stefanowicz, published in 2009.
Ryan Morfin, chief investment officer for Oak Spring Holdings, Edison, told local Rotary Club members Jan. 10 that the inn’s ownership bought the two houses south of the inn where it plans to propose construction of a new inn.
Following the completion and opening of the new Clinton Inn, the group plans to renovate and convert the over 40-year-old Clinton Inn into an up to 125-bed assisted living facility, said Morfin via phone Jan. 10.
“We acquired the Clinton Inn in 2015 in anticipation of converting it into an assisted living facility,” said Morfin, following a presentation to local Rotary Club members Jan. 10 where he revealed Oak Spring Holdings’ future development plans.
Morfin said the new Clinton Inn hotel would operate under a Hilton or Marriott name when it begins operations.
He said the “great charm of Tenafly is its architecture” and that any new construction or renovation to the existing Clinton Inn building “would be done in a very thoughtful way” to be consistent with local design elements.
Morfin said he hopes to present preliminary site plans for a new Clinton Inn to the Planning Board within a few months and begin application hearings.
He said the Clinton Inn’s management was “very proud to be part of the community in Tenafly. Today’s a very good day for us and the community,” he added, noting the new construction will bring more visitors and employment to Tenafly in the future.
Over more than a century, the Clinton Inn—in its various incarnations—has served as a landmark in downtown Tenafly, and the recent news that a new structure with high-end rooms and amenities coming to Tenafly has local officials buzzing with excitement.
‘A real shot in the arm’
“I am extremely pleased. This will be a real shot in the arm for downtown Tenafly. The Clinton Inn has always served as a cornerstone for our community,” said Tenafly Mayor Peter Rustin on Jan. 10.
“This [inn] has always been a centerpiece of our community, a meeting place where people have their weddings, bar mitzvahs, funerals, and social gatherings… It’s good to know that it’s going to be around awhile,” he added.
Morfin said the Clinton Inn’s owners have been working to get title to the adjoining properties so that they could undertake the new construction. In July 2015, rumors circulated that the popular inn might be demolished following its acquisition. The recently revealed plans seem to have assuage fears regarding its future.
“It’s great news for Tenafly,” said Chamber of Commerce President Christine Evron, who praised Oak Spring Holdings for doggedly pursuing properties to build a new “long-hoped for” Clinton Inn sure to help generate visitors and revitalize downtown Tenafly.
Morfin said he hopes the new Clinton Inn will likely open in mid- to late-2020. He said conversion of the old inn would take six months to one year and occur only once a new inn opens.