Historic King George Inn Could Be Razed

The historic King George Inn could be razed to make way for a hotel, drug store and bank, although South Whitehall Township has previously denied the owners a demolition permit.

The King George Inn at Cedar Crest and Hamilton boulevards, was built in 1756 and was designated a National Historic site. Clifford McDermott, who bought the building 42 years ago and ran it as a restaurant, closed it last August.

McDermott and Hotel Hamilton LLC, which bought the adjoining former Burger King and Carvel Ice Cream store, were denied a demolition permit last fall because they did not get releases from utility companies, according to South Whitehall Township Zoning Officer Keith Zehner.

On Wednesday, the landowners will ask the South Whitehall Township Zoning Hearing Board for variances on the township's ordinances on building height, right-of-ways and parking lot setbacks.

The plans call for a 25,890-square-foot hotel called the Hotel Hamilton, a 14,800-square-foot drug store and a 4,020- square-foot bank. The area is zoned highway commercial.