New London — The city is again seeking a developer to take the century-old Lighthouse Inn off its hands and put it back on the tax rolls.

Last week, the Office of Development and Planning requested that developers submit proposals for the former inn’s three buildings and its 4.2 acres of land by mid-July.

“Although there is a preference that the operation of the mansion as an inn is continued under a developer’s proposal, the city will consider other uses of the mansion and the adjoining land,” Ned Hammond, the city's economic development coordinator, wrote in the request for proposals.

Once the city reviews all proposals it receives, the City Council will select a “preferred developer” for the property, Hammond wrote. Proposals must be submitted to the city no later than July 10.

About six months ago, Hammond told the Planning and Zoning Commission that interested developers have suggested keeping the property as an inn, turning it into age-restricted housing or developing the land into a small residential neighborhood. One developer even has suggested changing the inn into private condos, but operating a public restaurant from the inn’s kitchen.

Currently, the property is in limbo. A tax auction in 2013 failed to elicit a single bid at the minimum price of about $577,000, and a year ago the City Council rejected the only offer the city received from a developer after publishing a previous RFP.

New Haven businessman Anthony D. Acri III, who had bid $1.25 million for the Lighthouse Inn at auction in 2010 but later withdrew his offer, offered last year to buy the inn from the city for $100,000 — far below the minimum starting bid of $500,000. The City Council unanimously rejected Acri’s offer.

Built in 1902, the inn closed abruptly in 2008, but still elicits fond memories among residents of brunches, weddings and special events. Two main buildings on the property, including a 53,000-square-foot mansion and 33,000-square-foot carriage house, together offered 51 guest rooms.

The condition of the shuttered Lighthouse Inn is perpetually deteriorating and the property’s assessed value recently dropped from $3 million to $1.6 million, according to the city. The city had been providing security and maintenance for the property as it sought a developer, but recently cut funding for inn upkeep.

c.young@theday.com

Twitter: @ColinAYoung