It is a sad commentary on the way Connecticut governs itself that the former Seaside tuberculosis sanitarium, situated on a spectacular 32-acre setting beside Long Island Sound in Waterford, has been abandoned for 20 years.

Besides the loss of use of the property over the years, except for enterprising trespassers, the state has come close to losing by neglect the architectural treasures from world-renowned architect Cass Gilbert.

Some critics consider the Seaside buildings some of Gilbert's most distinctive.

The abandonment has spanned the administrations of three Connecticut governors — two Republicans and a Democrat.

I am beginning to see a light, though, at the end of the tunnel of this, the second administration of Gov. Dannel Malloy.

Malloy, over the last year, has at least made the most progress toward rescuing and reusing the exceptional Seaside property.

Could it be that a remarkable park, with new public access to Long Island Sound, recreational opportunities and a thriving boutique hotel showcasing Gilbert's architectural palette, could become a signature Malloy legacy?

Who wouldn't want to leave behind a great new public park when they leave office?

In the wake of Malloy declaring Seaside a park in 2014, his Department of Energy and Environmental Protection commissioned a detailed engineering assessment of the buildings, which are listed on the National Register of Historic Places, that found they indeed may still be saved.

More recently, the state got the results of a professional market analysis that concludes the buildings could be profitable if rebuilt as an upscale 100-room boutique hotel, with restaurants, a spa and meeting space.

The consultants found that the region's hotel market, driven by tourism and business use, could easily support a Seaside hotel.

One especially ripe customer base would come from the dozens of weddings held nearby at Harkness Memorial State Park, where there is no hotel.

The consultants estimate, based on the engineering analysis of the buildings, that the state might spend up to $10 million abating asbestos and other materials and preparing the shells for new construction.

A developer might then spend about $20 million to create a 100-room luxury hotel, one of a quality respecting the historical nature of the buildings.

It would then be a project that could generate annual revenues of up to $7.5 million.

The state would retain ownership of the land and could charge grounds rent, presumably bringing in revenue that could offset some of the money spent remediating the buildings and developing the rest of the park.

DEEP plans to discuss its entire new master plan, including the market study for a hotel, at a public meeting scheduled for 6 p.m. Wednesday at Waterford Town Hall.

One of the next steps envisioned is developing a request for proposals to seek out developers interested in the hotel project.

This can't happen soon enough, given the progress of decay in the buildings.

All of this seems to be great progress after 20 years of neglect.

I especially like the concept of using private enterprise to leverage investment in the property to make it a better public park.

It both keeps this amazing property in the public domain, indeed opens it up to public recreation, and saves a big piece of the state's architectural heritage.

It also would reverse a long, sad narrative on the way the government has lived up to its responsibilities here.

This is the opinion of David Collins.

d.collins@theday.com