Boutique hotel, restaurant approved for downtown New London
New London — David Preka, who has successfully completed restoration of several downtown buildings, has turned his attention to the back side of Bank Street.
Preka, president of Mystic-based Advanced Improvements, earned a unanimous approval from the Planning and Zoning Commission on Thursday for a special permit for a change of use to allow development to fit his plans for 3-5 S. Water St.
His idea is to turn the long-vacant building into a nine-room boutique hotel spanning three floors with a restaurant at street level and rooftop deck with liquor service and entertainment. The building’s upper floors have unobstructed views over the railroad tracks to City Pier and is situated behind the Oasis Pub at 16 Bank St.
“The allowance of the liquor license will increase economy for the business and allow for patrons to enjoy New London views, good food, and practice social distancing,” Preka wrote in his application.
Barbara Neff, whose business Neff Productions is located next door at 2 State St., said she’s been around the downtown for 25 years and can’t recall a tenant. She said she welcomes a new neighbor.
”Dave’s done a wonderful job with Muddy Waters,” she said.
Preka, in 2018, completed a major renovation of the former Robert's Audio building at 90-94 Bank St. It is now the home of Berry’s Ice Cream and Candy Bar and New London Ink. He was the contractor for the deck expansion at Hot Rod Cafe at 114 Bank St.
He also restored the upper floors of 42 Bank St., home of Muddy Waters Cafe, to accommodate offices rented by Danish wind company Ørsted. In 2020, he purchased both the building and business and is now running the popular downtown eatery.
Public records show Dorjan Preka purchased the South Water Street building for $100,000 from Hoe Hua Oversea LLC in November. The relationship with David Preka was not immediately clear. Hoe Hua Oversea previously had owned the now-closed Singapore Grill at 938 Bank St. and has owned the South Water Street building since 2003.
The building has missing and boarded-up windows and a glance through the windows of the street-level space shows signs of work, including ceilings stripped back to the wood studs. Preka’s planned changes to the building facade required and have received a favorable review from the Historic District Commission and Design Review Board. He plans to repoint the masonry brickwork and replace the windows.
Preka was not immediately available to comment on his timeline for restoration of the building.
Comment threads are monitored for 48 hours after publication and then closed.
