Plans to restore historic inn back on

The president of Amherst College says plans to renovate the historic Lord Jeffery Inn are back on.

President Tony Marx told community leaders on Monday that college trustees have approved $14 million for the project, that was supposed to start last year but was put on hold because of the worldwide economic slump that reduced the school's endowment by about 20 percent.

The college owns the 83-year-old inn, which has been closed since November 2008. The original renovation plans were estimated at up to $30 million.

Marx says the new, scaled back plans, include renovation of the existing 49 rooms, a restaurant expansion and the addition of a ballroom.

The Daily Hampshire Gazette reports that the goal is to reopen the inn in the spring of 2011.