Renovations on historic Basque hotel near completion

Mirazim Shakoori and his son, Shawn, have spent the past few months renovating the upper floors of the historic Basque hotel into apartment spaces.

After five year's of work and an investment of more than a half million dollars, Mirazim Shakoori's dream is nearly a reality.

From a casual glance, the three-story building in the city's historic Basque block shows no sign that its appearance ever changed when it opened in Mountain Home more than a century ago. On the outside, it received a fresh coat of paint and some modest cosmetic improvements to help preserve its historic image.

But step inside the Bengeochea Hotel, and it's a completely different story. A thin layer of fresh sawdust covers new wood flooring while some rooms show signs of fresh paint as the building prepares to see new life and a new purpose.

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