BAR HARBOR — A 100-room hotel is planned for the site of the defunct Summit House nursing home. The property is at the end of Norman Drive, high above town, with commanding views of the area.

Property owner Linda Shelton, doing business as DBL Enterprises, confirmed via email Tuesday that she is joining forces with hotelier David Witham to redevelop the property. Their application for the project was submitted to the planning department late last month.

“I'm happy to be partnering with David Witham and look forward to bringing back some positive energy and life to the hill,” Ms. Shelton wrote. “It’s been empty for too long, and the time is right for the hill to be re-developed. My family and I are excited to begin this new venture.”

The Summit House has sat vacant since May 2003 and has become deteriorated since that time. Several years ago, wiring and pipes were removed from most of the building in advance of a proposed project to knock it down and build condominiums at the site. The project never moved forward.

Construction of the proposed, four-story hotel could begin as early as the fall or winter of this year, Ms. Shelton said. Planning board approval is necessary before construction can move forward. Opechee Construction of Belmont, N.H., is the general contractor chosen for the project.

The existing, 36,000-square-foot building would be torn down to make way for the new hotel. The building and parking lot are expected to take up one acre. The rest of the property would be subdivided into three, one-acre residential lots, two with frontage on Highbrook Road and a third with frontage on Highbrook and Cleftstone roads. The hotel would utilize existing driveways on both roads.

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