FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WANE) -- Developers tearing down and rebuilding the historic Auburn Hotel said they went "below and beyond" to clean up the site, as they released a new rendering of the project Monday. Owner Kevin Minard said he expected to find three oil tanks buried beneath the old hotel, just off Auburn's downtown square at Ninth and Main. He was surprised to find two more. The tanks were all more than 100 years old and still seeping small amounts of oil into the soil. Historic Auburn Hotel set for demolition in 2024; new owners discuss future plans for property Part of the teardown, and the delay in rebuilding, has come from making sure the environmental remediation is complete, with microbes mixed into the ground to clean the residue. Minard anticipated a groundbreaking before the end of the year. New renderings of the 4-story Auburn Hotel He is working with the City of Auburn to ensure the site follows roadway and trail beautification guidelines, at private expense. The rendering shows similar limestone carvings and pillars as the original, with copper downspouts. The simple "HOTEL" sign now sits atop the fourth floor, one more than the old building. Minard told WANE 15 the first floor would be commercial, while floors two and three would be apartment homes. The new fourth floor would consist of two penthouses. While some residents complained about the demolition of the old building, Minard again stressed it was beyond repair, with gaps in the walls that were large enough to suggest a building collapse was possible.