A big crane sidled up next to the North Bend Hotel on Thursday to help modernize the building’s vertical transportation system.

Otis Elevator contractor Jason Frenette said the Portland-based company is replacing the hotel’s antiquated cable car elevator with a modern hydraulic elevator of a similar maximum-load capacity.

 The crane operator carefully lifted out the former elevator’s counter weight, which weighed more than 3,000 pounds.

According to Otis field supervisor Jeff Peterkin, the previous lift, a 1937 Portland Elevator, was in disrepair.

“This one was decommissioned from the state,” Peterkin said. “When the state says it is not safe to operate, they hang a tag on there that says ‘do not operate.’”

Peterkin believes the new elevator  will cost the North Bend Hotel’s owner less money in the long run.

“It’s cheaper to put in new technology than retain some of the old parts,” he said. “Especially with something this old.”

Reconstruction on the hotel began in April. Umpqua Community Development Corporation owns the 86-year-old building. Its plans for the five-story building, located at 768 Virginia Ave., are to increase the 20 dwelling units into 33 apartments that will contain individual kitchens. The work has included knocking out walls and putting down new flooring. Workers also will revamp the plumbing and electrical systems.