Designers of the world’s first eco-hostel are hoping Eureka will be its home in the next three years.

Contracts were recently awarded to study the proposal’s feasibility.

“It will be a sustainable-living center, and every room will have a meter to show how much power you’ve used during the stay, recycling services, energy resources, such as the solar panels (that) can regenerate electric cars,” said Maggy Herbelin, vice president of the Humboldt Bay Center for Sustainable Living.

She added that even the bathroom floors will be made with the recycled tops of toilets. “The hostel will bring people from all over the world, and it brings a certain type of tourist, as in not someone who would just stay in a motel,” she said.

“This project appeals to green people and to local business because it will attract eco-tourists, and this is the first one of its kind so it should get global publicity,” said Lew Litzky, who is helping with the planning of the hostel. “It will be a catalyst to attract environmental conferences and energy information in a progressive area.”

The feasibility contracts were awarded by the Humboldt Bay Center for Sustainable Living to Greenway partners and Planwest Partners Inc., which will start the feasibility study to help analyze the costs and other aspects of the project.

Project proponents said the study is the next step in the exclusive right-to-negotiation process with the city of Eureka for the development of Waterfront redevelopment property.

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