The cost of the Macon City Auditorium restoration holds about a $15 million price tag.
On Wednesday, Paula Rotondo got an inside look from Macon-Bibb SPLOST coordinator Clay Murphey to see the needed repairs.
"The building hadn't been renovated in almost 40 years, it's coming up on its 100th anniversary and it has some needs."
One item in need of repair, is on the main floor of the auditorium. "It's about $50,000 to replace the stage curtain," Murphey says, but a rotted curtain is only the start.
"You've got a copper roof that goes down to a flat roof, and the water is coming down the copper roof and getting under the flat roof, and then it's seeping in."
Up a flight of stairs, and up a pretty tall ladder, Murphey pointed out problems on the roof. This included a warped floor filled with water.
As the water leaks through, Murphey says mildew grows throughout the auditorium.
Outdated audio and lighting equipment are also in need of a revamp. Local DJ Kevin Nichols says he knows that all too well.
"We've probably worked in the auditorium about a dozen times doing everything from deejaying, to photo booths, lighting, live sounds."
Nichols says even small repairs will help. "There's rooms downstairs and none of them are finished, one of them is all concrete and wood. I think if they can do these things better there will be a better chance of more people hosting things there."
Murphey says they're already working on it, but all of the repairs require a lot of cash. "We've got about $400,000 in the existing SPLOST," but to restore everything, they need more.
Murphey says the copper roof alone will cost millions.
"This building cost $800,000 in 1929, and it's going to cost about $15 million just to restore it."
In Murphey's opinion, money well spent.
"This is a beautiful venue, and if we're going to promote our musical heritage and continue to do the things that we do, and promote Macon then this building needs to be restored."
Next week Macon-Bibb Commissioners vote on sending an additional $150,000 of SPLOST money towards those repairs.
Murphey says he hopes for more money from the next SPLOST in 2018.
Follow 13WMAZ's Paula Rotondo on Twitter @Paula_Rotondo
