MACON, Ga. — Instead of a New Year's ball drop or fireworks, a building implosion could help ring in 2025 on the corner of Walnut and First Street.
For nearly two years, Mayor Miller has hinted at knocking down the hotel at 108 First Street, which has been vacant for more than a decade.
Sharcarya Jackson is eyeing a space directly across from the hotel to open up her psychiatry practice in January.
She said she's been inside the hotel once or twice when it was still active, but these days it's in a state of disrepair.
"It's an eyesore I would say, but hopefully someone could get in here and add more business or commercial space, maybe a loft," Jackson said. "Like if they tore it down, what happens next? What would they do?"
These are the questions on neighboring business owners' minds, as Bibb commission leaders are expected to discuss a potential demolition of the hotel.
Bennie Coleman owns FSA Auto Sales right next door.
He has had a front-row seat of the empty property for years and says he's worried about how the county will execute the implosion.
"Since I have inventory in the area and I have properties in the area, I'm kind of worried because it's right across the street," Coleman said. "Hopefully we don't lose any windows or see any major debris that's on our side of the street. But it's exciting there's gonna be some type of conclusion because this has been a longstanding project."
It was officially put up for sale in April 2023 when a judge approved a bankruptcy plan for the hotel's previous owners.
Bibb leaders then unanimously agreed to purchase the property in January for $4.5 million.
Coleman says he's hopeful for it to reignite some activity on this side of town.
"We would like to just move on. We just want to see that there's gonna be proper planning, we're gonna make sure we're gonna do our parts in the development, and just the facade of the area," he said. "I definitely would like there to be more activity on this side of downtown. I guess this is the only way it can grow."
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