Gainesville’s plans for a downtown lodge have been placed on maintain because of the financial results of the COVID-19 pandemic, however metropolis officers are nonetheless hopeful {that a} lodge may ultimately go up on the nook of Jesse Jewell Parkway and West Academy Avenue.
The town owns the 1.7-acre lot at that intersection, and a metropolis park housing the historic Engine 209 occupies a part of that property. In January, town issued a request for proposals asking builders to submit their concepts for a lodge there.
However metropolis officers introduced Monday, June eight that every one proposals had been rejected and the mission was shelved indefinitely. The choice was made “because of the unsure hospitality market situations” attributable to the pandemic, in response to a discover despatched to potential builders.
Metropolis Supervisor Bryan Lackey mentioned officers nonetheless consider the property could be well-suited for a lodge when financial situations enhance.
“When financial instances get better, we have now each intention of pursuing this once more,” he mentioned in a press release. “Proper now, the timing’s simply not fairly proper.”
The Gainesville Redevelopment Authority took over the location in 2018. Georgia legislation permits cities to create improvement authorities that may buy, lease and promote properties. Metropolis governments should promote land to the best bidder, however improvement authorities will be extra selective. Gainesville created its redevelopment authority in 1999.
Native developer Tim Knight had planned to construct a mixed-use improvement on the Engine 209 website, however in February 2019, the Gainesville Metropolis Council voted to launch his choice to buy it, as Knight had determined to not transfer ahead with the event.
The Northeast Georgia Well being System was additionally given the choice to buy the property for $1.2 million as a part of an agreement with town when Gainesville took over NGHS’ $10 million contract for the property on the tip of the downtown pedestrian bridge. NGHS determined to not buy the property in April 2019.
