MACON, Ga. — A federal judge Monday gave the green light for Macon-Bibb County's proposed purchase of the old downtown Ramada hotel.
The property, vacant since 2011, went on the market last year after another judge denied owner Ruby Sangha's bankruptcy filing. The property also went under receivership. The latest court order grants the receiver's motion to sell the property to the county for $4.5 million.
The county's proposal appears to be a shift from their stance in June. That's when Mayor Lester Miller told 13WMAZ via text: "The county isn't interested in acquiring the property unless it involves seats at the implosion."
Miller hasn't ruled out the possibility.
He says the biggest change since June was the asking price. It dropped more than $7 million since it went under receivership.
"Those prices were entirely too much for that property, so we were not in the game at that time," Miller said Dec. 19.
Now, they are in the game. The county checked into negotiations Nov. 27 and inked an agreement Dec. 7. Miller hasn't said where the money is coming from, or what the plans are for the property.
"Really can't comment on any potential plans for that building yet, but what I can say is if we do get that building, we'll use it for a purpose that is going to increase the viability of downtown," he said Dec. 19.
Most county commissioners said Monday they hadn't heard much about development either.
Some, like Commissioners Mallory Jones and Bill Howell, said they'd vote yes. Jones says hotels there haven't been successful and hopes whatever the county does with it will be an improvement.
Jones says the county already owns properties nearby and has seen success renting out space in them.
Commissioner Valerie Wynn said there's not enough information yet for her to decide, but said she could see the possibility of a smaller hotel. Commissioner Raymond Wilder floated the idea of a parking garage.
Whatever the plans are, commissioners do get the final say. Miller says he's planning to schedule that vote for the commission's Jan. 16 meeting.
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