MACON, Ga. — Through the years, it's been known as the Ramada, the Hilton, the Radisson, the Crowne Plaza and the Downtown Macon Hotel. Early next year, it could be known as 'off the market.'
Macon-Bibb County is planning to purchase the old Ramada hotel at 108 First Street for $4.5 million. It's $7.5 million less than what former owner Ruby Sangha was originally asking for.
Since 2021, the building's waited for a buyer after Sangha ran out of money during renovations. Nothing's happened, except in the court system.
The 298-room hotel has decades of history, and now, the county may add a new chapter to it.
"If we obtain the property, whatever use it'll be will be a lot better than what it's being used for now," Mayor Lester Miller said.
It's been empty since 2011. Now, it's partially renovated, but still empty. Sangha estimated in 2021 it would cost $42,000 a room to finish the work.
"It's some of the largest blighted property we have in downtown. It's the first structure that you see entering our community. And I think it's been on people's minds a long time, seeing that building deteriorating and vacant," Miller said.
Miller's move to buy the hotel looks different from his stance in June. That's when the property went into court-appointed receivership after a federal judge denied Sangha's bankruptcy filing. It's also when Miller told 13WMAZ via text: "The county isn't interested in acquiring the property unless it involves seats at the implosion."
Now, Miller says that's still his sentiment.
"You'll see nothing has changed. The county may be interested in it, maybe because of the front row at an explosion. The bottom line is, things change from day-to-day," he explained.
Miller says one of the biggest changes is the price. Nov. 15, Indo US Ventures won an online auction for the property with a bid of $4.1 million.
The next week, on Nov. 24, the receiver terminated that agreement. The county came in Nov. 27 and made an agreement with the receiver Dec. 7.
Even though the county offered more than the winning bid, it's still a fraction of the original list price.
"Those prices were entirely too much for that property, so we were not in the game at that time," Miller said.
Now that they are in the game, Miller still doesn't want to say much. He declined to say where the money is coming from or what they'll do with 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," Miller said.
The mayor says they're set to present their plans to a federal judge early next year, likely in January. After that, the county commission will decide whether to approve or deny the proposal.