Athens-Clarke County Commissioners have unanimously voted to enter into a partnership with the developers of Hotel Indigo to build a creative development campus downtown. District 6 Commissioner Jerry NeSmith says the real estate deal has been under negotiation for months.
“This was actually an unsolicited proposal we got from the developers of the Indigo Hotel, the same group of folks, mostly local,” Ne Smith said. “This is at 250 Strong Street right in front of Indigo Hotel, it’s currently a surface parking lot that the county owns.”
NeSmith says the new development will have multiple uses.
“That includes office space for new businesses, for incubator space, and also office space that people can come in and rent a desk and have the services that they need to establish an office here in Athens- Clarke County.”
It will also include a restaurant, bar, some luxury hotel rooms, plus room for county business.
"And a 10,000 square foot space that we are purchasing, as a condominium ownership, which will be our economic development center.”
NeSmith says the development will get the land to a higher and better use, since the county will collect property taxes.
“There’s one other aside that I think is important, they agreed to create a $3 million fund which will be used to help the start-ups.”
The new campus is expected to be completed in 2019.
