Macon-Bibb Commission approves $2.475M demolition of former Hilton and Ramada Hotel

The Macon-Bibb County Commission unanimously approved a $2.475 million contract on Tuesday to demolish the long-vacant former Hilton and Ramada Hotel at 108 First Street.

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – The Macon-Bibb County Commission unanimously approved a $2.475 million contract on Tuesday to demolish the long-vacant former Hilton and Ramada Hotel at 108 First Street.

The implosion is planned for 11:59 p.m. on New Year’s Eve, according to meeting documents.

“We hope that that continues to happen, and that’s to be the goal—to get that thing down and start the new year with a clean slate,” Mayor Lester Miller said during Tuesday’s meeting.

Macon-Bibb County purchased the property in early 2024 as part of its ongoing effort to eliminate blight and prepare sites for redevelopment. The 16-story hotel, which has sat empty for a decade, was built in 1969 and formerly operated under the Hilton and Ramada brands.

“It is a dilapidated hotel that is not structurally sound to build any affordable housing,” Miller said, mentioning suggestions he’d heard from people in the community.

The contract was awarded to Target Contractors, LLC, a South Carolina-based firm selected through a bidding process.

Russ Henry, representing nearby Christ Church Episcopal, raised concerns about potential risks to nearby historic properties, including the church’s Tiffany stained-glass window, which he said is valued at millions of dollars.

“We just ask that extreme caution be taken,” Henry said during public comments. “These things happen, and so I just ask that there are precautions built in to protect everyone.”

Miller assured Henry safety measures will be in place.

“We will make sure that every effort is taken care of, and of course we have a contract that provides the necessary safeguards, the finances, the insurance, the bonds, etc.,” he said, adding that engagement sessions with neighboring property owners will happen before the demolition.

Miller said Tuesday the investment in the purchase and demolition will pay off.

“What I will say is that, I believe that not only ten-fold—I told somebody ten-fold—that we would recoup our money and our value there,” he said. “I think it’d be twice that amount, and everybody’s going to be satisfied with the project that goes there.”