Multi-million dollar development coming to Mercer University

“Students will see a bigger and better tomorrow for this university,” says Austin Harrison, Mercer University’s Student Body President.

The senior says he has seen a lot of positive changes at the school since he started three years ago.

The new 50-million dollar hotel and restaurant development being built on Mercer University Drive is another reason why Macon is growing and attracting more people to stay.

“Honestly, it’s change a lot of my future plans,” explained Harrison. “I’m definitely more inclined to want to stay in Macon, after I graduate and invest in the community.  Because you see the great places it’s going.”

Mercer University’s President William Underwood named the new development Mercer Landing.  It will also include 313 loft apartments.

“It wouldn’t have been possible without a lot of people working together,” explained Underwood. “I wouldn’t have been without the support of our local government. It wouldn’t have been possible without people willing to invest their money in the urban core in Macon and I’m grateful that it’s all come together in this fashion.”

Underwood says Mercer Landing is part of the 100-million dollars being invested on and near Mercer’s Macon campus.

This is the second hotel developer Tom Hunt has built. His company PHD Hotels, Incorporated built the Hilton Garden Inn Hotel.

“I’ve always thought that downtown Macon was such a neat place,” says Hunt. “But, those of us from out of town, didn’t really know how to get there. This will be an entrance into downtown Macon.”

Harrison admits he likes how Mercer University is growing.

“You have football coming to Mercer University,” he added. “I mean, I could talk for hours about the laundry lost of great things that have happened just over the past three years.”

He says he’s looking forward to see how Macon will grow even more in the years to come.

Mercer Landing is scheduled to open next summer.