Motel Site To Be Razed By April 15

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The Vidalia City Council held a called meeting Thursday morning to approve a bid for the demolition of the former Econo Inn on U. S. Highway 280 (First Street). The old Econo Inn project has been at the forefront of discussion since the city’s purchase of the property in August. The ownership was then transferred to the newly revived Downtown Development Authority, which favored demolition of the structure to make room for future development.

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was put on hold for several months as the Toombs County Development Authority applied for a federal grant to upgrade the property. Recently, this grant was denied, which allows the City of Vidalia to expedite the demolition project.

The City approved a bid from Marks Demolition and Environmental Group from Hephzibah. The group will charge $59,400 for the demolition and removal of debris from the site, which will be funded through the following two means: the remaining $17,817.86 from the loan which the DDA originally secured to purchase the property, and the remaining $41,582.14 from the Special Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST).

A 10-day waiting period to begin demolition began upon approval on Thursday; thus, the work on the building will begin Monday, March 14. City officials stressed to the contracted group the importance of the structure’s removal by the week of the annual Vidalia Onion Festival. The company agreed to meet this deadline, which has now been set for April 15, exactly one week from the beginning of Onion Festival weekend.

Council members also approved for the portion of Durden Street that is adjacent to the property to be temporarily closed when necessary to ensure safety during demolition. City Manager Nick Overstreet is communicating with the contracted party to receive tentative dates for the street closure in order to alert the public in advance.