Historic Hotel Aiken could see new changes soon
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) - For the first time in a long time, change is coming to Hotel Aiken.
The historic site, once set for demolition, could now become a hotel or apartments.
No matter what, preserving history is the goal.
Originally, the site was set to be torn down and redone.
“In 2021, the city purchased the property to build a replacement hotel and some apartments,” said Aiken City Manager Stuart Bedenbaugh.
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Now, it’s one step closer to being brought back to life.
“We received six proposals by the December 23 deadline and are reviewing them. I think we’re pretty close to starting winnowing it down,” said Bedenbaugh. “About half the proposals want to repurpose it into a hotel. About half want to do multifamily, you know, apartments or condominiums.”
Whether Hotel Aiken becomes apartments or stays a hotel, preserving its history has been a ion project for many in Aiken.
Linda Johnson, president of the Historic Aiken Foundation, said: “There wasn’t a good understanding three years ago of the condition of the hotel and of its historic significance. And I think we’ve turned it around.”
It’s been a part of Aiken for more than a century.
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“It anchors one end of our Main Street downtown. It also witnessed so much history in Aiken,” said Johnson.
It also holds some very special memories.
“One of the suffragette’s parades ended at the hotel and then they had their banquet here at the hotel. It hosted soldiers during World War I and World War II, who were home on leave,” said Johnson.
After being completely redone in 1929, it became a building block for future architecture.
“It was the start of what’s called Colonial Revival. But it launched a lot of changes downtown. At that time, most of the buildings were redone in a style similar to this,” said Johnson.
And she’s not the only one who recognizes its significance.
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“The hotel was placed on the National of Historic Places. I mean it’s an honor for the hotel,” she said.
Johnson says growth and preserving history can go hand-in-hand.
“We want someone who preserves it and who appreciates the history. Maybe displays the history in a lobby and recognizes it and promotes it,” she said.
It’s not the only growth happening in Aiken.
A $20 million mixed-use office building just broke ground this week.
Bids are now open for the Powder House Connector with the goal of eventually reducing traffic on Whiskey Road.
The development of hundreds of homes and commercial properties is also on the rise in Aiken.
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