Augusta Moves Forward With Plan To Purchase Gilbert Manor For MCG

Tools

By Tina Terry tterry@nbcaugusta.com

Augusta has the green light to move forward with a plan to buy Gilbert Manor for the expansion of the Medical College of Georgia. Commissioners agreed to the plan Tuesday.

The plan would take $10,000,000 from the city's reserves, invest the money in local banks and let MCG use that money to buy Gilbert Manor.

The money would be paid back with sales tax dollars. In a 9-to-1 vote commissioners approved the concept. They say now they'll move forward with dotting the I's and crossing the T's of the deal.

MCG's president says he's excited and that the expansion of the college could not move forward without the city's support. He says the college knew it would need help purchasing Gilbert Manor.

"We have always had the intention of looking for an increased amount of community support, both from the public sector and private sector," said Daniel Rahn, President of MCG.

This plan didn't go through without debate. Three commissioners say they didn't know anything about these plans until shortly before Tuesday's meeting.

Also Tuesday, Commissioners agreed to ease the probation of an Augusta nightclub. Club Platinum was on 90 day probation after several violent events. But Tuesday commissioners decided to lift the time restrictions of that probation and allow the club to stay open until 2:00 a.m.

In exchange, the club has agreed to have more security, change its name, and only allow people 18 or older inside.

Commissioners also agreed to change the zoning of 11 acres of land in West Augusta to allow the building of a Marriott Hotel. Neighbors in the Kingston community along Marks Church Road had been opposed to the plan.

But last week those residents reached an agreement with the property owners. The property owner says the property will change hands within the next few months.

Add a comment

Name:

Comment: 500 Characters Left

Comments are moderated and will not appear on this story until after they have been reviewed and deemed appropriate for posting.

WAGT and its affiliated companies are not responsible for the content of comments posted or for anything arising out of use of the above comments or other interaction among the users. We reserve the right to screen, refuse to post, remove or edit user-generated content at any time and for any or no reason in our absolute and sole discretion without prior notice, although we have no duty to do so or to monitor any Public Forum.

WAGT Weather

Click here for 7 Day Forecast
Icon
Current Temp 58 °F
Fair
More Weather

Stock Quotes

This content requires the latest Adobe Flash Player and a browser with JavaScript enabled. Click here for a free download of the latest Adobe Flash Player.

What's On TonightFull Schedule

8:00
deal or no deal
10:00
medium
11:00
nbc augusta news
11:35
the tonight show with jay leno

Viewer Poll

What should Democratic Presidential Candidate Hillary Clinton do?

  • Drop out now
  • Wait to see how the June primaries turn out
  • Hold out until the convention