AUGUSTA, Ga. - It's been delayed for years, but a developer still wants to build a hotel in downtown Augusta and he's willing to wait on the trade, exhibit and event center.

The Hyatt Hotel Company and land owner Julian Osbon are taking things month by month with the TEE center. After some threats of backing out, Osbon tells NBC Augusta 26 News they're likely to stick with it as long as the center is built in the right place.

"The developer tells me that he's already got so much money tied up in it in engineering and architectural expenses that he's committed to trying to stay with it until the thing plays out," said Osbon

Now the question remains just where the TEE center will play out. The James Brown Arena and Fort Discovery are two ideas floating around. Osbon says neither are smart options, although he said officially for the first time that he's open to building the center in North Augusta.

"There's no real good argument against putting the TEE center where it's planned," said Osbon.

Some commissioners agree with him.

"It would be nice to fill in and use the [James Brown Arena] and now Fort Discovery for something, but I don't think it's the best thing for the TEE center because of the lack of hotel space,” said District 3 Commissioner Joe Bowles. “It goes back to, 'we could put it anywhere,' but we need to put it where the customers want it."

District 4 Commissioner and Mayor Pro Tem Alvin Mason disagrees. He points to the judicial center, library and detention centers as successful projects moved from their original sites.

"For those who say a change of site at this juncture is not a good thing, I would tell them to look at projects we've already done that ended up being better than they where when they were originally proposed," said Mason.

It's been almost five years in the making, but the when and where are still up the air for Augusta's TEE center.

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