SAVANNAH, Ga. (AP) - Savannah’s city government will remain the owner of a historic building next door to City Hall after plans fell through to sell the property to a private developer for $7 million.
A divided city council narrowly approved the sale of the downtown Thomas Gamble Building last fall to a Texas-based firm that planned to transform the property overlooking the Savannah River into a hotel with surrounding office space.
Mayor Van Johnson said the deal failed to close and therefore the building will remain city property, WTOC-TV reported. The mayor said he would like to see the building return to its former use as offices for city employees.
The city is now leasing office space for those workers elsewhere in Savannah.
The city council voted to sell the building last November after its staff estimated that needed renovations and upgrades would cost an estimated $7 million.
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