TEE Center Move Could Send Hyatt Packing

Augusta, GA—Hotel Developer Cortland Dusseau told the TEE Center Subcommittee it was love at this site.

James Brown Boulevard next to the Augusta Common, the proposed location for a new Hyatt Place Hotel.

It’s also kitty-corner across Reynolds Street from the planned TEE Center.

He says it just works.

“The feasibility study was done based on the TEE Center and the Common right where that site is they were very happy with it all the economics worked out,” said Dusseau.

But for the Augusta Commission, the economics of building the TEE Center off Reynolds haven’t worked out, as city leaders have been unable to approve raising another $18 million through bonds to get it built, and the delay is holding up the Hyatt.

“You’re talking about a $25 million hotel project, Hyatt project on The Common and fifty permanent jobs. In this national economy, other cities will kill to bring that in,” said Mayor Deke Copenhaver.

But, Commission inaction has some city leaders wanting to kill the Tee Center site next to the Marriott, and instead move it to the James Brown Arena.

But that could in affect kill the Hyatt being build downtown.

“Our feasibility was based on the Tee Center being where it is and would have to understand we couldn’t get that financed because it wouldn’t work,” said Dusseau.

Dusseau did make that point to the Tee Center Subcommittee; the hotel won’t work with the Tee Center going to another site.

But, Commissioner Corey Johnson wasn’t so sure. “Well I don’t know I’m going to where the work is if the work is going to be there I’m going that’s something we have to determine” he said.

But, Johnson did suggest taking the 20 million dollars voters approved in 2005 sales tax, and using another $9 million from interest and other sales tax funds in the bank, and building the TEE Center next to the Marriott.

This would be a scaled-back version, with architects saying $38 million is needed for the facility.