Five Aiken properties that were once slated to be demolished are closer to being saved.
The Aiken City Council voted unanimously Monday evening to select Colliers International to help it market the Hotel Aiken, the Holley House/Motor Court, the Taj Aiken building, the C.C. Johnson building and the Warneke Cleaners building.
The properties were slated to be demolished as part of the since-failed Project Pascalis.
Colliers International is an international, publicly-traded investment management firm.
The city issued a request for qualifications to find a firm to help it market the properties in December.
A request for qualification is a document in which a government entity like the City of Aiken seeks a company or firm to perform work, like marketing the hotel and the other downtown properties.
The city specified in the request for qualifications that it wants to find developers who will renovate or adaptively reuse the properties with the exception of the Holley House/Motor Court, which can be demolished.
The Holley House/Motor Court was built in 1981 and is not considered historic.
Assistant City Manager Mary Tilton said the city received two responses: Colliers and SVN Blackstream.
City Manager Stuart Bedenbaugh recused himself from the discussion of the resolution because of the involvement of a distant relative.
Five city staff members evaluated the responses, Tilton said.
The staff members were Tilton, Assistant City Manager Lex Kirkland, Purchasing Manager George Grieve, Planner Rebekah Seymour and Neighborhood Services Director Sabina Craig.
The staff felt both firms had impressive qualifications but Colliers ranked higher based on its submissions and interview responses, Tilton said.
Mayor Pro Tempore Ed Girardeau made the motion to accept the staff’s recommendation.
Councilwoman Kay Brohl seconded Girardeau’s motion.
Two members of the public, Dr. Taylor Garnett and Historic Aiken Foundation President Linda Johnson, said the city council and staff made a good choice with Colliers.
Tilton added the next step is for the city to enter into a contract with Colliers.
Bedenbaugh added the contract would also require city council approval.
