Walhalla hotel project moving, albeit slowly

John Powell champions Walhalla’s efforts to bring a new look to the downtown. But these days the real estate developer is immersed in his own project to develop a hotel a block west of the area targeted for Streetscape. Powell yesterday said the project being pursued by him and his partner, Jim Carswell, is moving, though not as quickly as he would like. Powell admits construction funds are the holdup. “We just met with an architect out of Atlanta that has approved our plans….and we met two weeks ago with some investors who would like to be involved with it,” he told 96.3/WGOG NEWS. Powell said because of reluctance by commercial banks to lend money for the Courthouse Inn at Walhalla, other sources are being pursed—including the Appalachian Regional Development Corporation. The plan is to convert the former Oconee Courthouse, at Main and S. Church, into a 55-room boutique-type hotel.