Hotel projects bandied about at Walhalla meetings

Hotel projects were the topic for presentations during meetings last night of both the Oconee Planning Commission and the Walhalla Partners for Progress.  One project appears closer to reality than the other, though one of the developers of the other promises that his is also.  County planner Bill Huggins told the planning commission that a site meeting takes place today at an outparcel of Hartwell Village for a Tru Hotel by the Hilton Hotel chain.  Later last evening an audience of Partners for Progress became the first to see detailed plans for the hotel that developers Tom Markovich and Herb Witter are planning for the old courthouse.  Markovich admits that a backup of work facing the state Department of Archives and History has caused a delay, but he predicts the state agency will approve changes to the building allowing for a boutique-style hotel.  Those plans, among other features, show a pair of elevators, an event center, a spa, and two bars–one to be a rooftop bar with a view of the mountains.   All of this to be grouped around 19 room that Markovich predicts will attract business travelers.