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The old Coca-Cola building is coming down this afternoon in preparation for developing a new hotel franchise. On Friday morning, the West Point Development Authority met to approve an intergovernmental agreement to move forward with a developer, requiring the city to contribute approximately $635,000 in infrastructure.

A little over a year ago, the 50-year-old sales center building was donated to the city of West Point after the March 2023 storms left irreparable flooding damage. According to a press release from Coca-Cola, the facility was valued at more than $1 million.

City Manager Ed Moon said the search began in April with a request for proposals from developers. In June, a developer was chosen who proposed developing the land into four parcels, three of which would later be sold to other developers or franchises. 

“The developer has asked that they develop the parcel itself, and the city and the Development Authority provide the infrastructure to the site,” Moon said during a recent city council work session. “And that they would receive the site at no cost.”

The total estimate for the road entrance, utilities, demo and detention pond, which stores stormwater runoff, is $1,270,000. Luckily, there is already a detention pond on the property that can be repurposed. The city’s portion of funding will come from the general fund as well as the utility fund (SPLOST 6). 

The development comes just in time for the new roundabouts at the West Point exit 2 which have been under construction for the past several years. 

The development authority began tearing the building down on Friday, which Tramell said would happen regardless. The next step after the city approves the agreement will be the developer getting a franchise approved by the end of the year. 

If everything goes according to plan, said Tramell, the developers hope to be open by the Christmas season of 2026.

“It’s just something that the development authority has worked very hard on. We’ve all been hoping to make it happen for a long time as part of our 10th Street redevelopment plan,” Tramell said.

In addition to the hotel parcel, there are three out parcels that the city hopes to eventually draw interest from fast food restaurants, coffee shops and more.