An Auburn landmark will soon be shutting its doors to make room for new development.
The heart of Auburn Inn and Suits, located off South College Street, will be torn down and replaced by a new shopping center that many hope brings more business and a better first impression to its central location.
"When you come into town from the south, it's really a major focal point so we feel it could potentially be really the best downtown project in terms of making that first impression for visitors to Auburn," explains City of Auburn Planning manager, Forrest Cotton.
The property is zoned for university service, but is divided to be a part of the new expanded downtown, the Urban Core.
"The developer approached us about a mixed-used project and we worked with them to incorporate a lot of those principles that are envisioned for development of the urban core," says Cotton.
The project is envisioned to be anchored by CVS along with other retail shops and restaurant tenants.
There will be two new buildings and also a major road that will connect Gay Street and College Street to help with the circulation of traffic.
Hotel officials declined to comment about it closing, however, Auburn students who walk passed the establishment everyday on the way to class believe the a new shopping center can only have a positive impact on the City of Auburn.
"It's going to be a lot better because this hotel really isn't bringing anyone in from what I know and on game day it's just a parking lot, so I think bringing in a CVS will bring a lot more business," explains Auburn student, Michael O'Hare.
"It's a project that I think we can point to for future prospects about this what we'd really like to see in downtown," states Cotton.
The project is believed to begin construction in the spring of 2013.
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