Deadline looms for Clermont

Fulton County health inspectors will return to the Clermont Motor Hotel on Thursday, the deadline for the hotel's long-term tenants to relocate.

The county ordered it closed by Dec. 31 after discovering a slew of violations, including dirty linen, old bedding and bed bug stains, at the 85-year-old Ponce de Leon Avenue hotel. Investigators also found mold growing on the walls, broken toilet fixtures and other unsanitary conditions.

Meanwhile, the bawdy Clermont Lounge continues to operate as usual in the basement.

"We have no plans to change anything [with the lounge] at the current time," said Matt Shulman of Fairway Capital Partners, which foreclosed on the property in part due to its deteriorating condition.

The hotel inspection was triggered by the change in ownership. The lounge was not inspected because it remains under the permit of the operator, who is leasing it.

Shulman said his firm is working with local officials to help relocate the 38 long-term residents; wants to get the Clermont designated a historic landmark; and has retained Franklin Street Financial Partners to market the property and solicit joint-venture ideas.

"There are a lot of people with creative ideas for that property," Shulman said. "Our main focus is protecting the property and dealing with the issues related to the violations, the day-to-day issues. [Franklin Street Financial Partners] will bring in some bigger ideas for us to consider."

Mac McCall of Franklin Street,  a real estate services company, said he's already "got some interested parties, but we're going to open it up to a wider audience. We think there will be good interest. It hasn't really been widely marketed yet."

It could end up as a high-end or a more modest hotel.  As of now, there's insufficient parking to support condos or apartments.

""Long-term, we think it's an asset somebody is going to want to own because of the location," McCall said. "Initially, it's going to take somebody who's not afraid to roll their sleeves up."