Politics
Politics

Historic preservation or historic giveaway?

The Clermont Hotel, left, and an abandoned power plant in Savannah stand to benefit from state tax credits for historic properties.
The Clermont Hotel, left, and an abandoned power plant in Savannah stand to benefit from state tax credits for historic properties.
By James Salzer
Aug 29, 2015

Atlanta's iconic and seedy Clermont Hotel, once home to strippers on the stage of the Clermont Lounge, now has something in common with an abandoned Georgia Power plant in Savannah.

Both are eligible for tax credits for historic preservation, thanks to last-minute legislation passed by the 2015 General Assembly.

The credits will help transform the Clermont into a boutique hotel. They'll also help a Savannah developer turn the century-old power plant into an entertainment-hotel megaplex with a music venue, pricey hotel rooms and laser shows.

Historic preservation or historic giveaway? Preservationists and politicians are sharply divided.

Click here to view a special myAJC presentation on the controversy, and what developer Richard Kessler has in store for Savannah.

About the Author

James Salzer has covered state government and politics in Georgia since 1990. He previously covered politics and government in Texas and Florida. He specializes in government finance, budgets, taxes, campaign finance, ethics and legislative history

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