Development in pursuit of a Walhalla hotel

A positive development is reported in the project two men are pursuing to turn the old Oconee Courthouse into a 19-room hotel. Tom Markovich released this statement this morning to 101.7/WGOG NEWS: “We are still moving forward with the project. We (he and partner Herb Witter) did recently receive approval for the project from the National Park Service. Our attorney still has some things he is working on and our architect has a little work to do on construction documents before work can begin. I don’t have a target date just yet but will let you know as soon as we can.” The developers have spent a couple of years seeking federal tax credits and that path has taken them thru the South Carolina Department of Archives and History in Columbia and the National Park Service in Washington. The Markovich and Witter project has been likened to a boutique-style hotel. That’s a concept that Markovich does not entirely embrace, but does not dismiss it either. He said, “I have been a little cautious about using the term boutique hotel but I acknowledge that it fits most of the descriptors. It is going to be a small, full service, independently operated, stylish, inviting, comfortable, service oriented and locally flavored. There are going to be 19 rooms several which can be combined as suites. Business travelers and tourists will be equally comfortable during their stay. We have not determined the name as yet. We are going to have a hotel management company operate the property and will determine the name after some discussion with them.