THE Negril Chamber of Commerce has welcomed plans by the state-run Urban Development Corporation (UDC) to sell the over three acres of beachfront land in Negril, which houses the 18-room Mahogany Inn hotel.

The hotel, which has been closed since 1998, is in a state of disrepair and the property is being sold “as is”. Another two acres of land on the opposite side of the road is also being sold as part of the deal and is suitable for ancillary and staff facilities as well as parking.

The UDC bought the 3.09 acres on which the hotel stands in the early 1970s, as part of the Rutland Property. About 10 years later the land was leased to an investor who developed the hotel.

The lease was eventually terminated in 1998 and the UDC took possession of the property. But by then the Inn was already in a state of disrepair and was no longer being operated.

President of the Negril Chamber of Commerce, Kenric Davis has welcomed this latest attempt to have the facility upgraded.

“It has been locked up for a considerable amount of time.

“From the road it doesn’t look (like an eyesore) but I’m sure it must be in a very dilapidated condition because it hasn’t been operated for a very long time. We welcome new businesses,” he told the Observer.

But Davis maintained that the property should not have been allowed to deteriorate to its current condition.

“Properties like those should never be allowed to stay locked up, that is the problem. The longer they stay locked up, the harder it is to find purchasers and get them reopened,” he added.

The UDC is now hoping that someone will be willing to take over the property and redevelop it. They are asking for proposals that outline:

* a summary of the development concept including the final number of rooms;

* project cost;

* management structure and marketing plan;

* an implementation schedule;

* a financial plan and some indication of the applicant’s ability to finance the development.

Interested parties have until Friday to submit their proposal, and according to the UDC they have received some expressions of interest and “a few proposals” to date.

In addition to the three buildings that make up the 18-room Inn, there is also a main building that is used to house the administrative and reception areas, a restaurant and shops. There is also a manager’s residence, laundry and housekeeping store.