Let's Hope Harder Hall's Future Gets Brighter

A lot of people have been anxious to hear if Sebring's deal to sell Harder Hall would happen after the 30-day due diligence period. It didn't, unfortunately, but the good news is that another investor is in line to buy the historic property on Little Lake Jackson.

Sebring Hospitality Group, a group of investors from the northeast made up of doctors, wanted a 30-day extension on their due diligence period. Sebring City Council members said no, that there was a better deal waiting from the next investor.

We believe the council made a wise decision to move on. Perhaps 30 days isn't enough time, but that's the offer the first group made. Besides, the new investor, Steve Israel, is offering more money for the property. Of course, he wants due diligence as well. In the meantime, the city continues to talk to other potential buyers.

The hospitality group offered to pay the city $10,000 to expand due diligence another 30 days. But as council member Bud Whitlock said, the extension would cost the city $42,000 in taxes and fees on the building, so it doesn't make sense.

Selling Harder Hall won't be easy. If it was, it would have sold a long time ago. One contractor estimated another $12 million is needed to renovate the building. Even tearing down the building would cost a fortune. No one wants to see that, though.

We hope a legitimate buyer steps up soon and makes something happen on that wonderful property with that beautiful old building. Just about everyone wants the landmark to be saved, renovated and open for business. Problem is, it appears what we want and what's reality are two different things.

If Israel eventually buys the property, condos will be on the site. A working hotel just couldn't recoup the cost of renovation, much less pay for upkeep on a building of that size and age.

All we know for sure is that we want Harder Hall to be privately owned and restored. Let's hope the next 30 days prove more fruitful than the last 30.