Outback Motel set for face-lift

Published 12:00 am Thursday, February 14, 2008

DEMOPOLIS &045; People looking for rental property in Demopolis might have another option due to a decision made by the Demopolis Planning Commission Wednesday.

Frank Hesser, a Demopolis native, now living in Chicago, brought a proposal before the commission to subdivide his property located at 1416 Jefferson Road and 108 Industrial Park Sough in Demopolis from one lot into three separate lots.

The motel Hesser referred to is Outback Motel located in the Industrial Park area of Demopolis. Hesser said his plans is to subdivide the property, so that he could sell the motel portion of the property to Jay Shows, who he has been working with on this project for more than two years.

Email newsletter signup

The commission granted Hesser permission for the subdivision with a unanimous vote.

Shows said he has big plans for the motel’s site.

Shows said the father-son team faces approximately a month’s worth of refurbishing.

Shows said the rooms in the current motel are 12 by 20 foot rooms. He said they plan to leave some of the rooms as is structurally, with need upgrades to furniture and design, however, they will also have rooms made into studio efficiency apartment style rooms and additional two-room apartments, which will include a living room and kitchen area along with a bedroom.

Hesser’s late father was the original owner of the property. Shows said after Hesser’s father died, Hesser and he began working on the project.

Shows said he is excited about the project and feels it will be useful for the community.

The planning commission will hold their next meeting at 5:15 p.m. on Feb. 20.