When the downtown Macon Health Club closes its doors Saturday afternoon, it\u2019s unclear if it will ever reopen.<\/p>\n
Macon Health Club Inc., the former owner of the club, sought to lease the space after the current operator, The Medical Center, Navicent Health, announced plans to close the facility last year.<\/p>\n
Located on the corner of First and Cherry streets, the facility first opened in 1908 as a YMCA.<\/p>\n
The Medical Center filed suit earlier this year, asking a judge to decide whether the hospital is still bound by terms of a 1991 agreement signed by the hospital when it took over operations from the Macon Health Center Inc. The agreement gave Macon Health Center Inc. an option to lease the facility if the hospital chose to close it before Dec. 13, 2020.<\/p>\n
The hospital contends that Macon Health Center Inc. failed to remain an active corporation and cannot transfer its rights to Macon Health Club Inc. \u2014 a newer organization made up of the same people \u2014 to enforce the agreement. <\/p>\n
The hospital has maintained that Macon Health Club doesn\u2019t have standing in the case, and it filed a motion asking a Bibb County Superior Court judge to rule on the issue without a jury trial.<\/p>\n
Bibb County Superior Court Judge David Mincey denied the motion March 31, ruling instead that a jury should decide whether The Medical Center is still bound by the agreement.<\/p>\n
In his order, Mincey required the hospital to keep the health club open through this weekend \u2014 it\u2019s open till 3 p.m. on Saturdays and is closed on Sundays \u2014 and he instructed the parties to participate in mediation.<\/p>\n
The hospital said in a statement that it is asking the Georgia Court of Appeals to review Mincey\u2019s decision that the matter is one for a jury to decide.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s unclear when the appellate court will rule.<\/p>\n
Jim Marshall, a health club member and spokesman for the group wanting to keep the club open, said his group and the hospital met for a mediation session April 20. The parties weren\u2019t able to reach an agreement, but Marshall said the two parties still are negotiating.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe each have very different views of what\u2019s the right thing to do here,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
A message from club member Darin McClure to other members Friday said that The Medical Center had declined the latest settlement offer from Macon Health Club Inc. without proposing an alternative. The message said the group had asked Mincey to extend the window again, but \u201cwe do not know\u201d what the judge will decide.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhether the club is closed for a day, a week, a month or longer, we intend to pursue our rights with diligence while also continuing our efforts to reach a reasonable settlement both sides can live with,\u201d the message said in part. “Our club and this place is special because of our members … that respect each other, speak to each other, encourage each other and enjoy being there together. … And we honor each other by standing together to the end, whatever that end may be.”<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
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