FAIRHOPE — The old Fairhope Hardware Building in downtown Fairhope looks to survive at least a little longer.

The city's Board of Adjustments and Appeals pushed back its impending decision on the fate of the structure at 301 Fairhope Ave. to its December meeting, as the applicant behind the project has requested an extension to delay the matter.

The 0.2-acre site, on which the building was constructed in 1922, has housed various stores and outlets over the years, including department stores, a Piggly Wiggly and, more recently, Fairhope Hardware. It has been designated as a "contributing" building within the Fairhope Downtown Historic District, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The building was sold in an auction in March 2023 for $1.6 million, and recently there have been plans proposed to demolish the 102-year-old site and replace it with a new building that would include a hotel with 27 rooms on the upper floors along with a medical spa and restaurant on the bottom floors.

The applicant, Mark McKinny, on behalf of owner FST Sildi LLC, is requesting a special exception to allow for a hotel on a property zoned B-2 General Business District.

Despite its historic significance to Fairhope, there are no protections that would prevent the building from being demolished, meaning if the Board of Adjustments gives the green light on the applicant's proposal, the building will be gone to make way for the new project regardless of its age and community presence.

The board received no new information at the Nov. 18 meeting and is communicating with the applicant on the matter.