The bidding process is underway on a historic property in Bowling Green.

Once a hub of activity believed to have hosted entertainers like Little Richard and Tina Turner.

It has fallen into disrepair over the last several years.

As our Laura Rogers explains, the city now owns the property and is welcoming ideas for the best path forward.

I had a lot of history as a young girl at George Washington Carver and belonged to the Girl Scouts.

Sharon Cosby was born and raised in the Sheikh Rashid neighborhood of Bowling Green.

There's just a generation that has missed out on the history.

Part of the history belongs to the Southern Queen Hotel, built in 1906.

It served black travelers who were unable to stay in Bowling Green's White hotels.

It's also when the Green Book, and that's a publication that tells you where people of color could safely stay and be comfortable.

The property has sat vacant over the past couple of decades, falling into disrepair.

It's a shame the condition the place got in.

But now there are plans to restore the home to its former glory.

The idea is for the city to award it to a private developer that has the best plan to benefit the neighborhood and the community of Bowling Green overall.

Is to preserve the peaceful and quiet mis and the the purity of it, because to me it was just a very nice place.

Cosby says she has fond memories of spending time at the home as a young girl.

And when I was a Girl Scout, we used to go over there and we would have etiquette lessons.

Also known as the Covington Moses home.

It started as a boarding house before becoming a hotel.

We've been hearing ideas for maybe reviving the hotel as a hotel again and turning it back into more of like an Airbnb kind of hotel or maybe a bed and breakfast.

We've heard ideas of maybe an event space or venue space.

This is pretty cool.

That's green.

And gold.

City workers went inside the building this summer to stabilize it and clean out and save what they could.

We've cataloged over 800 items, mostly like school ephemera, family albums, photos, documents, some furniture.

Butler says they will work with local museums to preserve those historical items.

She says their efforts this summer drew the attention of locals evoking memories.

There were people that lived in that neighborhood who just happened to notice and they would come by and say, Well, I remember we did this here and this there and this there, and they just started pouring out these stories.

Stories that were otherwise may be lost.

They hope the next owner will save those stories by giving the once elaborate home and hotel new life.

I want it to be a beacon.

Is grateful that things are kind of turning it around to this area.

And I hope it continues in a good direction.

For Kentucky Edition.

I'm Laura Rogers.

Now the city is taking bids on the Southern queen and two neighboring properties until November 1st.

A committee will choose the best idea and the deed will be handed over for $1.