DALTON, Ga. — By the end of 2020, the historic railroad depot at 110 Depot St. in Dalton could once again be a center for dining and nightlife.

Members of the City Council voted 3-1 on Monday to approve a $300,000 bid from Dalton’s Barrett Properties for the depot. Barrett was the only company to bid on the building when the council put it up for sale earlier this year.

Council member Tyree Goodlett cast the dissenting vote. Mayor Dennis Mock typically votes only in the event of a tie.

According to the company’s proposal, the renovated depot would house two distinct businesses, a restaurant in the northern section and a bar in the southern section. The grand opening is listed as Dec. 31, 2020.

“I believe this will have a positive impact on downtown Dalton,” said council member Gary Crews. “Barrett has a good track record. They have invested in downtown and have a history of renovating properties.”

Barrett Properties owns several buildings downtown, including the former Belk building at 307 S. Hamilton St., which it is developing into apartments, and the Landmark Building, which now houses the Dalton Innovation Accelerator, the city’s first business incubator.

The resolution approved by the council members calls for Barrett to complete all exterior renovation — including roofing masonry repairs, window repair and replacement of siding — within 15 months of closing and to complete all work necessary for the county building inspector to issue a certificate of occupancy within 18 months.

The resolution says that if Barrett doesn’t meet that timetable the city can buy the property back for the lesser of the purchase price plus the cost of any improvements that are made or the appraised value. Language was added to that stating that any costs related to building out the property for a tenant would be excluded.

Goodlett said he had not had a chance to read that new language and study it and that was why he voted against the resolution.

“I never want to vote on anything if I haven’t had the time to go over it,” he said.

Listed in the National Register of Historic Places, the depot was built in 1852 by the Western & Atlantic Railroad. It was the home for some 25 years of the Dalton Depot & Trackside Tavern restaurant. The city closed the depot in November 2015, citing conditions that “posed potential health hazards to the public,” including mold. The building has remained empty since.