Athens-Clarke County Mayor Kelly Girtz discussed Friday at a news conference the next steps being taken ahead of a commission vote on March 7 to approve the redevelopment of Georgia Square Mall.
The vote, initially set for Feb. 7, was postponed twice. It would allow $189 million in future property tax revenue from the redevelopment to fund the almost $600 million project.
The developers, Leaven Group, will need to resubmit the Tax Allocation District funding application if a decision is not made by the ACC Commission. The initial decision was planned for Feb. 7, but it has been extended for as long as possible under the Georgia zoning law.
“I feel positive about this called session on the seventh,” Girtz said. “You can’t just feel positive though. You have to do the things that get you to feel positive.”
The next steps include:
- Negotiation of phasing approach between the ACC and development team.
- Approval from the Mall Area Redevelopment Committee.
- Agreement on an intergovernmental agreement between the ACC and the Clarke County School District.
- Approval of the zoning plan and the Community Benefits Agreement by the ACC Commission.
Girtz said it is a rare day when he is not in discussion with the lead attorney, county manager, representatives of the development team or county commissioners.
Belk is one of the four anchor spaces remaining at Georgia Square Mall. Belk has a multi decade lease and right of refusal for any redevelopment of the property around them.
The plan features an amenity-rich town center approach with multi-use trails, a green space, a transit station and a more dense approach to residential buildings. It will also feature approximately 1,200 homes.
Athens-Clarke County had the largest shift of housing units from an estimated 12% surplus in 2012 to a 2.4% shortage in 2019, according to The New York Times.
Ten percent of the rentals in the redeveloped Georgia Square Mall will be permanently affordable to 80% of the area median income. This equates to a family who earns about $45,000 a year in Athens-Clarke County.
There are also plans to convert 15 acres of land at the end of Boulevard, over 20 acres on Barnett Shoals Road and seven acres on Vine Street to workforce housing.
“We take this seriously that we’re going to be bringing many, many, many housing opportunities to the table,” Girtz said.
The vote will take place at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, March 7 at City Hall during a regularly scheduled voting meeting.
The redevelopment plans will "feature approximately 1200 homes, and 10% of the rentals would be permanently affordable at 80% of area median income," Girtz said in regard to the impact on housing. #GeorgiaSquareMall
— Esther Kim (@esthercykim) February 24, 2023
Next steps include:
— Esther Kim (@esthercykim) February 24, 2023
– Agreement on project phasing approach.
– Approval from Mall Area Redevelopment Committee.
– Amendment of @ClarkeCoSchools and @accgov agreement to extend partnership until 2052.
– Approval of Zoning + Community Benefits Agreement from @accgov Commission.
| Why I wrote this story: The redevelopment plan for Georgia Square Mall is a significant endeavor aimed at revitalizing the west side of Athens. This will address much-needed housing options and contribute to the overall economic growth of the community. Through this conference, I was able to focus on newsworthy elements of a story and social media coverage. |
