Macon-Bibb County took steps to link the River North neighborhood to downtown by agreeing to purchase 23 acres to expand the Ocmulgee Heritage Trail northwest of Amerson River Park.
After an executive session in Tuesday’s pre-commission meeting, commissioners authorized Mayor Lester Miller to spend $224,000 for land in the 4000 block of Arkwright Road between the Ocmulgee River and the railroad tracks. The four parcels are valued at nearly $135,000 collectively, according to the tax records.
During a recent Urban Development Authority board retreat, UDA Executive Director Alex Morrision explained that the Georgia Department of Transportation also transferred ownership to the county of about 200 acres around Amerson that are undevelopable due to sewer easements.
“We can’t have development, but can have park space,” Morrison said. “It’s a really nice hunk of trail that hugs the river.”
Back at the trail’s first leg, Macon-Bibb commissioners also agreed to buy the vacant gas station at 40 Spring St. near the river bridge.
That 0.9 acre is included in the graphic for the new Mercer University School of Medicine that was released with last week’s announcement of the Urban Development Authority agreeing to sell its multiple acres. UDA has been holding the land for planned riverfront development on the site of the old Transit Authority and Facilities Management headquarters.
Although architectural plans for the medical school, lofts, hotels and retail development have yet to be released, the project is expected to transform that gateway into town from Spring Street to the Second Street Bridge, which means other real estate deals could be pending with private landowners.
The county will pay up to $1.05 million for the gas station property that was valued at about $464,000 in the last assessment.
In 2017, a Downtown Challenge Grant from the Community Foundation of Central Georgia funded speculative plans that envisioned a new trail head park on the Spring Street corner and provided pedestrian pathways along Riverside Drive from Rose Hill Cemetery to Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
Commissioners also agreed to UDA leasing five commercial properties near Riverside Drive and College Street that Riverside Cemetery transferred to the county in 2023.
The five commercial properties primarily served as offices and storage space. UDA would keep 10% of the rent as a management fee under the agreement.
MVP update, other agenda items
Tuesday’s meetings began with an update on the Macon Violence Prevention program funded through three rounds of grants from the Community Foundation.
Mayor Lester Miller said the program is working, but curbing violence and changing behavior takes time, so more work needs to be done.
He touted a 45% reduction in homicides from 71 in 2022 to 39 in 2024, and showed an 87% reduction in youth killings of those under 18 from 15 in 2022 to two in 2024.
Macon Mental Health Matters, a key component of the MVP program, documented more than 60 community events last year, more than 3,500 hours of free therapy for individuals and more than 1,700 hours of support groups.
District Attorney Anita Howard celebrated 122 graduates of her RISE program that stands for Restoring Inspiration by Success in Education that helps young people who have been affected by crime, violence and trauma.
Bibb County Sheriff David Davis also spoke on the success of Shot Spotter technology in solving crime and reducing gunfire, and the ability of the surveillance camera network to catch criminals or find missing persons.
Commissioners also made mid-year budget adjustments of over $8 million, distributed $300,000 in American Rescue Plan Act fund interest to Visit Macon, and accepted a $50,000 GEMA grant to purchase computers and a disaster supply delivery vehicle.
Also on the agenda, $102,000 for lighting the skate park in Carolyn Crayton Park, $100,000 for a road re-striping contractor and six alcohol license approvals.
Here are highlights from social media posts during the meeting.
— Civic Journalism Senior Fellow Liz Fabian covers Macon-Bibb County government entities for The Macon Newsroom and can be reached at [email protected] or 478-301-2976.
