Two vacant and vandalized old elementary schools will become 105 affordable housing units after the Macon-Bibb County Planning & Zoning Commission approved rezoning in those neighborhoods at Monday’s hearings. 

In April of 2023, Sam Datta’s Next Step Macon LLC purchased from the Bibb County School District the old Morgan Elementary at 3750 Jessie Rice St. for $370,000, and the former Joseph N. Neel School at 2840 Hightower Road for $90,000. 

P&Z approved rezoning both properties from single-family residential to multi-family residential so that 55 apartments can be built on Jessie Rice Street and 50 could go in on Hightower Road. 

Datta told P&Z commissioners that restoration of these schools was delayed by Next Step’s conversion of the old Holiday Inn off Riverside Drive to 95 apartments, but they are ready to get the schools done.

“We look for good structure that we can convert it because nowadays, doing a new construction is going to cost a lot, and that’s going to be very high rent,” Datta said. 

The sites will have common amenities like a laundry room and gym and are expected to rent below the current market price and possibly include Section 8 vouchers as they have with about 5% to 10% of their other properties across the Southeast, Datta said. 

Both complexes will have a range of apartments from studios to four-bedroom units and Datta said he expects to gate each community. 

“I appreciate that you’re using these old buildings and revitalizing them,” P&Z Commissioner Mindy Attaway said. 

Datta said it would take about a year to complete the Jessie Rice units, but did not give a timeline for the Hightower renovation.

At 2611 Hillcrest Ave., commissioners split 3-2 on a personal care home for up to six children, which was the most controversial item on Monday’s agenda with four opponents signed up to speak at the meeting. 

Property owner Mary Dobbins plans to accept up to a half-dozen children ages 6 to 17, many of them with intellectual disabilities, but assured commissioners she would turn down applicants who were not a “good fit” for the other residents at the time. 

“It would be a 24/7 watchful oversight for the kids, and they usually would be kids that are in custody of the State of Georgia,” Dobbins said. 

“Any of these juvenile delinquents, or in trouble with the law?” P&Z Chair Jeane Easom asked. 

“No,” Dobbins said. 

Dobbins already runs a similar home in Henry County and had a little boy with her as she made her case before the commission. She pledged to hire a director with a master’s degree and only employ caregivers with at least four years experience.  

Neighbor Louis Tompkins worried the home would negatively affect his property values and degrade the character of the Cherokee Heights Historic District, which he said led to his “not in my backyard,” or NIMBY stance. 

“I appreciate the fact that we are our brother’s keeper, but I believe in NIMBY, too, and I believe in the American way, but I think there can be other places where this facility can be placed there,” Tompkins said.

Neighbor Andrea Matthews said, “Cherokee Heights Historic District means a lot of things, but a personal care home on that corner is not one of them.” 

Dobbins said she understood the neighbors’ concerns, but she did not think they realized what this group home would actually entail. 

“This is simply a family environment,” Dobbins said “All these kids every day will be going to school. They will be getting supervised by staff. It’s a low ratio to the amount of individuals that’s residing there.”   

Two employees, who would be scrutinized by licensing inspectors, would be working with up to six children, but the state only requires one staff member for 10 youth. 

The public doesn’t realize how many children are out there looking for home care, she said. 

“They are being placed in the state custody of Georgia, and then having nowhere to be, being placed in so many unfit locations that are not licensed, as well as with family members who are not fit to take care of these kids,” Dobbins said.

In motioning for approval of the conditional use of the group home, Commissioner Kesia Stafford told Dobbins, “I’m just going to say thank you for not giving up on our children. It just takes someone to step up and do what you’re doing. We constantly have issues with our children, but yet providing solutions we don’t always see.”

Niche on the move, new distribution center

The owner of Niche Lounge is tired of paying rent on Second Street and plans to move to her own building at 350 Cherry St. 

Georgette Drafts received a conditional use permit for amplified music and operating hours until 2 a.m. 

She assured commissioners she has decibel monitoring equipment and will instruct deejays to keep the sound within acceptable limits. 

“The good thing, as well, about this building is, it’s not around any apartments. The closest apartment is mine,” Drafts said. “But on top of that, I’m a lounge, so I’m not trying to play extremely loud music.” 

Commissioners also approved rezoning 33 acres from agricultural to heavy industrial in two parcels at 5205, 5241 Columbus Road.

HFG Development plans to build a 400,000-square-foot distribution warehouse to run 24/7 with a full perimeter driveway to allow fire trucks close proximity to the building from all angles. 

Plans call for landscaping with trees and shrubs for screening, shade and soil stabilization. 

Lighting on the exterior and parking lot will be angled downward to prevent illuminating neighboring properties. 

Other agenda items

• 5570, 5580, 5590 Marion Road — P&Z approved rezoning nearly 10 acres in three parcels from Planned Development Multi-use to agricultural to allow a manufactured home on Yamina Martinzez’s land.
• 291 Hines Terrace — P&Z approved new gutters for this house in the Vineville Historic District. 
• 1657 Coleman Ave. — Fence design was approved for this historic district home. 
• 2682 Stanislaus Circle — P&Z approved prior landscaping modifications as long as the homeowner removes an 8-foot tall wooden arbor which does not meet design guidelines. 
• 100 Waterford Place — P&Z granted a conditional use application for the homeowner’s pool house to be used as an accessory dwelling unit. 
• 3586 Riverside Drive — P&Z approved Mid GA Pain MD’s medical office in an existing building. Dr. Margaret Boltja plans to employ two people Monday to Friday during normal business hours. 
• 5073 Forsyth Road — Commissioners approved a variance in setback requirements for TransMontaigne’s aboveground liquid petroleum tank farm to install a pre-engineered steel canopy to shield its existing scale and loading area. The canopy will protect truck drivers from inclement weather and help protect stormwater runoff from contamination.  

— 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.

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