Meeting on 're-inventing' downtown

GAINESVILLE - A meeting was held Tuesday to brainstorm ideas on how to 're-invent' four acres of downtown Gainesville, including the Georgia Mountains Center.

The city earlier this year solicited proposals on the project that could reshape the look of the city's historic business district.

According to Assistant City Manager Angela Sheppard, the city sent out formal Requests for Proposal (RFP) to developers, architects and construction contractors in late January.

"The City has approximately four acres in the downtown area we are seeking proposals on," Sheppard said. "The four acres include some of the vacant parking lots that face Jesse Jewell Parkway at Main Street and Maple Street, and it includes the Georgia Mountain Center."

The city asked firms to send in their ideas about what type of development could go in the area and how to "re-purpose" or "re-invent" the mountains center to go with that development. Sheppard said the city is looking at more than just a renovation of the mountains center this time. The complex got a facelift in 2005, but there's an interest in mixed-use development, not just an expansion, and there are possible other uses such as retail, residential and restaurants.

The mountains center was one of the venues toured by the group Tuesday.

The development, Sheppard observed, would not conflict but instead would complement the City View project, which developer Wendell Stark is planning across the street from the mountains center.

"We're not looking to duplicate his project at all, and we hope this project will produce some things that will coordinate and enhance his development."

The development site is in Gainesville's downtown Tax Allocation District (TAC) and Opportunity Zone, which the city hopes will attract new businesses.

"There really are a lot of financial resources for people who are coming in and looking to develop," Sheppard said. "The Opportunity Zone allows some tax credits for people."

The city requested design concept as well also financial information from potential developers and told them to come up with a plan that would produce a project within the next three to five years. By then, Sheppard hopes the economy will emerge from the recession.

"One of the reasons we've received so much interest is people are finally starting to feel like things are coming back around or picking back up," Sheppard said. "A lot of the feedback we've gotten indicates it's just the right time to put this out with the demolition of the old public safety building, the City View project and the timing of the economy."