A better downtown is in the planning stages for the city of Oakwood.
City Manager B.R. White said the city's 2030 plan has evolved from a wish list concept to general framework for a better city, and that includes creating a downtown space with functional, historical, and commercial features. A community center is high on the list.
"We're looking at somewhere between 15,000 and 50,000 square feet at the moment for a community center," said White.
Other features include a railroad viewing station, historical elements, and shops, similar to downtown Auburn or Athens, including a farmer's market area. The proposed downtown is along Main Street, west of the railroad and between Flat Creek Road.
"We're working with the University of Georgia's School of Engineering and we presented a project for them to come in and do a design and have a clean slate," he said. "They're wrapping the project up within the next two weeks. So we'll have a presentation to council probably sometime in the next two months."
At the same time, the need for a new courts space and police station is also being addressed. The former poultry lab, about a half mile from the current City Hall and Police Station, will be the site of the update.
"We'll look at demolition first, and then one of the capital projects is build a new facility," White said.
How will these projects be paid for? White said they are currently researching bonds, grants and other opportunities to help fund the projects.
"The poultry lab, the downtown, several other projects, we are looking at possible bonds, we're looking at loans and we're looking at those now to see how much we can actually qualify for," said White. "We'll probably apply for some grants, and some matching grants to build more of the phases than we could do initially."
Other projects are on the radar for the city, including expanding the available sidewalks, an upgrade to the city cemetery to add mausoleums, and joining in on the Highlands to the Islands Trail.
White said they don't have a connection point just yet for the trail. Until then, the South Hall Rotary Club dedicated a Peace Pole at the city park Tuesday, and White said the pole will be moved to a contemplation garden once the trail link is established.
