An accurate picture of a redeveloped Georgia Square probably won't come into focus until 2027, but for that to happen, the developer needs to get the go-ahead on a rezoning request.
A town hall meeting Thursday evening to discuss the project on the 75-acre site attracted around 150 people to the atrium of the mall that opened in 1981 off Atlanta Highway. The developer, Mark Jennings, Athens-Clarke Planning Director Bruce Lonnee and W&A Engineer Jon Williams all fielded questions about the redevelopment of Georgia Square.
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Many concerns were expressed, especially about the housing impact and the traffic congestion on Atlanta Highway. One man stood before the audience and said the site should be developed into a water park, something he said is popular in other cities across the nation.
But the crux of what might happen to the area is contingent on what happens this year with the zoning change that is currently before the Athens-Clarke government.
The Athens-Clarke Planning Commission will hold another public hearing on the proposal on Sept. 3. At that time, the commission will make a recommendation to the county Board of Commissioners. It has the options of rejecting the proposal, approving the zoning change, or even tabling it. But tabling the proposal would require a reason, according to Lonnee.
The P&Z recommendation then heads to the Board of Commissioners, who are expected to discuss it at their Sept. 15 agenda-setting meeting. Then it will come up for a vote at the Oct. 6 regular meeting.
The proposal as set forth earlier called for part of the mall to be demolished, with new housing and commercial space added. Greenspace and walking trails were also proposed. The ACC government has already expressed interest in placing a transit center at the site as it extends its bus service to the end of the western side of the county.
One woman questioned what will happen to the police precinct at the mall, and Jennings, a longtime developer and home builder in the Athens area, assured her there would be space for the police substation.
Part of the mall would remain intact, as Belk, which actually owns its building in the mall, plans to continue business there. That area of the mall around Belk will be renovated, according to Jennings. Engineers have reported that other sections of the mall will be demolished and replaced with commercial and housing space.
Some people who live near the mall expressed concerns over the type of housing that will go into the site, but Jennings said some of those facts are unknown, as Jennings said the zoning change must be acquired first before architectural decisions are made on housing that will be largely based on the market. The housing could be anything from apartments to townhouses or single-family homes, according to the report.
Some people expressed sadness that other businesses couldn't be attracted to the mall, and one woman suggested a Hamrick's. Another woman also expressed that more business is needed for the site, while one woman said that more apartments would create traffic problems similar to the traffic congestion at the Oconee Connector.
This article originally appeared on Athens Banner-Herald: Georgia Square redevelopment hinges on key rezoning vote this fall