Macon begins demolition for East Macon redevelopment project

Macon-Bibb County Mayor Lester Miller said the project has been in the city’s plan.

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – Macon celebrated another milestone Wednesday in East Macon with the demolition of an empty former secretary of state office at 237 Coliseum Drive, which will bring in more business and upgrades to the east side of Macon.

Macon-Bibb County Mayor Lester Miller said the project has been in the city’s plan.

“Today they will begin the process of getting these two buildings down, to make way for some great projects in East Macon. So, were very excited about that, that it’s been a long time coming. Over the last couple of years, we’ve been working on developing this site; as we get closer to the completion of the interstate, the new national park, the new arena coming. It’s going to be great things happening in East Macon,” Miller said.

Miller said the new development will be part of a larger investment, including retail, restaurants and residential properties.

“A five hundred eighty-million-dollar project we’ve been working on seems like a decade now. A new arena certainly needed; I said before this is a tad; a tax allocation district. Which means all the upper development; all the taxes for the upper development must be spent on infrastructure in the East Macon area. So, were excited about that. It’s a good way to inject a lot of capital into a community that’s been wanting for a long time,” Miller said.

With input from the community, Miller said it was time for a change.

“People have been waiting for it for a while and talking about it; now they can see it with their own eyes. We’re doing the demolition today; you will see somethings coming out the ground across the street this year. I think people had hope, now they’re seeing it get into action. So, I think there excited about it, we want to continue to do that; So, the next couple of years you’re going to see a different east Macon than you seen before, and something everybody can be proud of,” Miller said.

Miller told 41NBC the city expects East Macon upgrades to be complete between the middle of next year and 2028.