Downtown Macon To Undergo Major Changes

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – The downtown area in Macon defines the city–a quaint, yet thriving area for businesses and residents to enjoy.

But the area is even more than that–in fact, it stretches farther than Cherry or Poplar Streets.

Macon Mayor Robert Reichert explained the surprise he felt a few months ago after speaking with citizens about the proposed movement of the county courthouse.

“And I thought to myself, it’s only four blocks down the street–how could that be out of downtown? said Reichert. “And it became apparent from the conversation that swirled around that the vision of downtown was constricted and confined to basically Mulberry Street, Cherry Street and Poplar Street, between this terminal station and the law school up on Georgia Avenue.”

And it’s that constriction the mayor wants to avoid with the new plan for downtown Macon.

The Macon Urban Redevelopment Authority announced Wednesday their intention to improve the downtown area–all in one collaborative effort funded by the Knight Foundation and the Peyton Anderson Foundation.

Mercer President Bill Underwood says this plan will be a real call to action.

“Sometimes planning is an excuse for not acting, and I’m not a fan of that kind of planning,” said Underwood. “But if you do planning properly, it can be real catalyst to success.”

Though it hasn’t quite materialized what will actually change, the unification process of multiple organizations will begin to improve the downtown area in Macon.

“This is about all of us together, co-creating our future,” said Alex Morrison, Executive Director of the Macon Urban Redevelopment Authority. “And we can’t do it unless we have a unified vision for how we’re going to proceed.”