Approval of Hall Road auto auction site sparks backlash

The Macon-Bibb County Planning and Zoning Commission cleared the path for a new auto auction facility on Hall Road. Hall road is home to land acquired by A.D. Tolliver, a former enslaved man who purchased the land back in 1894, as well as his descendants.

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – After passionate debate from residents and stakeholders, the Macon-Bibb County Planning and Zoning Commission cleared the path for a new auto auction facility on Hall Road.

Barbara Tolliver Rodgers is the granddaughter of A.D. Tolliver, a formerly enslaved man who bought more than 200 acres of land on Hall Road between 1894 and 1906 in what became known as Summerfield.

“You’re doing all of this for the businesspeople,” Rodgers said. ‘Who’s going to protect the homeowners? That’s my question. 

After Monday’s public hearing, the Macon-Bibb County Planning and Zoning Commission voted to rezone property on Hall Road from residential to commercial status, making way for the auto auction facility. Asha Ellen, who is Tolliver’s great-great granddaughter and a Hall Road resident, also spoke out against the move.

“It will definitely increase the amount of traffic that we currently already have on Hall Road,” Ellen said. “It will impact property values as far as property owners.”

Behind the auto auction’s development is Rowland Engineering, Inc. Before the vote, President Steven Rowland argued that the new auto auction is a plus as it’ll bring economic growth and commercial expansion to the Hall Road and Riverside Drive area.

The board approved the rezone with caveats aimed at controlling traffic flow. But for some residents in attendance, they don’t go far enough.

“At the end of the day it’s a junkyard,” Ellen said. “And who would want a junkyard in the middle of their neighborhood?”

Rodgers says she and other descendants of Tolliver, and the Summerfield community make up a village and will remain united.

“We gone support each other until the last man standing,” Rodgers said. “That’s what we gone do. We gone fight.”