Loft Living Trend: New Development Coming to Poplar Street in Macon

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – The push to have more people living downtown continues in Macon. On Wednesday, loft developers from Atlanta announced they’re moving in on Poplar Street.

Geheber Lewis Associates are planning on opening a “trendy loft style living space” called the Lofts at Poplar. The building is strategically placed near Taste and See Coffee Shop and not far from city hall. The plan is to transform the former Alphagraphics building into 12 units of office style lofts. The project is expected to be complete in spring 2014. During Newtown Macon’s annual meeting and walking tour on Wednesday, developers Fred Geheber and Allan Lewis talked about the urge to build downtown.

“We’re excited about this project,” Geheber said.

Across from the Lofts at Poplar, Second Street loft developer Larry Ballard Jr. recently felt the to urge to get into the building industry. He’s working on apartment units and commercial space and helping with the Dannenberg Lofts.

“Downtown living is going to be the backbone, the heartbeat of Macon, before it’s all said and done,” he said.

Recently, it seems like everyone is trying to breathe life into Macon’s vacant spaces. “Live. Work. Play” has been Newtown Macon’s trilogy behind the efforts to expand loft living. As investors and developers got a first hand look at the progress on Wednesday, it appeared people are continuing to catch on.

“This will just continue to have a ripple effect of revitalization and that’s what Newtown’s all about,” said Kris Hattaway, NewTown Macon’s Director of Place, “we will continue to truck along on our mission to revitalize downtown Macon.”

Follow Jasmine Williams on Twitter and ‘like’ her on Facebook.