Macon City Council Trying to Figure Out How to Spend $1.5 Million Atlantic Cotton Mill Grant Money

The future of the old Atlantic Cotton Mill is up for grabs. Macon Mayor Robert Reichert and city council members, sat down to discuss possible options for how to spend the $1.5 million originally designated to re-develop the building.

Since the fire destroyed the building in March, the plot of ground has sat vacant. Historic Macon and Landmark Development were originally going to restore the structure and keep it’s architectural integrity. Now, with no developer left to restore the building, the grant money is left up in the air.

Mayor Reichert says he sees only two basic options for the money; give it back to the state and forget about it, or come up with a new project and re-direct the grant money. He opted for the latter of the two options.

“To me, that’s the best option. The best option is to see if we can come up with a new project and re-direct the grant to the new project,” Reichert said.

But Mayor Reichert and city council weren’t exactly clear as to all the stipulations of how to spend the money. Now that the playing field has changed and there is no current developer in the picture, they are uncertain if the money still has to be used for residential purposes, or if they still have access to the money.

Councilwoman Elaine Lucas said, if the city can still use the money, they should.

“Instead of losing it, or sending back the $1.5 million of Neighborhood Stabilization Money, we would take that money and transfer it to another very viable project,” Lucas says.

Council members said they could not make a decision without all the answers to their questions. They plan to continue working on different options as to what to do with the money until a new developer is found.