Perry officials, DDA discuss potential brewpub and additions to downtown 

Perry residents may see a brewpub popping up on Main Street next to the Perry Players Community Theatre at some point next year, along with other additions — according to city assistant manager Robert Smith and members of the Downtown Development Authority (DDA). They met Monday to commence discussion on expanding businesses and public-use amenities in the downtown district.

“Generally, discussions are progressing, and things seem to be going quite well,” Smith said.

Appropriate city personnel are engaged with architects and weighing the idea of a new downtown brewpub — which is subject to change at this moment, according to Smith.

“What they are proposing is a 170-seat brewpub,” Smith said. “Again that’s a combination of 170 of indoor, outdoor and bar seating. Initially, we had talked about in that site, kind of going more dense, going up a little bit — having some sort of rooftop component — maybe even a second story type of thing. However, the construction costs are prohibitive.”

The facility would feature a service alley, improvements for handling stormwater, daily solid waste pick-up and courtyard seating, he said.

Smith said the designers are hoping to offer an atmosphere there similar to one from the 1940s-50s, and officials with the Department of Community Development agree the brewpub would be an appropriate addition to the city.

The current estimated cost for the entire facility to be built and open for business is $2,167,747.64:

• Facility construction: $1,404,856

• Fire, fixtures and equipment: $174,000

• Kitchen equipment: $156,481

• Brewery equipment: $392,410.64

• Miscellaneous expenses: $40,000

Some sources for the financing of the brewpub could include a $2 million 30-year DDA revenue bond with an approximately 3% interest rate, $240,000 in cash equity from the building’s owner and a natural gas incentive worth $27,764.50 — totaling out to $2,267,764.50, according to Smith. 

Bond counsel and city financial personnel are currently discussing other potential financing options besides the revenue bond, he added.

“Again, I think right now we’re kind of at a starting point on that,” Smith said. “It may be public bonds; it may be traditional bank financing. I’m not really sure.”

Ashley Hardin, an economic development administrator with the city of Perry, said the owners and financiers of the brewpub should consider applying for a loan program through the Middle Georgia Regional Commission (MGRC) that aims at funding development projects in the city. These funds can be used to cover operating costs as well as soft costs, such as before and after-construction expenses, she said.

Hardin said these loans from the MGRC typically feature around a 4% interest rate over 20 years and can pay up to $600,000. The Downtown Development Revolving Loan Fund and the Georgia Cities Foundation could also offer potential options for application, she added.

Pending commencement from the DDA, finalized negotiations between appropriate parties and a settled financing plan, construction could begin as early as February with the business opening around October.

DDA board member Trish Cossart reminded meeting members that Perry will feature downtown events on upcoming weekends, including: Small Business Saturday on November 27, North Pole Party on December 4, StoryWalk from December 10-12 and Jingle Bell Rock on December 18.

City personnel have added more places to park in Perry, according to downtown manager Jazmin Thomas.

“We’ve been talking about parking quite a lot since I’ve been here,” Thomas said. “We have added 36 new parking spaces along Main Street.”

Regarding additional parking, assistant city manager Smith said city officials are hoping for more spaces here soon.

“It’s my understanding we are very close to a final agreement with the railroad — the right-of-way at the south part of downtown,” Smith said. “The city is constructing an administration building for additional parking down there as well.”

From there, members of the meeting discussed potential city amenities to be added in the near future.

Golf cart parking spaces make for an affordable and simple next step for Perry, according to DDA board member Curtis George.

“I think that’s something that’s easy and fast,” George said. “You can get two golf carts in one parking space. And if we’re going to encourage people — which I think we are — I think that it’s important that there’s places that are striped off for ‘No Parking’ that can easily become golf cart parking spaces.”

Board member Cossart said she liked the idea of modernizing existing historic signage around the city.

“I think that’s something we can partner with the CVB [Convention and Visitors Bureau] since they are looking at doing that project,” Cossart said.

Downtown manager Thomas added that the historical society is working on updated plaques that share information like the original year built and function to be placed on the outside of local buildings.

Assistant city manager Smith said the plaque project was originally supposed to happen sooner but was postponed since it was going to cost the city $90,000. Some officials were discussing the idea of making the program digital and accessible from visitors’ phones, he said.

Thomas said the sidewalk running along Carroll Street will soon be all brick. It will pass the Orleans restaurant, resembling the one that runs on Jernigan Street near the Muse Theatre, according to Thomas. 

DDA board member George is a business partner with the Orleans restaurant and commented on its progress and potential opening early next year.

“It’s moving at a relatively good pace, all things considered,” George said. “We’re still shooting for [opening] February 15.”

A consulting engineer with the Georgia Department of Transportation is reviewing and looking to improve railroad crossings around downtown, according to assistant city manager Smith.

He also added that finances are causing city officials to postpone the demolition of a local water plant.

“We’re having to postpone the demolition and clearance of Water Plant #1,” Smith said. “We were initially anticipating that project to cost around $120,000. All of our bids came in around $450,000, and we can’t spend that right now.”

Smith went on to inform members of the meeting that city officials are finalizing architectural agreements for the new city hall building, and they’re working with Hargray Communications to install a fiber network. This fiber system will connect the new city hall building digitally to the rest of the city’s government facilities, he said. 

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