Warner Robins hosts largest demolition on Commercial Circle to date

WARNER ROBINS – The city of Warner Robins, in partnership with Engage Warner Robins, had its largest demolition on Commercial Circle on Tuesday, Oct.7. 

The demolition involved an approximately 17,823 square foot structure, which had previously housed the Fine Art Society of Middle Georgia’s Art Gallery. 

Mayor LaRhonda Patrick said tearing down the building symbolizes “breathing new life” into the area, which was once a thriving center. 

She shared it is important to do the necessary work to provide a live, work, and play community. 

The city currently owns more than half of Commercial Circle. The demolition was on the southeast quadrant, which the city owns the majority of, except for four parcels, according to Patrick. The city owns all the parcels in the northeastern quadrant. 

The city plans for the future site to have at least a two-story building. The first floor of the building would be retail, and the top floor would be office spaces or residential properties, Patrick explained. 

She hopes the area will be a future location for apartment condos. Patrick said she and the council members are listening to feedback about what they would like to see in Commercial Circle. 

The city aims to complete demolition and establish design standards by the end of this year. They will then put out a “request for proposal” for a master developer to come in and build, Patrick shared.

The city plans to select a master developer next year, and then approximately two years will pass before the area is ready for the public, Patrick said.

Engage Warner Robins is a city-owned development authority. Their job is to act as a landlord for buildings with tenants.

She described them as having a “boots on the ground” approach, bringing different plans and ideas for her and the council to agree on. Once plans are approved, they are made public.

She also said they are instrumental in economic development. Engage Warner Robins checks design standards or overlays to determine which businesses are allowed to operate in the area. 

Councilman Clifford Holmes serves as Chairman of the Downtown Development Authority, making his role instrumental in the city’s future downtown. 

Patrick clarified the project is possible not with tax dollars or property tax dollars, but with Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax, also known as SPLOST. She shared that money was set aside for the acquisition of properties, both during her term and those of previous mayors. 

City Council and Patrick used those funds to purchase abandoned or underutilized properties. This means the city owns the land and can determine what is built on Commercial Circle. 

Previously, the city would offer financial incentives to property owners to help them improve their properties. However, Patrick said that the approach did not work. 

“This time, with us owning the property, tearing down the buildings…many of them have a code violation, they’re not habitable and some have contaminants. We are doing what is necessary to actually make this dream a reality,” she said. 

Patrick encourages people to envision a walkable, sustainable, and vibrant city center where businesses and residences can coexist. 

“A place that opens up greenspace for our children to play in a safe environment, a place people can come and work outside, a place people can come at night and have fine dining or can come on a Saturday and stay all day,” she described. “That is what we’re doing: a live, work, play community that is for every single individual in our community.”

Patrick and Councilman Charlie Bibb then spoke to residents who feel emotionally attached to the buildings. She is aware the buildings have created memories in people’s hearts, especially for those who remember when the area was thriving. 

“Even though some memories may be sad to see the buildings come down, think about how more memories for generations to come that will be formed once this project is complete,” she said. 

Bibb said it is bittersweet to see murals torn down, but the city aims to bring more artwork to the area. Amidst the various emotions, he feels excited about the project. 

“We’re looking forward to seeing what this does; [It will] impact not just this area, but the surrounding area is going to be impacted because of what we’re accomplishing by developing a downtown,” he said. “We want to say this over and over again. So many people talked about this, but we are actually doing what it takes to get this done for the community of Warner Robins, and it is going to be something special.”

Patrick thanked the property owners on Commercial Circle and said the project would not have been possible without them. 

This event was the largest demolition to date for the city, which Patrick considers a symbol of progress. She referenced her campaign’s tagline: “promises made, promises kept.” 

“Many people thought it couldn’t be done, but we proved time and time again that it can be done. We’re doing it and we’re doing it responsibly, being great stewards of taxpayer dollars, and everyone will be excited to see when a master developer comes with their own investment to build the downtown that we all dream of,” she said.