A building on Coliseum Drive in East Macon came down Wednesday as Macon-Bibb County clears land at the former Bibb Mill site to make room for new development.
What’s Happening: The building most recently held offices for the Georgia Secretary of State, which has since moved to Arkwright Road. It is one of several structures being torn down at the site.
The Property: Macon-Bibb County owns 21 acres at the former Bibb Mill site on Coliseum Drive, land it purchased several years ago. The site sits near I-16, the Ocmulgee Mounds National Historical Park, the Riverwalk, the Macon Coliseum, and Downtown Macon.
By the Numbers: The county estimates the site could attract $350 million in private investment.
In His Own Words: “This area is primed for major investment, and we’re clearing the way so people can see what’s possible,” Mayor Lester Miller said. “With its location near the Ocmulgee Mounds, Riverwalk, Coliseum, Downtown, and more, this is a key gateway into our community.”
What’s Next: The county is actively seeking a private developer for the property. Officials say a successful project could help the Macon Convention Center draw larger conferences, expand affordable housing options near Downtown, improve access to Ocmulgee Mounds National Historical Park, fund neighborhood infrastructure improvements, and grow sales tax revenue.
The Path Forward: No developer has been selected and no construction timeline has been set. The county says owning the land gives it control over what ultimately gets built there.
B.T. Clark
B.T. Clark is an award-winning journalist and the Publisher of The Georgia Sun. He has 25 years of experience in journalism and served as Managing Editor of Neighbor Newspapers in metro Atlanta for 15 years and Digital Director at Times-Journal Inc. for 8 years. His work has appeared in several newspapers throughout the state including Neighbor Newspapers, The Cherokee Tribune and The Marietta Daily Journal. He is a Georgia native and a fifth-generation Georgian.
