MACON, Ga. — You and your family could soon have a new hangout spot in the heart of Macon. One developer says after a few delays, they are back on track.
13WMAZ spoke to Managing Principal Mike Ciabattoni with CW Development Holdings LLC. He says the idea for 'The Yard' came about after looking for land to put a property on.
"The group started looking at the various properties that were available and saw that large piece of dirt down there," Ciabattoni said. "22 and a half acres and thought kind of a tremendous opportunity to do something really large-scale."
He explained that he talked with Mayor Lester Miller and Alex Morrison with the Urban Development Authority. He wants this space to be family-friendly.
'The Yard' would include a golf ball tracking simulator, a mini golf course, a pickle ball court, and a music venue area. Ciabattoni says there's something for everyone. And the coal tower that sits right next to it would go unscathed.
"It was on that Fading Five list there and we spoke with Historic Macon," Ciabattoni said. "When we acquired the land, we said we planned to save it. That is their term for these properties. We have no intention of taking it down, and the plan it's got that iconic imagery and it kind of gives a unique vibe to the property really as it sits there on the corner."
Joseph Calloway works at Sanco Products Company, which sits on the opposite side of the railroad tracks where the complex would go. He says he looks forward to what the project will bring.
"I think it's going to bring a lot of business," Calloway said.
Calloway told 13WMAZ he knows a lot about the history of the neighborhoods near 7th Street, recalling that it was predominantly a Black neighborhood. He says he hopes the project will come to fruition.
"I would love to see it from start to finish," Calloway says
The complex would sit near the railroad tracks occupied by Norfolk Southern Railway. Ciabattoni says that won't be a problem.
"Those railroad tracks are the property boundary and there is some easement space there so everything is going to be contained within our property and those are not in the way or anything like that," Ciabattoni said.
Ciabattoni says the 'The Yard' would bring about 100 jobs.
Next, Ciabattoni will have to work with Planning and Zoning to get the plans approved before they can start breaking ground. He says he hopes to start moving dirt in early 2025 and hopes to have 'The Yard' ready for Central Georgians sometime in 2026.