WARNER ROBINS, Ga. — As 2024 winds to a close, many people will be writing up personal goals heading into the new year.
That's no different than Warner Robins, as they prepare to move forward with their plans to build a downtown space.
This year, they knocked down two structures, and have torn down three in total. Mayor LaRhonda Patrick says they now own nearly 90% of their target area.
"Council and I are just really excited to have a downtown that looks like the places that we love to visit," Patrick said.
As we move into 2025, she says there's still a lot to look forward to. Their big three goals for the space, unveil, tear down, dig up.
"Right now, we're waiting on the renderings, which is the architectural design of what the new Commercial Circle could look like," she said.
Patrick says they hope to have these drawings from UGA College of Engineering next year.
In February, we showed you old concept drawings for what the downtown space could look like. Those drawings included ideas like similarly-colored buildings, similar signage and more space for walking.
"We're going to keep as much of that history as we can - keep the circle, the circle. We're going to breathe that new life and energy and vision into something that we need in our very growing city," Patrick said.
They do plan for their downtown to stick out from the surrounding areas. Patrick says they're working with partners to make sure they stick out as a smart and innovative city.
As they do this, Patrick says they've gotten comments about 'saving Commercial Circle'.
"It's been dead since I was a middle school student right here in Warner Robins. Let's be real about that. That's the reality, " Patrick says.
She says revitalizing the area and giving it new life, business, and activities is the only way to save it.
"That's exactly what we're doing. We can keep it the same and still have a dead downtown or we can breathe new life into it and make it something that the middle Georgia can see," Patrick said.
If you drive through the downtown space, you may not have seen any noticeable change since May. That when the city had their last building demolition.
"You can only go as far as your funding allows you, so we slowed down a bit, but were ready to pick it back up going full speed next year," Patrick said.
The city has allocated $2 million in SPLOST fund to go towards buying more buildings and tearing them down.
Patrick says they are working on a demolition schedule, but hope next year to see a record tear down.
"Every building that has asbestos under it will be demolished, that land will be remediated," she shared.
So next year they will also work towards remediating some of the soil pollution in the area. They are part of the Georgia Brownfields program and working with the Environmental Protection Agency to make change.
"Before that remediation can happen, the buildings have to be moved out of the way so we can get under the ground," she said.
Patrick says we also should see results from their city rebranding project next year. Branding ideas for the circle will come from this as well.
Patrick's first-term comes to an end in 2025. She hopes to push this forward through the rest of her term, and carry it on as she hopes to win a second.
"I look forward to being right here in this seat and to, to do that ribbon cutting when that new downtown is ready to go," she said.