WARNER ROBINS, Ga. — Commercial Circle in Warner Robins was a bustling business district in the 40s.
The buildings are evidence of it.
"Most of the buildings now were built anywhere from the late-40s to the mid-60s,” Ken McCall said.
McCall owns McCall’s Sandwiches, A Taste to Remember on Watson Boulevard. He's been there for 30 years.
“You know, there's been some decline and some blight through the years, but overall, it's been good for us,” he said.
McCall says many of the buildings weren't maintained, leaving them vacant. He says for Commercial Circle to be a busy downtown again, you have to say goodbye to the old to welcome the new.
“You know, you've gotta start from the ground up; have a good plan,” McCall explained.
So, the City of Warner Robins is taking a big step in their plans to wake up downtown. The effort to revitalize the Commercial Circle area has been in the works for the past 30 years, and it starts with the fate of a small building on Watson Boulevard.
The city calls it Operation Revitalize.
To kick off the area's redevelopment, they'll tear down a building at 998 Watson Boulevard that's been an empty car dealership for years now.
It's the first out of many they'll tear down several structures to bring in new ones.
McCall has a front-row seat because the project is across the street from him.
“I've heard about it for so long, so it's great to see something kicked off,” he said.
Kenneth Ivory who owns Auto Fashion just down the road says he’s excited for the demolition beginning because Commercial Circle is a good place to do business.
“That’s because of the statistics on the traffic that it already has. People are always looking and driving through,” he explained.
Ivory says hundreds of folks drive through every day, but don't really have a reason to stop.
“You have more people stopping in the area when you've got quality growth. You put up new buildings, you put up hotels — this area here will be full of a lot of people from the base,” Ivory said. “I see progress really happening at this moment."
McCall says he just wants folks to have a place to go in the heart of town again.
“You know, we don't have a city center or a downtown. So, to do this and build a quintessential downtown, I think is great,” McCall said.
Mandy Stella with the city says they're not done after Wednesday.
They say they hope to tear down six to ten more buildings in the new year.
The demo of the building will happen at 10 a.m. Wednesday at 988 Watson Blvd.
Stella says there's still no timeline for construction and says they're still in the early stages of designing.
She said the city has bought property that is both vacant and under lease. They say they will tear down vacant buildings first and wait to honor the leases for the rest of the buildings before tearing them down.