CITY
NEWS JUNE 2021
City Center Park opens in July
NEW CITY HALL IS NOW OPEN
Mayor Ed Johnson (left) and City Manager Ray Gibson talk on the second floor of the new City Hall.
The Week of May 31 was move-in week for personnel based at the new Fayetteville City Hall. The wellorganized, five-day process ensured that constituent services were provided seamlessly between the old City Hall and the new one. On that Friday, customer service representatives and supervisors operated at both locations before closing that afternoon to complete the transition. June 7 was the first day the new City Hall building was open to the public, and June 17 was the first regularlyscheduled City Council meeting held in the new Council Chambers. Another milestone will take place Saturday, July 17, when the adjacent City Center Park opens to the public, starting with a day full of grand opening activities.
Above-left: Community Development personnel pause for a photo while unpacking on the first days in the new City Hall building. Above-right: Deputy Finance Director Carleetha Talmadge (l-r), City Clerk Anne Barksdale, and Public Services Director Chris Hindman convene in the old City Hall during the last days of its use. Below-left: The new City Hall atrium was graced with congratulatory flowers from Huddleston Florist. Bottom-right: The Water Department payment drop box from the old City Hall was refurbished and relocated to the new City Hall property.
2 - June 2021
FAYETTEVILLE HOSTS CITY CENTER PARK GRAND OPENING JULY 17
The City of Fayetteville will open the new City Center Park in grand style Saturday, July 17, with midday and evening events full of fun and entertainment. The first event, scheduled for 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., will be themed for families, with kid crafts and activities, inflatables, a highenergy workout sponsored by HiTONE Fitness, a fun run around the park, performances by local organizations, and more. Drink and food trucks will be on site
selling tasty treats as well. The second event, scheduled for 6-10 p.m., will feature beer and food trucks, a KidsZone and craft station, live music from Phil and the Blanks, and culminating in a DJ-hosted dance party produced by Ultrasonic Entertainment. Admission and activities are free of charge. These events not only mark the official opening of City Center Park, but they are also the first of many free, public events
planned and hosted by the City of Fayetteville in 2021. Learn more about these events at www. Fayetteville-GA.gov/Events and www.DowntownFayetteville.org. Beginning with the 10 a.m. July 17 event, City Center Park will be open to the public daily. More details about park hours, rules, and offerings will be published soon on the City’s website, www. Fayetteville-GA.gov/News. (See event ad on Page 12)
GUESTS OF ALL AGES AND ABILITIES WILL ENJOY CITY CENTER PARK Starting July 17, Fayetteville’s new City Center Park will be open to the public during daylight hours. The new gathering place offers all-abilities playgrounds for older and younger children, a splash pad, an interactive water flume, an open lawn, picnic pavilions, park benches, and lush landscaping throughout. Across the lane, visitors will enjoy a pond and a dog park designed to accommodate smaller and larger dogs. Adjacent to the park is Triumph Station, which is still under construction. When complete, it will feature an event center, brewery, ice cream shop, restaurants and more. 3 - June 2021
POLICE IMPLEMENTING BOLAWRAP DEVICES
The Junior Police Academy Class of 2021 graduated June 11 after a week of learning about law enforcement and making new friends.
The Fayetteville Police Department is implementing a new, non-lethal tool called the “BolaWrap” to help deescalate volatile situations. This device features a remotely-projected cable that flies through the air and wraps around a person’s body. WRAP Industries representatives demonstrated the BolaWrap on Friday, May 21, at the Fayetteville Police Department headquarters, followed by an afternoon of training for four officers, who will serve as trainers when the BolaWrap device is rolled out across the department. Police Chief Scott Gray said he likes the BolaWrap, because it does not inflict pain on the subject being detained, which is common with other devices. While the BolaWrap cable does have barbed hooks on the two ends, they are designed to grip clothing, and even if they do catch a person’s skin, they are easily removed with minimal damage. “When we engage with these difficult situations, we try to come to a safe end,” said Chief Gray. “We set up this demonstration and
training to make sure this will work and fit with us.” Retired Miami Beach Police Chief Don De Lucca presented the BolaWrap device at the Friday demonstration, and he said he can think of many times in his career when the BolaWrap would have been helpful in bringing volatile situations to a peaceful conclusion. He noted that almost 500 police departments are using the device, and they are tracking at 86% successful outcomes. Each device contains a cartridge that, when activated, uses a small amount of gun powder to project the cable forward. It is most effective at a range of 10-25 feet, which makes it ideal for situations where a subject may need to be restrained. Once a subject has been wrapped, officers would immediately take them into custody and remove the BolaWrap cable. “It’s not meant for every situation, but there is a space for this,” De Lucca said. “It’s like a Batman tool.” Chief Gray said officers will begin carrying the BolaWrap devices around mid-summer.
Please direct questions and comments to Communications Department Director/PIO Ann Marie Burdett aburdett@fayetteville-ga.gov. Also follow us on Facebook: @fayetteville-gov
City officials participated in a mock City Council meeting to test the sound system in the new City Hall Council Chambers.
Thirty-two year City of Fayetteville employee Pat King achieved two recent milestones: She recently turned 85, and she has become the first City employee to have worked in three different City Hall buildings. When King started working for the City in the early 90s (above-left), City Hall was located in the house on East Lanier Avenue by the water tower. Later that decade, City Hall moved to the former school building at 240 South Glynn Street (top-right). The new City Hall building (above-right) was purpose-built, and it is located at 210 Stonewall Avneue West beside Fayetteville City Cemetery. 5 - June 2021
MAIN STREET FAYETTEVILLE AGAIN HONORED WITH MAIN STREET AMERICA DESIGNATION Main Street Fayetteville has once again been recognized and designated as an accredited national Main Street program for meeting rigorous performance standards. Each year, Main Street America and its partners announce the list of accredited programs to recognize their exceptional commitment to preservation-based economic development and community revitalization through the Main Street Approach. “We are proud to recognize this year’s 889 nationally accredited Main Street programs that have worked tirelessly to advance economic vitality and quality of life in their downtowns and commercial districts,” said Patrice Frey, President & CEO of Main Street America. “During an incredibly challenging year, these programs demonstrated the power of the Main Street
movement to drive impressive local recovery efforts, champion small businesses, and foster vibrant downtown districts.” In 2020, Main Street America programs generated $4.14 billion in local reinvestment, helped open 4,356 net new businesses, generated 14,988 net new jobs, catalyzed the rehabilitation of 8,488 historic buildings, and clocked 983,702 volunteer hours. “The Main Street Fayetteville
program has become one of the City’s most valuable economic development tools,” said City Manager Ray Gibson. “Our Main Street Fayetteville personnel and volunteers have produced countless community events, served as the City’s tourism department, and worked tirelessly to help preserve the history of Fayetteville. All of that has helped to improve and maintain the quality of life we enjoy here in the community.” Main Street Fayetteville’s performance is annually evaluated by Georgia Main Street, who works in partnership with Main Street America to identify the local programs that meet 10 national performance standards. Evaluation criteria includes progress of downtown revitalization projects, and actively preserving historic buildings.
The recent Livable Centers Initiative Community Town Hall meeting led by the City’s Community & Economic Development Department along with consultants HKS Inc. was attended by elected officials and several local residents. Presenters reported on months of research and community feedback and gave recommendations to the City regarding many quality-of-life infrastructure improvements . Participants engaged in-person and online.
6 - June 2021
CITY RECEIVES DISTINGUISHED BUDGET PREPARATION AWARD FOR FY2021 The City of Fayetteville has again received the Distinguished Budget Presentation Award from the Government Finance Officers Association, this one for the Fiscal Year 2021 Budget. This is the 15th year for the City to receive this award. The Distinguished Budget Presentation Award represents the highest form of recognition in governmental budgeting. It reflects the commitment of the governing body and staff to meeting the highest principles of governmental budgeting. Finance Director Mike Bush and Senior Accountant Karen Austin were recognized in particular for their work on the budget preparation.
RESTAURANT RENOVATION WORK REVEALS MEMORIES FROM OVER HALF A CENTURY AGO Social media lit up recently with pictures of the old Mize Grocery storefront, which was revealed as renovations continue on the Courthouse Square building that will soon become the Spanishthemed Segovia restaurant. According to Fayette resident Gayle Harp, her parents Walter ”Custard” and Ruby Mize opened the grocery in the 1950s after her father returned from World War II as a prisoner of war. Her mother ran this location while her father ran a second grocery at the corner of East Lanier Avenue and what is now North Jeff Davis Drive. 7 - June 2021
CONSTRUCTION IN THE COMMUNITY Development updates from around Fayetteville Construction locations within the City 7
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1. Awkward Brewing is renovating this property across Lee Street from the old Fayetteville City Hall. 8 -June 2021
2. Construction has begun on Phase 3 residential at the Town at Trilith development.
3. Amici has opened in Central Park at the Town at Trilith development.
4. Honeysuckle Gelato is now open in the Capstone project at the Town at Trilith development.
5. Green P’s has opened next to Amici in Central Park at the Town of Trilith development.
6. Construction continues on sound stages and other buildings at Trilith Studios.
7. Marksmen Properties is bringing two more office/warehouse facilities out of the ground along North 85 Parkway.
8. McAlister’s Deli is under construction along Highway 85 just north of Aldi and Lowe’s.
9. Navy Federal Credit Union is now open on Highway 85 North.
FAYETTEVILLE BUSINESSES STARTED IN MAY ACCENTU8 HAIR & LASH BEAUTY BAR
500 LANIER AVE W STE 405
MC DENTAL LLC DBA WALMART HEALTH #594
125 PAVILION PKWY STE A
AMERICAN HEALTH IMAGING FAYETTEVILLE LLC
1240 HIGHWAY 54 W STE 402
MC DO OPTOMETRY LLC
125 PAVILION PKWY STE A
ASHLEY HOMESTORE
128 PAVILION PKWY STE B
JOSEPH W NEAL, JR.
320 LANIER AVE W STE 200
BALFOUR CLOTHING BOUTIQUE LLC
105 N 85 PKWY STE J
NIVA TELFORT
185 GEORGIA AVE E
BEST SEAFOOD DIRECT
220 LANIER AVE W
ROBERT L CUNNINGHAM
461 SANDY CREEK RD STE 4111
BIG FROG CUSTOM T-SHIRTS OF FAYETTE
178 PAVILION PKWY
MATTHEW SIMS
190 PROMENADE PKWY
DQC TRANSPORT INC
110 HABERSHAM DR STE 113
MECHELL JONES
370 STONEWALL AVE W STE A
FAITH CORNERSTONE WORSHIP CENTER
692 GLYNN ST N STE T/U
ANDUKI USA LIMITED
461 SANDY CREEK RD STE 4106
FIVE STAR EVENT CENTER
270 GLYNN ST N STE G/H 305 TRILITH PKWY STE 340
SYCAMORE COMMUNICATIONS CORP.
461 SANDY CREEK RD STE 4106
GREEN PLANT SHOP LLC ICARGA LLC
320 LANIER AVE W STE 200
UGLY MONEY ENTERTAINMENT LLC
102 N 85 PKWY STE F/G/H/I
JJR & ASSOCIATES LLC
270 HIGHWAY 314
TYDENE ANDERSON
320 LANIER AVE W STE 210
JOVAN AUTO
320 LANIER AVE W STE 200
VANGETTE WALDEN
115 COMMERCE DR STE K
LAQUISHA MARION @ SHEARNANIGANS SALON
109 GLYNN ST S
MC HEALTH MSO LLC
125 PAVILION PKWY STE A
City of Fayetteville elected officials and staff celebrated the opening of Rehab Solutions with a ribbon cutting ceremony. Rehab Solutions is located along South Glynn Street (Hwy. 85) near Broadway Diner. 8 -June 2021
DON FELDER TICKETS NOW ON SALE Legendary guitarist and former Eagles band member Don Felder will perform August 21 at the Brightmoor Southern Grond Amphitheater, and tickets, which are expected to be snapped up quickly, went on sale June 16. Felder’s time with the Eagles spanned 1974-2001, and he co-wrote several of their top hits, including the well-known ballad ”Hotel California.” ”I’m blessed enough to have contributed to and been a part of a very talented mixture of voices, writing, guitar parts, and production,” Felder said of his time with the Eagles. ”I’m very proud of that.” The Eagles were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1998. Felder documented his part of their story in his best-selling book Heaven and Hell: My Life in the Eagles. Tickets to Felder’s August 21 concert are available at www.SouthernGroundAmp.com. Tickets are still available for the remaining three Summer Concert Series performances as well, including The Dirty Dozen Brass Band on June 25, Grand Funk Railroad on July 2, and Loverboy on July 23.