‘Young folks, we want you’ – Downtown, millennials focus of new year in F’ville

Fayetteville’s leaders are looking to make the city a place where current students want to live after they finish college.

That was the message delivered Jan.26 at Mayor Ed Johnson’s first town hall meeting. On Thursday, the City Council will get its first look at a newly revised concept plan for downtown. In November, city officials unveiled the first look at a master plan for its downtown. The plan had been in the works since the council’s retreat in early 2015.

The project area encompasses approximately 75 acres between Lanier Ave (Ga. Highway 54), Glynn Street (Ga. Highway 85) and Grady Avenue, which diagonally connects the two highways.

The downtown plan provided in November include a variety of uses such as single-family, multi-family, mixed use and expanded opportunities for retail and office. The plan includes looking at future uses for the county complex located at Hwy. 85 and Stonewall Avenue.

The first draft showed up to 800 multi-family residences near the city’s current downtown, and up to 600 single-family homes heading south to Grady Avenue. The plan also features a new city hall with parking underneath it across the street from the current location, along with additional office and commercial space.

The area would also feature additional roads to help alleviate traffic concerns.

Last Tuesday, City Manager Ray Gibson explained the city had taken into account the citizen’s responses at the unveiling of the project and had update the concept plan for this week’s meeting.

At last week’s meeting, the council was asked about more restaurants in the city.Gibson said the city’s concept for a more vibrant downtown could address that issue.

“Without a vision, people won’t look at you,” he said.

To view the updated downtown plan, head to the Fayetteville City Council’s meeting tomorrow at 7 p.m. at City Hall.