City to buy school system HQ land for $3.1 million; building cost, funding source not disclosed; old FCHS campus to be new central office

By this time next year, Fayetteville could be breaking ground on a new city hall.

The Fayetteville City Council voted unanimously June 25 to purchase a nearly 10-acre tract on Stonewall Village to kick-start development in downtown Fayetteville. The revamped plan for downtown Fayetteville includes a new city hall where the current Board of Education office is located.

Above, Downtown Development Director Brian Wismer. File photo.

The city is paying the school board nearly $3.1 million for the nearly 10-acre site that currently houses the school board building. Downtown Development Director Brian Wismer said the funding will come from SPLOST proceeds for greenspace and the city’s fund balance.

There was no estimate given by the city for either the proposed cost of the new city hall nor any public mention of where the council expects to get the money to pay for it.

The city passed the land purchase agreement Thursday night, and the Board of Education is expected to confirm the contract this week. Superintendent of Education Jody Barrow said the system expects to move out of the property by the end of the year and into offices at the Lafayette Education Center, the old Fayette County High School campus on Lafayette Avenue in Fayetteville.

For years, city officials have been focusing on revitalizing downtown and creating a destination for residents and visitors.

The latest vision by Haddow and Company features three “pods” of development. Pod A is 5.6 acres between Lafayette and Lanier Avenue. Pod B is 5.9 acres between Lanier and Stonewall and Pod C is 10.5 acres bounded on the north by Stonewall Avenue and occupied by the Board of Education.

The Pod A development, which is billed as a private initiative, and not a city-led project, would feature 188 apartments and townhomes along with 11,300 sq. ft. of commercial and retail.

Pod B would feature commercial buildings totalling 32,300 sq. ft. on the current county lot on the southwest corner of Stonewall and Glynn Street.

The new 37,000 sq. ft two-story city hall would be located on the school board property in Pod C and feature fountains, lawns and greenspace south of the new building. It would also feature 51,000 sq. ft. of office space.