Macon development would include at least one hotel

The developers of a proposed $50 million mixed-use project in downtown Macon are expected to appear Monday before the zoning board.

The Exchange Block project would have at least one hotel, more than 100 apartments, retail shops, a restaurant and a parking garage. It would be built within the block surrounded by Poplar, Second, Plum and First streets, but would not include the corner lot at Plum and First streets.

A conditional-use permit that would allow the project at 520 First St., 538-548 First St., 690 and 664 Poplar St., 543 and 555 Second St. and 645 Plum St. is on the agenda for the Macon-Bibb County Planning & Zoning Commission meeting.

The proposed project is being developed by Miller Heath III, CEO of MMI Capital LLC, and Tim Thornton, CEO of Thornton Realty Co. They formed a joint venture for the project and began working on it about three years ago.

The applicant is requesting conceptual land use approval for the project. While it includes the demolition of existing buildings, new construction and rehabilitation of existing structures, the applicant would have to get a certificate of appropriateness prior to any demolition or new construction, according to the commission’s staff report.

According to the staff report, as submitted by the applicant:

▪  The development calls for a 93-room hotel along Poplar Street and a paseo, or public walk, at First Street Lane. A paseo will serve as access to a 300-space parking deck. The garage, which will be situated on the interior of the block, would be mainly used by hotel guests and residents, but it would be open to the public for a fee.

▪  The Newman Exchange Building at the corner of First and Poplar streets would include a 6,000-square-foot restaurant and bar on the first floor with meeting spaces on the second floor and possibly lofts or offices on the third floor.

▪  The buildings at 538, 542 and 548 First St. would be demolished. In their place, a 7,200-square-foot structure would be built and it would house retail on the ground floor and 20 apartments. An alternative concept may utilize the buildings along First Street as a second hotel. Also, the hotel or restaurant may include a rooftop bar or event space.

▪  All alleys are expected to remain open.

▪  A total of 295 parking spaces are required and the proposal calls for 401 spaces.

▪  The applicant will be acting as the master developer for the site. The hotel, retail and apartments will each be built by and owned by separate entities.

“Due to these properties being located in a design review district, the final design of all buildings, structures, signage and landscaping must be reviewed by the Design Review Board and approved by the ... Commission,” the staff report said. “Staff does not anticipate any adverse effect to the comprehensive land development plan from the proposed use.”

The timeline for the site work, demolition work and parking deck construction is expected to begin in early 2017, the zoning report said. The hotel, retail and multifamily developments would begin later in 2017.

While it’s taking longer than they had hoped, Thornton and Heath said Thursday things are moving along, and zoning approval is part of the process.

“We hope to have some major announcements in the very near future,” Thornton said. “We are making progress.”

The zoning meeting begins at 1:30 p.m. Monday in the 10th floor conference room, Willie C. Hill Government Center Annex, 682 Cherry St.

Other items on the agenda are:

DEFERRED FROM PREVIOUS MEETING:

718 College St.: Certificate of Appropriateness to allow design approval of screening on front porch, HR-3 District. Kenneth and Tethel Brown, applicant.

INTERPRETATIONS:

3776 Vineville Ave.: Interpretation of Section 11.3.(6) of the Comprehensive Land Development to allow changes to an existing business to include a gift shop, R-3 District. Tammy Garrison, applicant.

CONDITIONAL USES:

520 First St., 538-548 First St., 690 & 664 Poplar St., 543 & 555 Second St. and 645 Plum St.: Conditional use to allow a mixed-use development, CBD-1 District. Tim Thornton, applicant.

CERTIFICATE OF APPROPRIATENESS:

919 Pio Nono Ave.: Certificate of Appropriateness to allow design approval of signage, HC District. Vicky King, applicant.

1061 Georgia Ave.: Certificate of Appropriateness to allow design approval of a garage, HR-3 District. Dunwody Beeland Architects Inc., applicant.

VARIANCES:

200, 202, 204, 206, 212 & 214 Abington Court: Variance to place subdivision fence (Abington) within right-of-way, PDR District. RDG Ventures, applicant.

230 North Ave.: Variance in distance to National Register District and building setback requirements to allow a billboard, C-4 District. Lamar Advertising Co., Dwight Jones, applicant.

VIOLATIONS:

6908 Thomaston Road: In violation of Section 23.01 (j) of the Comprehensive Land Development for the city of Macon and Bibb County for operating an illegal home occupation (working on vehicles). Taylor Dominique.

RATIFICATION:

3048 Hamlin Road: Variance to reduce required front and left side setback requirements of an existing cell tower, A-Agriculture District. Sheri Sheets, applicant.

This story was originally published August 19, 2016 at 3:14 PM with the headline "Macon development would include at least one hotel."