New 400,000 square foot shopping center with 1,100 jobs could be coming to north Macon

A developer has proposed a new shopping center in north Macon with more than 400,000 square feet of commercial space that could employ more than 1,100 people.

New Forsyth Associates submitted an application to the Macon-Bibb County Planning and Zoning Commission Sept. 13, and the proposal has been placed on the draft agenda for the commission’s Oct. 23 hearing.

Riverside Centre will potentially be developed just down the road from the Shoppes at River Crossing near North Macon Plaza Shopping Center. The development will be in the northwest quadrant of Riverside Drive and New Forsyth Road, bound by Bass Road, according to the application.

The proposed shopping center on nearly 50 acres will consist of a wholesale club of more than 150,000 square feet with a fuel center and tire center. The entire development will have the wholesale club, five large retail anchor tenants, seven ancillary shops buildings and three outparcels.

The buildings will include retail shops, restaurants and professional and business offices. The proposed shopping center will compliment the existing businesses in the area, according to the application.

The wholesale club will serve as the anchor for the development, which sells a variety of items such as groceries and home goods and includes a bakery and pharmacy. The wholesale club is expected to employ 225-275 people.

Other retailers, businesses and restaurants in the shopping center are expected to employ an additional 800-900 people.

“We believe the proposed Riverside Centre development will positively affect the existing use of the subject property as well as the surrounding properties and will generate an economic gain for Macon-Bibb County through sales tax revenue and increase the tax base,” read the application.