Take a bird-eye’s view of development boom along Perry Parkway in Perry & more

Nothing can quite capture the scope of development projects as well as aerial photography and video.

Drones are used in construction to improve safety by providing remote views of high risk areas, increase efficiency with aerial and 3-D mapping and offer real-time updates of building projects.

Realtors use drones to showcase properties and offer potential buyers immersive tours.

Journalist use drones to provide unique perspectives in reporting from covering natural disasters to live events.

In this roundup of developments along Perry Parkway in Perry and other local projects, Telegraph readers get a birds-eye view of what’s going up in Houston County.

Perry Parkway in Perry

A new Kroger Marketplace is part of an explosion of growth along the Perry Parkway near its intersection with South Houston Lake Road that includes new restaurants, retail shops and housing.

The nearly 123,000-square-foot Kroger Marketplace at 316 Perry Parkway will have a drive-thru pharmacy, a fuel center and five to-be-developed outparcels.

The project, which represents a $36 million capital investment, is on track to open in the spring of 2027. The new Kroger Marketplace is expected to replace the current Kroger store 1367 Sam Nunn Blvd.

Across Houston Lake Road from the Kroger site, several restaurants and businesses with more coming have already opened at the two-shopping-center Perry Parkway Project at 1818 Houston Lake Road including Holy Pie! Pizzeria, Meridian Brunch & Bar, Creative & Cute Nails Spa, and Olive & Ivy Wellness. Also, a Dunkin’ and a Surcheros Fresh Mex are close to opening.

Moving down Perry Parkway, a new shopping center at 810 Perry Parkway is under construction, also a project of the Dhan Group, the developer behind the Perry Parkway Project.

From left to right facing Perry Parkway, construction next to the new shopping center includes a Five Star Credit Union at 270 Perry Parkway, a Valvoline at 266 Perry Parkway, a Jack in the Box at 262 Perry Parkway, Perry Crossing, an 8,400-square-foot shopping center to be built at 275 Perry Parkway, and an 11,600-square-foot shopping center going up at 254 Perry Parkway.

Traveling up Houston Lake Road from its intersection with Perry Parkway is The Encore at the Perry Parkway shopping center. KidStrong, Perrydise Salon & Spa and Inspire Pilates Studio are already open with El Metate Cantina Mexicana opening soon in this now two-building shopping plaza. A third shopping plaza at The Encore is now under construction.

The Encore shopping center leads to the entrance of the Lennar at The Encore, a new live-and-play community offering new single-family homes and townhomes.

Morris Bank, a division of Vallant Bank

A new Perry branch office of Morris Bank, a division of Vallant Bank, is under construction at the site of the former New Perry Hotel.

“We’ve outgrown our current building that we occupy there in downtown Perry, and we need more space to be able to better serve our customers needs and serve the community,” said John Hall, chief banking officer for Morris Bank, a division of Vallant Bank.

“We’re excited about continuing our expansion and growth in Houston County and downtown Perry.”

On April 1, Pinnacle Bank and Morris Bank combined to become Vallant Bank. After an upcoming rebranding in June, Morris Bank, a division of Vallant Bank, will be known simply as Vallant Bank.

The new 8,400-square-foot, two-story bank will have full-service retail on the first floor, with drive-thru lanes and an ATM, and commercial offices on the second floor,

The bank has preserved two entrance columns of the New Perry Hotel that had fallen into severe disrepair. The historic hotel was demolished in the summer of 2004. When the bank opened its current Perry branch location in the 1905 building in Carroll Street in 202, the entrance to the title entrance “Houston Banking Company” from the building’s first occupants was also preserved.

However, a 75-year-old magnolia tree on the build site at 800 Main Street could not be saved and was cut down after an arborist found it had internal decay and had outlived its life and “was a liability, frankly,” Hall said.

The new Perry branch will replace the Carroll Street location.

Construction of the branch office is expected to be completed in November, weather permitting, with move-in by the end of the year, Hall said.

Left at the Pig Brewing

Julie and Dave Forrester are still aiming to open their family friendly brewery going up in downtown Perry at 911 Jernigan St. in late 2026 depending on how construction goes.

Their new gathering place will serve its own craft beer in a two-story metal clad building with brick ends and garage doors across the front.

The back of the brewery will open up to a large deck, covered porch and expansive patio that steps down to astroturf. A small playground area also will be included in the outdoor space.

The old metal barn on the property is expected to be retained for aesthetics.

The Shops at Aria

Phase 1 of the new Shops at Aria shopping center at 3151 Russell Parkway has drawn The Brass Tap, a new 3,700-square-foot craft beer bar going into Suites 500 and 600, the Pizza Inn, a 4,125-square-foot all-day pizza buffet in Suites 100 and 200, and the 3,150-square-foot Royal Nail & Spa in Suite 300.

Only one 1,500-square-foot space remains in Phase 1. The new businesses already leased are expected to open in late June or early July if all goes according to plan.

Phase II of the Shops at Aria will be able to house up to six shops ideal for restaurants. Construction is expected to be completed in August.

“We’re looking for it to be like a life-style type center,” said listing agent Derek Foster, an associate broker with The Summit Group.

“I’m looking for some breakfast options, some type of medical user, maybe an urgent care or an eye doctor there, and then a fitness user would be a nice addition as well … something that could service all the neighbors in the area,” Foster said.

1030 Ga. 96 in Warner Robins

A new 3,600-square-foot, two-story building to be built at 1030 Ga. 96 in Warner Robins is being marketed as a possible fine dining restaurant.

The groundwork for both the possible restaurant and a planned 11,000-square-foot, multi-tenant shopping center on the same site is nearly complete.

The new shopping center is envisioned to have a mix of businesses similar to the existing shopping center next door at 1012 Ga. 96, according to Dr. Navid Khoshooee, owner of Brown’s Eye Center and managing partner of the developments.

Anchored by Brown’s Eye Center, the first shopping center at 1012 Ga. 96 is home to Smokin’ Oak Wood-Fired Pizza & Taproom, DosBros Fresh Mexican Grill, Buffalo Wild Wings GO, the second location of Tenmii Japanese Eatery, Decadent Dessert Bar Luxe Nail Spa and Vita-Fuse.

The success of their first shopping center prompted the owners to build and develop the possible restaurant building and its adjacent shopping center.

The new building for a potential restaurant is expected be completed in August, with construction of the new shopping center to start afterward with construction targeted to be finished by the end of the year, Khoshooee said.