Downtown Macon targeted for environmental testing, redevelopment

Work will soon begin to assess levels of contamination at various Macon sites with goals of spurring future development, particularly around downtown.

A public hearing Tuesday to discuss how a $400,000 grant could be used in Bibb County to create an inventory and cleanup plans at brownfield sites, former commercial and industrial properties that are thought to have been contaminated. The assessments would examine everything from potential hazardous substances like lead paint and petroleum contamination at various Macon properties.

The $400,000 grant was awarded to Macon-Bibb County last June by the Environmental Protection Agency. The study could be completed in about 15 months, said Keith Ziobron, a principal engineer with Resolute Environmental & Water Resources Consulting.

"We don't want Macon to produce a bunch of reports," said Margaret Olson, environmental engineer for the EPA. "We want these reports to produce redevelopment projects."

Macon's grant application identified the downtown area between Second and Seventh streets as a primary focus for brownfield development.

An "innovation campus" around Seventh Street that could attract biotech companies was among those suggestions presented at Tuesday's hearing at the Macon-Bibb County Government Center.

Commissioners Bert Bivins and Elaine Lucas as well as Macon resident Julius Gadson questioned whether other areas outside downtown could be assessed for contamination.

Gadson mentioned the Payne City section of Macon as one area that would tie well into an assessment, but he said he was unsure if decisions had been made to only study downtown.

"I'm beginning to wonder if this was already decided before the community has had input on what could be done," Gadson said.

Olson said that other sites outside of the targeted downtown area can be considered. Tuesday's hearing was an opportunity to learn about other areas of Macon where some of the grant money or future grant money could be used, she said.

Ziobron said communities applying for the brownfield grant typically focus on a target area in order to have a better chance at receiving funding.

"The goal is to not just address environmental issues but environmental barriers that are slowing down economic development," he said.

To contact writer Stanley Dunlap, call 744-4623 or find him on Twitter@stan_telegraph.

This story was originally published January 26, 2016 at 6:27 PM with the headline "Downtown Macon targeted for environmental testing, redevelopment ."