Former DMV building torn down as part of Macon's Central City Park projects
.jpg "Telegraph file photo: Macon-Bibb County demolished the old Department of Motor Vehicles building Monday at Central City Park to make way for improvement.")
The former Department of Motor Vehicles building in Central City Park is no longer standing.
On Monday, the Macon-Bibb County Public Works Department tore down the building where for years people used to get their driver's licenses. The old DMV site is the first of 13 buildings that will be demolished to clear the way for two major projects at the park -- the addition of amenities and a new senior citizens center.
"We were able to wait and let (the Cherry Blossom Festival) go through, and now we're pushing forward with some of the work we could get through now," Macon-Bibb spokesman Chris Floore said. "I know (there's) a lot of interest in (Central City Park) with a lot of big events, from fireworks, to Cherry Blossom and the used book sale."
The first phase of the $3.7 million improvements at Central City Park likely will include new sidewalks, restrooms, pavilions, a playground and four multi-purpose fields. The goal is for construction to begin within the next 60 days, said Clay Murphey, coordinator of special purpose local option sales tax projects for Macon-Bibb.
"It's already engineered, it's already designed," he said. "We just need to get a contractor."
Central City's upgrades are being funded through a SPLOST. Another $2.7 million is set aside for the senior citizens center, including $2 million in SPLOST money and $750,000 from a land swap with Mercer University.
Construction of the senior center is expected to be put out for bids in June, Floore said.
Plans were unveiled in October for a proposed 11,000-square-foot building featured rooms for a warming kitchen, dining room, exercise room, multi-purpose room, and a space for arts and crafts. Plans also call for a billiards area, computer center and another room for music and lectures that will feature a small library. The outdoor space would feature a gazebo, garden and two parking lots.
The new center would replace the Adams Street facility that has been purchased by Mercer.
To contact writer Stanley Dunlap, call 744-4623 or find him on Twitter@stan_telegraph.
This story was originally published April 11, 2016 at 5:38 PM with the headline "Former DMV building torn down as part of Macon's Central City Park projects ."