Renovations and work on the Lexington Community Center, formerly the Macon Coil building, are underway. However, fundraising goals still haven’t been met.
Approximately $103,000 out of the initial $200,000 goal has been raised through various donations, according to Linda Parish, a member of the Lexington Downtown Development Authority Board.
The Lexington DDA owns the community center building.
She said one room is finished, there is electrical work in the bathroom and more walls have been built.
“Getting grants for help with the concerts and performances have helped, but we desperately need sponsors for these events, as the costs involved sometimes outweigh the funds that we receive to match the grants and cover the costs,” Parish said in an email.
The $200,000 goal was an estimate made in 2023 before the costs of building products and labor increased, Parish said. The initial total doesn’t include sound and lighting for performances, exterior parking, landscaping and other enhancements.
Parish, Ronnie Boggs, Linda Moore, Tom Thon, Gina Holloway and Glynn Segars serve on the 2025 Lexington Downtown Development Authority Board.
They had their first meeting of the year on Thursday to discuss updates to the community center, revisions to the master plan and rural zone designation.
No members of the public were present.
After public input, the proposed residential housing on Boggs Street between Platt Street and Meson Street was removed from the Lexington master plan due to concerns from those who own the property. One of the locations is the original site of the Meson Academy Foundation, which is considered a historic area.
The suggested homes would “increase density, promote walkability and local economic development, and be a catalyst for downtown business,” the master plan said.
In order to support new businesses, Boggs said you have to support new rooftops. But, his vision for new housing lies outside of town.
“Any growth should be on the perimeters outside the city limits, kind of keeping Lexington historic,” said Boggs, the DDA chair. “I’d love to see more rooftops around town, not in town.”
The creation of a master plan started over a year ago through a combined effort between the DDA board, Lexington City Council and the Northeast Georgia Regional Commission. Approval of the plan will help Lexington receive rural zone designation and apply for certain grants, which would help fund projects like the community center.
The next public input session for the master plan will be 7 p.m. March 12 at Lexington City Hall.
In an effort to promote job opportunities, Lexington is applying for rural zone designation this August.
The Rural Zone is a program that targets rural downtown areas and offers economic development incentives, according to the Georgia Main Street website (georgiamainstreet.org/financial/rural-zone-designation/). Up to 10 zones are established in Georgia per year.
New businesses with two or more full-time employees can earn job credits through rural zone designation. For up to five years, $2,000 would be provided per new full-time employee, not exceeding $200,000 total or $40,000 a year.
Details of other credits can be found on the Georgia Main Street website.
DDA events for 2025
Gwen Hughes and the Retro Jazz Kats at Meson Park, TBA
The Original ScrewTops at Meson Park, TBA
Randall Bramblett Band at Meson Park, 7 p.m. May 24
Small Business Saturday, Nov. 21
Christmas in Oglethorpe at Lexington Community Center, Dec. 13
Christmas Concert at Historic Beth Salem Church, Dec. 16