Mayor Kelly Girtz says he is ‘positive’ Georgia Square Mall redevelopment will move forward

Sarah Sims

Mayor Kelly Girtz spoke to the auditorium full of students. Photo Courtesy/ Sarah Sims
Sarah Sims meets Mayor Kelly Girtz after the news conference Photo Courtesy/ Sarah Sims

Athens-Clarke County Mayor Kelly Girtz says he feels confident and optimistic about the local government moving forward with the multi-million dollar redevelopment project at Georgia Square Mall. 

Girtz spoke publicly at a news conference held at the University of Georgia for the first time since last Tuesday’s commission meeting, which ended up tabling the vote for the redevelopment plan. The next meeting will be held on March 7.  

ACC has seen the biggest swing in housing inventory  of any metro in America. In 2012 Athens had a a 12.0% surplus, but as of 2019, Athens had a deficit of 2.4%, according to an article in the New York Times. This housing crisis raises questions about what is next for ACC and how this redevelopment plan can “magnetize the west side” for Athens, Girtz said. 

The redevelopment plan will encompass approximately 1,200 houses, public transit, retailers, trails and open greenery for live music and hangouts. However, only 10% of the rentals will be affordable for citizens that make around $45,000 a year. 

The local government is using the Tax Allocation District to help fund the project with $189 million dollars in tax revenue. That property tax will potentially be flowing back into the property over the next three decades, which would be a long-term investment for ACC, said Girtz. In addition, this redevelopment would create an emerging partnership between the Clarke County School District and the ACC. 

Right now, ACC though there is limited shelter and housing for families and usually, these homeless shelters can serve 86 families, according to Housing Inventory Count and Point-in-Time Count Report. Girtz elaborates on relief to the homeless, such as Cloudburst, a homeless strategic action group out of Washington, D.C., new developments north of $400 million private dollars, first step structure, crisis stabilization beds and homeless tent camps. 

Girtz addressed what will happen to retailers within the Georgia Square Mall: The businesses within the mall can return to the updated area. 

The socioeconomic tension within ACC is something that Girtz is working on bridging to bring people together. 

Girtz says,” I really believe in integrated environments, that when you get people from lots of different backgrounds in a place, that benefits everybody.”

Girtz will be hosting a public input session on March 2 and communicating with the local government, school district and citizens. Girtz remains hopeful that the third time will be the charm for the vote to approve the redevelopment plan.

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Why I Wrote the Story:

I wrote this story in order to address the redevelopment plan of the Georgia Square Mall in Athens, Georgia while Mayor Kelly Girtz addressed these issues. I learned how to cover a news conference and find the correct facts.

UGA Provost Office’s vice president emphasizes affirmative action and diversity, equity, inclusion in academic affairs at the University of Georgia

Sarah Sims

Michelle Cook poses on North Campus for a portrait. She is near the Chapel Bell that students ring to celebrate accomplishments. (Photo/Andrew Davis Tucker) 


Michelle Cook checks her email before she leaves the office for the day. Cook does this daily to keep her routine (Photo/Sarah Sims)

Michelle Cook, vice president for academic affairs and provost at the University of Georgia, spent her spring break in rural Georgia speaking with students from different parts of the state, potential first-generation students, and students who did not think the University of Georgia was an option for them. 

Cook told the students that UGA can be made possible thanks to a new state law that raises basic financial aid for students and creates more needs-based scholarships. In the 2020-21 academic year, UGA provided 640 student scholarships and committed $95 million toward need-based awards.

Cook co-facilitated the university’s 2025 strategic plan and oversees the Office of Institutional Diversity. And in October 2023 she will take on the role of the vice president of student affairs. Cook’s new job will entail her oversight of 16 departments and 600 staff members dedicated to enriching student learning and supporting student development and growth. Departments consist of housing, student experience, cultural centers, student organizations, student conduct and more. Cook will report directly to UGA’s president Jere Morehead. 

Cook said the university plans to be a leader for other universities when it comes to minority recruitment and retention–to essentially be the blueprint. UGA has a race-neutral admissions process while still achieving a diverse class. 

“If they are unable to do so in the future, they may look to schools like Georgia … which has had some success in recruiting a diverse class,” Cook said. 

UGA has 40,118 students and Cook creates relationships with students and families, checks her emails daily, attends meetings and tries to learn more and creates initiatives to make the UGA more inclusive. 

However, the student body is still 66.8% white, while other minorities make up the remaining 33.2%. UGA is still working on making it a diverse inclusive student body with it being up by 22% since 2011, but Cook said,” It’s just not there yet.” 

Cook said she believes that if UGA continues to tell its story of the programs that UGA offers such as, double dawgs which is a program that allows students to earn a bachelor’s and master’s degree in five years or less to allow students to save money. 

Cook also helped launch the Road Dawg Program which expands UGA’s visibility in communities across Georgia. She leads UGA’s Affordable Course Materials Grant program which has saved over $1.5 million since 2019 and the New Approaches to Diversity and Inclusion grant to promise the development of female leaders across campus according to a press release written by UGA Today. 

“I think when people can hear that story, and understand the benefits, that that’s kind of the missing piece because so often I talk to people about Georgia as I tell them about all the things we do, they go, ‘Oh I had no idea,’” said Cook.  

One of Cook’s favorite student events is the International Coffee Hour, which is hosted every Friday. She enjoys this event because it creates a space where international students can come together to find community.

Cook said,” Finding community is such an important thread that is woven throughout all of our efforts and all of our initiatives.”

Cook is a mother of two, and if she is not at work, she is spending her time with her family, whether that is supporting her oldest at volleyball tournaments or playing with her youngest. Cook loves listening to audiobooks, especially British mysteries on her way to work every day. She enjoys unplugging from the world and focusing on the mystery before she gets her day started. 

Throughout her career, Cook has realized that you can’t perfect the work-life balance so instead of trying to, she is devoted to just being fully present in whatever she is caught up in. 

Zion Brannon, a pharmaceutical student at UGA met Cook through the Office of Institutional Diversity. Brannon heard Cook’s story of how Cook found a mentor in college who looked like her and had career aspirations which led Brannon to reach out to Cook. 

The relationship has now turned into looking at Cook as a “maternal figure,” Brannon said, because they talk about her academic life, career goals and even personal issues. Brannon is excited about Cook’s new role because of how successful their relationship has been. 

Brannon said, “I think that it’ll be a very good position for her just because I’ve seen her develop relationships with not just me, but you know, other students across campus.“

Why I Wrote the Story:

I chose to write this story to learn how to write a profile piece on someone related to my beat during my intro to storytelling journalism class. I wanted to write on someone who impacted UGA and was apart of my beat which is why I chose Michelle Cook.