{"id":295,"date":"2023-03-26T21:43:01","date_gmt":"2023-03-26T21:43:01","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/ctlsites.uga.edu\/rp-vaughanstout\/?p=295"},"modified":"2025-05-06T19:30:32","modified_gmt":"2025-05-06T19:30:32","slug":"news-conference-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ctlsites.uga.edu\/rp-vaughanstout\/news-conference-2\/","title":{"rendered":"News Conference"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Mayor Kelly Girtz addresses Georgia Square Mall Redevelopment <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

By Vaughan Stout <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Athens-Clarke County mayor, Kelly Girtz, speaks to journalism students at the University of Georgia’s campus. Girtz addressed the environmental implications and benefits of his potential upcoming Georgia Square Mall redevelopment project that has yet to be approved by the Athens-Clarke County Commision. (Photo Courtesy\/Andrea Hudson)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Multimedia (video, story) <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mayor Kelly Girtz held a news conference at the University of Georgia\u2019s Instructional Plaza Feb. 24 to discuss his plans for a mixed-use restructuring of the 75\u2013acre plot of land that currently houses the Georgia Square Mall. The 43-year-old mall was once a largely beloved shopping center, but it has lost a significant portion of its business<\/a> to more modern competitors since 2010. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to a presentation<\/a> from Girtz and the Georgia Square Mall Redevelopment TAD Funding Application<\/a>, the project seeks to create more than a mile of trails, a transit station in Western Athens, improved tree canopy and greenery, residential and business buildings, a center green, and around 1,200 affordable housing units. This development seeks to better utilize the space and create a pleasant, efficient and interactive urban environment. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Though the plan intends to create an improved natural and urban environment, the construction required raisees questions about the environmental impact of the process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Girtz said that there are many climate factors to consider when managing an urban landscape. He then said that more than 1,000 trees will be added, stormwater will be better managed, water and air quality will be more closely monitored, and public transit will be improved and that these will lead to less daily impact on the environment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The environmental improvements proposed by the mayor would make better use of the 75-acre space. The mayor feels if the Georgia Square Mall is not t repurposed then the site will go to waste, and he does not want his reputation to be \u201cattached to a gravel pit.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBy creating a more dense urban fabric\u2026what we\u2019ve been able to do is preserve lots of green space and create lots of tree canopy, and of course we know in this time of climate change the better our tree canopy the more that we\u2019re supporting air, water, and the ground beneath our feet,\u201d said Girtz.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Vaughan on Instagram: “Great news, Athens! Mayor Kelly Girtz will be at the UGA Instructional Plaza South Auditorium this Friday at 9:00 a.m. to discuss his plans for the Georgia Square Mall Redevelopment project. This project could have a large impact on Athens so stay tuned! #athensga #housing”<\/a><\/h4>

3 likes, 0 comments – vaughan_local_national on February 22, 2023: “Great news, Athens! Mayor Kelly Girtz will be at the UGA Instructional Plaza South Auditorium this Friday at 9:00 a.m. to discuss his pla…”.<\/p><\/blockquote>