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LOCAL BUZZ Building "the Macon genre of sound" this year Music-related construction will create new permanent fixtures in Macon's landscape this year BIGGER AND BETTER THAN EVER BEFORE Driven down Eisenhower Parkway or Mercer University Drive lately? You may see steel beams pointing up to the sky, bringing new life into the Eisenhower corridor near long-vacant commercial properties. These are the building blocks of Macon's new outdoor amphitheater, set to seat approximately 12,000 fans for national concert acts, local graduations, and more. The venue is designed for patron and artist convenience, noted Chris Clark, project manager of Piedmont Construction Group. From VIP suites to lawn seats, food and beverage to load-in, "We wanted this to be a space that flows really well from multiple entry and exit points. It's just a great location if you're considering the logistics." And it's not a standalone project. Within the mall itself will be what Macon-Bibb County believes is the largest indoor pickleball facility in the world, along with new offices for government departments like the Board of Elections and the Library. This brings employees with well-paying jobs to the area, as well as providing critical services to residents in a central location that has ample parking and climate control. The amphitheater will be the anchor, drawing in far-flung tourists. Macon has never had a music-driven facility of this size – and Mayor Lester Miller believes it's a gamechanger. "I think it'll bring critical depth to the music scene. We'll deepen the Macon genre of sound, since music has rapidly become our brand as a city. Right now, we have good local artists and regularly come for tours. But adding a larger, more technically equipped facility will allow us to bring bigger names and add room for people to experience the favorites that are beloved in our current venues," Miller explained, who points to a spate of recent concerts that have sold out venues like Macon's Coliseum. The cornerstone of Miller's idea is to heat up economic development in West Macon. Since the Macon-Bibb Urban Development Authority took ownership of the mall and construction broke ground, property sales on adjacent commercial plots have skyrocketed. Realtors are already describing nearby houses by mentioning the amphitheater to entice homebuyers. "What we want is a lot of creativity," Miller said. "I think it's going to attract a lot of talent into town to visit, and when they see what we're offering, they're going to stay." THE REDDINGS MAKE THEIR MARK ON COTTON AVENUE Last September, Macon became a little more like Pawnee, Indiana – the fictional town on television comedy "Parks and Recreation" – by turning an empty pit in the ground into a long-held dream, creating the forthcoming Otis Redding Center for the Arts. It will be sited on Cotton Avenue, on a large tract that has been vacant since the historic Nu-Way Wieners building caught on fire in 2015. Ever since the Otis Redding Foundation was founded in 2007, the organization hoped to build a permanent presence for music education. Spanning 15,000 feet, the Center will be a hub for music access for children, housing a cutting-edge recording studio, a stage, an outdoor performance space, and interactive musical kiosks. Planning and engineering has been progressing rapidly, driven by Sheridan Construction's local team and music industry consultants. All share a deep commitment to Otis Redding's legacy and making a dream facility for his daughter Karla Redding-Andrews – a leader whose tenacity and forward- thinking vision could make her Macon's own version of Leslie Knope. "With all the revitalization going on Cotton Avenue, with the hotel and the plaza, it's exciting to be involved in Downtown Macon's success story. But it's even more exciting to have a building for our programming, and to do what we're good at as much as possible," said Justin Andrews of the foundation. From the layout of the floors to acoustical specifications, the guiding principle has been Zelma Redding's words: "Do it right!" Construction will commence in August with completion expected in mid-2024. — JULIA MORRISON PHOTO BY JULIA MORRISON 34 maconmagazine.com | JUNE/JULY 2023