Macon Magazine

August/September 2024 | maconmagazine.com 55 LEFT Today, the Dannenburg building has been revitalized and hosts loft residences as well as retail stores downstairs. a 64-unit project. Leases fi lled immediately. Local developers started using NewTown's loan fund, resulting in 21 historic tax credit projects. Today, over 1,000 residents live downtown in more than 700 lofts. More units are on the way. According to Main Street America, Macon has used more tax credits for historic rehabilitation in their urban core area than any other Main Street community in the nation – 69 in total between public and private entities. NewTown would follow up with other loan and education programs to support a diverse number of small businesses, and the population base downtown has grown to support their eff orts. Reichert was not the only downtown champion. Former NewTown board chair Godsey has always put Mercer at the table. "Early on, Juanita and I would get together regularly. We'd just meet and decide on the things that needed to be done, and the two of us made it happen," he explained. Godsey ensured the success of one of the fi rst loft developments, Broadway Lofts, by housing graduate students there. The Broadway Lofts, according to The Telegraph, were built in 1910 to house Happ Brothers Manufacturing, Macon's once-largest employer. It was just one of Mercer's many investments in downtown, from supporting quaint historic residences in nearby Beall's Hill to occupying major buildings like Mercer Medicine, that show a long commitment to the city. Godsey said, "I really think Mercer's great contribution to downtown is to have been a partner in helping stabilize and begin the rebuilding of downtown." Godsey points to the former Capricorn Studios, now Mercer Music at Capricorn, as a prime example of how a crumbling building can become a key part in a city's success. "What it requires is imagination. It requires stamina and hard work and determination, grit. And it requires looking forward, living forward, not becoming trapped by the way things have been. I think that is the key to downtown getting out of being "The amount of energy that's downtown is just palpable." trapped by the way things have been, and rethinking what it can become." Capricorn is also the favorite inspiration point for current Mercer president William Underwood, who noted that for 25 of 26 years of NewTown Macon, the president of Mercer has been the board chair. "We've always believed that you can't build a great university in a decaying community," said Underwood. "Our future is tied to the success of downtown Macon." W H AT D O E S T H E F U T U R E H O L D ? To borrow the title of Robins Air Force Bases' software development offi ce in downtown Macon, "Project Blue Sky," the sky is the limit. Macon has been featured on several "Best of" lists, most recently, placing seventh on CNN's top 10 list of America's Best Towns to Visit in 2024. "It is probably our proudest piece of legacy for Peyton Anderson," said Karen Lambert, the current director of Peyton Anderson Foundation, on downtown's revival. "If it's good for downtown, it's good for the whole community. The amount of energy that's downtown is just palpable and it is very satisfying to know that the foundation has had a part in that." Lambert remembers when she used to walk downtown and would recognize almost everyone else on the street. "Now, you stroll along with a ton of other people, and I won't see anybody that I know for a good while." To her, the new faces pouring into downtown equal success. The Main Street award, according to Emily Hopkins, NewTown Macon's vice president of external aff airs and Main Street manager, is, "the only award that exists like this. A lot of other awards in our industry, when it comes to downtown development and economic development, award specifi c projects. This award [Main Street] recognizes an entire 2024

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