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going greener As the community's love for revitalization grows deeper, the Corridor continues to also grow greener. New cycling "sharrow" markings will soon continue along College Street and extend to Riverside Drive to encourage cycling as an alternative mode of transportation. In Mercer Village, four electric vehicle (EV) charge stations have been installed. They were provided free of charge as part of a federally funded EV project. The stations make Mercer Village the only location in the region offering EV parking adjacent to restaurants and public green spaces. All EVs feature GPS systems updated with the location of available chargers. Mercer Village's proximity to I-75 makes it an ideal stop for travelers and adds to its appeal as a destination. Destination incredible One of the most recognized successes of the College Hill Corridor is the vibe created by the thriving events held within the area. From the Mardi Gras parade in Mercer Village to a community kazoo sing-along at Second Sunday, to the triumphant return of Mercer Football and the tailgating that tags along, the Corridor has the event calendar covered. The free monthly concert series Second Sunday in Washington Park didn't let record rainfall get in the way – the audience embraced it. When Nashville country act Stevens Layne (led by Macon's own Molly Stevens) had to end their show early due to showers, College Hill Alliance interns rolled out two giant plastic tarps and concert- goers of all ages enjoyed the giant community slip n' slides. Even the Magnolia Street Soapbox Derby, organized and operated by a group of dedicated neighborhood volunteers, held the race in spite of April showers. Second Sunday's attendance continues to swell. The free concerts now average more than 1,000 people per show and continue to showcase a mix of local and regional artists. Closing out the concert series Oct. 13 will be the one and only Percy Sledge and his band the Blues Masters, who are based in Macon. This will also be a homecoming for Sledge, who was represented by Macon's Phil Walden Artists and Promotions when "When a Man Loves a Woman" became one of the fastest-rising R&B singles of all time. Mercer Village hosts quarterly street party festivities and is a football tailgating hot spot. Christmas in the Village, which will be complete with a snow machine, is on Dec. 5. Dollars and Sense While the success of the Corridor is most visible in its ever-transforming social and physical landscape, it can also be translated in economic impact. This summer, the city of Macon released an economic analysis that showed an increase in property values and tax incidence. From 2002 to 2011, total property tax income increased by nearly $1,000,000 within College Hill. Much of this increase was because of rehabilitation of abandoned houses and construction on empty land, meaning crime was reduced, blight was More Than a Location The Latest in the College Hill Corridor october/noveMber 2013 Macon Magazine i 101