Southeast Athletic Center restrooms, concessions near completion; power transformer remains key hold-up

City facilities staff updated the TIPS Committee on construction at the Southeast Athletic Center, reporting that restroom fixtures, concession windows and storage areas are substantially complete and interior painting is scheduled before fixture installation.

Why it matters: staff said the facility’s interior work — including wall-mounted toilets that allow pressure washing the floor and permanent concessions and storage — will improve maintenance and user experience at a heavily used recreation site.

Staff said ceilings and interior finishes are being completed this week and that a Georgia Power transformer remains the remaining external dependency. The presenter said the project’s finish date is slated for April 30, pending Georgia Power’s transformer installation. The building permit inspections and trade inspections (plumbing, electrical, HVAC and structural) will continue and the city’s building inspector will perform required sign-offs.

Staff described restroom design choices: wall-mounted toilets throughout both male and female restrooms (chosen to allow washdown cleaning) and a locked storage room accessible only to parks staff. The concessions area will be secured separately from storage and will not provide direct public access to stored equipment. Staff also described future options to expand restroom capacity on both sides and noted a proposal under review to add formal concessions on both sides of the facility after the rebuild.

No formal council action or vote occurred on the construction update during the meeting. Staff said they will continue to coordinate inspections and will notify the committee if Georgia Power’s schedule changes.