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Developer pitches 84-home community for homeless veterans in Milledgeville
Summary
Mighty Hero Homes told the Milledgeville City Council it plans an 84-home, $20 million community for homeless veterans on roughly 20 acres of the Central State Hospital property, offering on-site services and a sponsorship-driven financing model.
Mighty Hero Homes told the Milledgeville City Council during public comment that it intends to build an 84-home community for homeless veterans on roughly 20 acres at the Central State Hospital site on Bypass Road. The developer described on-site supports including a 6,000-square-foot community center with health and training services, a K9 training facility, and a 3,000-square-foot greenhouse.
The group's representative, Drew Walson, said the project is planned as a pilot for a national effort. "We are going to build an 84 home community for homeless veterans right here in Milledgeville," Walson said. He described the venture as a $20 million project and said the group plans 450 such bases nationwide if the model succeeds. Walson said his organization seeks to partner “with the good folks in Milledgeville” and asked local organizations to sponsor individual homes, describing a model in which 84 groups would each raise about $100,000 to underwrite a single home.
Walson also cited veteran-support programming the developer plans to provide: job training, a commissary, a farmers market to connect veteran-grown produce with local restaurants, and a K9 training program to help veterans work with service dogs. He introduced Les Carroll as the board secretary and a retired two-star Army major general, saying Carroll and other board members bring military experience to the project.
Council members thanked the speaker and noted the Central State Hospital Redevelopment Authority assisted with land acquisition. The mayor allowed a short question-and-answer period because of scheduling; no formal city action or funding commitment was taken at the meeting.
The developer provided handouts to council and members of the public and said follow-up information was available. The council did not take a vote on any related land-use or funding measure at the session. The project will require formal zoning, permitting and any public approvals before work can begin.
