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Accenture and partners begin six‑month feasibility push for Athens’ Arena District
Summary
Accenture led a kickoff with Athens‑Clarke County officials and private partners to begin a six‑month development facilitation process for the Arena District focused on parcel strategy, market and utility due diligence, financing options, and stakeholder engagement; a parcel strategy is expected by mid‑to‑late June with a draft plan targeted for December.
Accenture and partner firms presented a kickoff to the Classic Center oversight committee, laying out a roughly six‑month work plan to serve as development facilitator for the Arena District and to produce a parcel strategy and financial road map.
Trey Weatherly of Accenture summarized the team’s role: "Athens‑Clarke County engaged Accenture to serve as development facilitator for the Arena District to provide independent, expert guidance that aligns community priorities, market realities, and public investment towards catalytic, financially sound, and community‑driven development outcome," he said.
Accenture clarified immediate tasks for the next 30 days: a business‑case analysis, updates to hotel, parking and transportation studies, utility capacity reviews, stakeholder meetings with planning and zoning, the Downtown Development Authority and the Athens Chamber of Commerce, and procurement of architects, civil and geotechnical firms for master‑planning support. Christian Gable and Jim Ziegler (Rebel Group) and Chad and Jim from Atlantic/Atlantic Companies will evaluate financing approaches, public‑private structures, and market feasibility at the parcel level.
Committee members and staff discussed decision paths and timing. Staff explained that major design approvals and master plan sign‑off would ultimately go to the mayor and county commission; the committee will review and recommend items to move forward. Accenture expects a parcel strategy, including financial models and projected cash flows, by mid‑to‑late June and aims for a final presentation to the approving authority near early December.
Discussion identified several strategic issues the team will study: ground lease versus fee‑simple sale options for parcels, leveraging TAD (tax allocation district) proceeds and their split across the river, potential overlay‑district or zoning text amendments to address height limits or other constraints, and stakeholder outreach to property owners, the university and hotel interests. Planning director Bruce Donnelly noted that county‑owned parcels fall under planning‑commission recommendations to the county commission and described available tools, including existing design overlays, that the team can use or modify.
The team proposed a site‑integration workshop in late summer to synthesize massing and integration work and committed to regular committee touchpoints, including a due‑diligence update in late May/early June. Accenture and partners said they would coordinate further meetings and provide a schedule for public engagement and technical work.
The committee welcomed the team and adjourned following final housekeeping and scheduling.
