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County study finds 10% growth in facility space needs; spots critical pinch points
Summary
A Cooper Carry study for Athens-Clarke County projects a 10% increase in space needs over 10 years (from roughly 797,000 to about 879,000 square feet) and highlights near-term pinch points in animal services, fire training, fleet management and judicial functions.
James Alexander, introduced as the interim central services director, and Katie Mitchell of Cooper Carry presented a countywide space-allocation study that inventories roughly 797,000 gross square feet today and projects a 10% growth to about 879,000 square feet over the next decade. Mitchell summarized the study methodology: touring departmental spaces, surveying approximately 1,900 full-time employees across 40 functional areas and projecting departmental growth to identify future needs.
The study identified several near-term 'day 1' pinch points: animal services (limited square footage for incoming hires), the fire training center (classroom and burn-building replacement needs) and fleet-management garages that are physically undersized for current equipment. Consultants proposed consolidation opportunities (for example, adjacent county-owned acreage behind 2555 Lexington Road) and noted that some upcoming capital projects (Olympic Way, new judicial center) could relieve pressures once they proceed.
