Consultants say developer interest is strong as master‑plan moves to phase 2

Consultants presenting the master‑plan update said they have begun phase 2 — validating market demand, pricing and phasing — and that developer interest has been high even given current market conditions.

Chad Meyer, speaking for the consultant team, described work underway: "We're in the process of validating market demand, positioning on our pricing and timing," and said the team is visiting sites and interviewing developers and business owners to refine parcel concepts. He cautioned that market studies remain drafts and that any data shared now is subject to change.

The team stressed that short‑term revenue could come from ground leases or site sales, while longer‑term, sustainable tax revenue will ramp up over several years as construction occurs and assessments are updated. Members asked that draft market studies include a broader regional draw area (beyond Clarke County) when determining patron origins and projected sales. The group scheduled follow‑up stakeholder meetings and asked the team to return with finalized market and hospitality studies ahead of the commission work session in October.

Next steps: consultants will finalize market studies, return with ROM pricing from general contractors and produce a refined capital-stack model to show public/private funding options for each parcel.