City News - February 2024

CITY OF FAYETTEVILLE WINS

GMA VISIONARY CITY AWARD

THE CITY OF FAYETTEVILLE has been named a 2023 Visionary City Award recipient by the Georgia Municipal Association (GMA) and Georgia Trend Magazine. City leaders were presented with the award at the recent GMA Cities United Summit held January 26-29 in Atlanta.

Fayetteville’s award was earned by the City Hall & City Center Park project, which judges said was “a testament to the City’s dedication to community enhancement and civic

engagement.” Both the new City Hall building and the City Center Park space opened in June 2021. The renovated bus barn and gym buildings, which are now home to restaurants, event space, and a church congregation, opened later that year. The adjacent Walton Fayetteville mixed-use development opened in 2023.

One of the most successful aspects of the City Hall & City Center Park project was the public engagement campaign that helped to inform and guide the project

over the course of several years leading up to 2021. The City of Fayetteville has been listening to residents, who for years have been asking for more high-quality restaurants, entertainment venues, parks, and other community gathering spaces. Fayetteville formalized the listening process with surveys, charrettes, town hall meetings, and numerous other public engagement events, capturing and studying this public sentiment.

P & Z HONOREES

Eleven-year Planning & Zoning Commission members Debi Renfroe and Ken Collins were honored at the February 15 City Council meeting for their hard work and dedication on behalf of Fayetteville. Pictured are (l-r) Councilmember Scott Stacy, Mayor Pro-Tem Rich Hoffman, Renfroe, Collins, Mayor Ed Johnson, Councilmember Niyah Glover, Councilmember Joe Clark, and Councilmember Darryl Langford.

CITY COUNCIL WELCOMES SOUTHERN CRESCENT

The Fayetteville City Council during their February 15 meeting welcomed Dr. Irvin Clark, president of Southern Crescent Technical College, who updated City leaders on the work the college is doing in Fayette County. Dr. Clark’s presentation can be seen on the Fayetteville City Council’s live stream video available on the YouTube channel: https://www. youtube.com/@Fayetteville_GA.

Pictured are (l-r) SCTC Vice-President Chris Daniel, Clark, and Mayor Ed Johnson.

FAYETTEVILLE DESIGNATED A CITY OF CIVILITY

The Georgia Municipal Association designated Fayetteville to be a City of Civility in 2023, and City leaders were presented with the official plaque during the Cities United Summit in Atlanta in January. Pictured are (l-r) Public Information Officer Danny Harrison, City Manager Ray Gibson, City Councilman Darryl Langford, Mayor Pro-Tem Rich Hoffman, and Assistant City Manager Alan Jones.

www.Fayette-

ville-GA.gov/HOA

FAYETTEVILLE’S FIRST-EVER CITY VISION PODCAST FOCUSES ON DOWNTOWN REDEVELOPMENT

THE CITY OF FAYETTEVILLE HAS PUBLISHED its first-ever podcast, leading out with an episode highlighting the award-winning new City Hall & City Center Park project as well as the City’s vision for the continuation of its Downtown Redevelopment Plan.

Hosted and edited by radio industry veteran Michael Stuart, the CityVision Podcast will be produced by City of Fayetteville staff. Episodes can be played and downloaded from www.fayetteville-ga.gov/podcast.

Mayor Ed Johnson and Mayor Pro-Tem Rich Hoffman were the first two podcast guests.

Guests booked for future podcast episodes include more City government leaders, local business leaders, and other people making a positive difference in the community.

“Having a City podcast has been a dream of mine for a while,” said City Manager Ray Gibson, who will be celebrating 10 years with Fayetteville in the fall. “Over these last several years, I can’t count how many amazing conversations we as a community have had about what we would love to see happen here in the City of Fayetteville. This podcast is one of the ways we want to keep that conversation going.”

BringingMs. Derryll

A long-time Church Street resident is returning to her childhood neighborhood this spring, but this time to live in her own brand-new home thanks to love, hard work, and support from dozens of friends and loved ones.

DERRYLL ANDERSON GREW UP ON

Church Street next door to the church and across the street from the park. Over the years, she moved away but remained active in the heart and soul of Fayetteville. This spring, she will return to Church Street thanks to help from Square Foot Ministry and an army of friends and loved ones,

who not only donated money toward her new house, but who also helped physically build it.

Fayetteville-based Square Foot Ministry has been doing this for decades: helping people build their own home when they would otherwise not be able to

to Church Street

Ms. Derryll has carried her family’s legacy, serving as a community activist, poll worker, voter registration advocate, and Planning & Zoning Commission member.

afford it. In fact, their first-ever build was on Church Street, just across the street and down a bit from where Ms. Derryll’s is currently under construction. So, while it is a homecoming for Ms. Derryll, it is a homecoming for Square Foot Ministry as well.

Some may recall that Ms. Derryll’s life story was highlighted in a special Black History Month video produced and published by the City of Fayetteville in February 2023.

Then, she told how her parents met and settled on Church Street, her father building their family home by hand. The Anderson Family was influential, not only among Fayetteville’s Black population, but also among the wider community.

“Ms. Derryll is special to Fayetteville, and it is gratifying seeing the community come together like this to help her.”

- Ray Gibson, City Manager

Ms. Derryll has carried that legacy with her over the decades while serving as a community activist, elections poll worker, voter registration advocate, and Fayetteville Planning & Zoning Commission member.

These days, Ms. Derryll works part-time as an information clerk at Fayetteville City Hall, greeting all who enter and assisting those in need of direction.

Over the last few years, work colleagues learned of Ms. Derryll’s housing needs, and they helped her connect with Square Foot Ministry. After a round of fundraising and volunteer recruiting, Square Foot Ministries located the perfect plot of undeveloped land on Church Street. That plot was owned by Fayetteville First United Methodist Church, which caught the vision for what Square Foot Ministry was doing in bringing Ms. Derryll back to Church Street, so they gladly sold the land.

Along the way, Trilith Development, Walton Communities Fayetteville, the Fayette County Democratic Party, and the City of Fayetteville came on board as project partners. Dozens of other local organizations have also contributed to the cause.

Ms. Derryll’s home is expected to be ready for move-in by early May, and planning for a second house project has already begun.

“Ms. Derryll is special to Fayetteville, and it is gratifying seeing the community come together like this to help her,” said City Manager Ray Gibson. “Quite a few of her coworkers from the City helped frame up the house during the two-day build Square Foot Ministry hosted, and we all had a great time working together.”

Gibson noted that Ms. Derryll’s house build has the added significance of being the start of another wave of revitalization in store for the historic Church Street community.

“Ms. Derryll’s house will be the first one on the left as you enter Church Street from the downtown side, and it is one of two new homes to be built on that piece of land currently under construction,” Gibson said. “City leaders have been meeting and communicating with Church Street residents for the last couple of years to develop plans to continue to make meaningful improvements for these residents, many of whom have lived there for generations.”

Ms. Derryll’s new home is expected to be ready for move-in by early May, and planning for the second house next to it has already begun. Square Foot Ministry leaders say they hope to have that second home built an occupied this year as well.

For more information about Square Foot Ministry and their many home projects, visit www.squarefootministry.org Square Foot Ministry

BLACK HISTORY EXHIBIT

THE FAYETTE COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY, which operates the museum space on the ground floor of the Historic Fayette County Courthouse, has dedicated an entire room to the community’s Black history. All of the museum’s exhibits are open to the public for viewing on Saturdays 11 am. to 3 p.m., and also on some Thursdays and Fridays when volunteers are available.

Headquartered in the former Margaret Mitchell Library just one block down Lee Street, the Fayette County Historical Society took over the Historic Courthouse ground floor when Main Street Fayetteville relocated to the new Fayetteville City Hall. The Society uses both of their locations to preserve and promote Fayette history.

Over recent years, concerted efforts have been made by local historians to gather and display what had been more elusive stories and artifacts from Fayetteville’s and Fayette County’s Black population. Those efforts have been reflected in the former Holiday Dorsey Fife Museum just off the Courthouse Square, and they are now reflected in the Fayette County Historical Society’s exhibits in the Historic Courthouse.

Learn more about the Fayette County Historical Society and their facilities at www.fayettehistoricalsociety.com.

ICYMI

IF YOU MISSED THEM OVER THE YEARS, YOU CAN CLICK HERE TO CHECK OUT OUR Black History Month special feature stories from previous February editions of City News: www.fayetteville-ga/gov/citynews.

MISSED THE INTERVIEW?

LAST YEAR (2023), WE PUBLISHED A video interview with Derryll Anderson (“Ms. Derryll”) for Black History Month. Click here to see the video on the City’s YouTube channel.

www.youtube.com/@Fayetteville_GA/ videos

FAYETTEVILLE POLICE UNVEIL NEW RECRUITMENT VEHICLE

A NEW FORD BRONCO SUV HAS OFFICIALLY entered service with the Fayetteville Police Department as their dedicated recruiting vehicle after being unveiled at City Hall by the Mayor, City Council, and other City leaders Tuesday morning.

Assigned to the department’s Office of Professional Standards (OPS), the attention-getting new vehicle will be used at employment recruiting events around the region to help attract new officers to the Fayetteville Police Department. A QR code posted on the vehicle leads applicants to the City of Fayetteville website Job Board, which also includes employment opportunities for the City’s other departments.

The vehicle, primarily driven by OPS Captain Austin Dunn, will also participate in many of the City’s public events throughout the year.

“The team came up with the idea back in January,” said Police Chief Scott Gray, adding that they had previously considered other vehicle types to do the job. “We presented it to the City Manager, and he liked it and supported the project.”

A number of police officers, along with City Manager Ray Gibson and Assistant City

Manager Alan Jones, assisted in selecting the final vehicle designs. From there, the vehicle was purchased from Fayetteville Ford, Fayette Signs applied custom graphics to the Bronco, and Seen & Heard installed first responder radio equipment and emergency lights. While it is a show vehicle, it is also equipped to respond to police emergencies.

Chief Gray noted that the department is only short three officers on the roster at the moment, but recruiting efforts are a priority year-round. Captain Dunn was promoted to his position over OPS in late 2023 after Captain Patty Kent retired from her role in the Patrol Division, so he is now in charge of the department’s recruiting efforts.

“Captain Dunn has hit the ground running with recruiting, coming up with newer and fresher ideas to help us get some good quality employees,” Chief Gray said. He said the wrapped Bronco is reflective of the department’s recruitment efforts to reach a younger audience.

Learn more about becoming a Fayetteville Police officer or serving in another City department at www.fayetteville-ga.gov/jobs.

The attention-getting new vehicle will be used at employment recruiting events around the region to help attract new officers to the Fayetteville Police Department.

CITY OF FAYETTEVILLE ON TRACK TO HOST MORE THAN70 EVENTS IN 2024

THE YEAR 2024 IS SET TO BE THE BUSIEST on record for the City of Fayetteville’s community events, with nearly 70 events already on the official calendar and a few more expected to be added along the way.

The Main Street Fayetteville team is hosting seven signature events this year, including the returning Woofstock on October 12, Pumpkin Festival on October 26, Carnival in the Park on November 9, and Miracle on Main Street on December 14. New signature events this year include a music festival on August 10, an arts festival on September 7, and Christmas tree-lighting event on November 23.

Main Street will host two all-new Market on the Square events, March 9 and June 15, both running 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on

the Historic Fayette County Courthouse Lawn. Main Street is partnering with Fayetteville-based Artistic Fusion to offer four more Market on the Square events April 13, May 11, July 13, and September 14, all running 4-9 p.m.

Line Creek Bus Barn hosted its first Market in the Park event in City Center Park in February, sponsored by Main Street, and four more are planned this year: April 21, June 16, September 15, and November 17, all starting at 12:30 p.m.

Main Street is sponsoring 20 Fitness in the Park events throughout the year at City Center Park, with six hosted by Piedmont Wellness Center, 13 by Ultimate Fitness, and one special Parkinson’s Moving Day hosted by Piedmont Fayette Hospital. All dates and times are found at www. fayetteville-ga.gov/events.

The annual Fayetteville City Hall Open House is set for Wednesday, April 24, 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., followed that Saturday by the City’s first Shred & Recycle Day of 2024 on April 27, 9 a.m. to noon.

The first two official City events of the year were both Fayetteville Police Department Coffee with a Cop receptions, both held at local senior living facilities, and the third event in the series has been set for

Wednesday, April 10, 10-11 a.m., at City Center Park. This next Coffee with a Cop event will celebrate April being Autism Awareness Month, and coffee will be available for purchase from autismfriendly business Brew-tiful Difference. More Coffee with a Cop events are being planned for later in the year, with dates and details still to be determined.

Additional Police Department events this year will include the August 6 National Night Out and October 5 Faith & Blue.

Fayetteville’s Police and Fire departments will square off again this spring in the May 4 Guns & Hoses charity volleyball tournament, held at New Hope Baptist Church’s North Campus.

The Fayetteville Fire Department will team up with Main Street Fayetteville for the popular Fire Truck Pull at the Fayette Pavilion shopping center September 21, followed by the Fire Department’s Fall

Festival Open House event October 26 at Station 91. They will continue the Tailgate with a Firefighter tradition (watching the Georgia vs. Florida football game) at City Center Park on November 2.

Five Main Street Movie Nights are on the 2024 calendar: June 21, July 26, August 23, October 28, and November 15.

Eight concert nights are being planned at the City’s amphitheater known as

“The Ville,” leading out with Joe Nichols on May 4, wrapping up with Arrested Development on September 14, and featuring several other great events in between. Learn more at www.thevilleamp.com.

The annual Cemetery Walk will return October 11 and 12. Main Street is sponsoring this event. Working with local military veteran organizations, Main Street is planning a Veterans Day event on or near November 11.

Main Street has organized three businessbuilder events this year as well. The first,

Galentine’s Day on Main Street, took place February 24 and garnered rave reviews. The second and third, Plaid Friday and Small Business Saturday, will take place November 29 and 30, just after Thanksgiving Day. Main Street is also sponsoring the Fayette Chamber of Commerce’s annual cornhole tournament set for May 16 at City Center Park.

All City of Fayetteville events are updated at www.fayetteville-ga.gov/events. Event details are also posted on the City of Fayetteville and Main Street Fayetteville Facebook pages, @fayettevillega.gov and @ mainstreetfayettevillega, as well as the City of Fayetteville and main Street Fayetteville Instagram pages, @fayetteville_ga and @ mainstreetfayettevillega.

For event sponsorship and vendor information, contact the Main Street Fayetteville office at 770-719-4173.

FAYETTE COUNTY RECREATION DEPARTMENT TO RELOCATE MAIN OFFICE MARCH 4

THE FAYETTE COUNTY RECREATION DEPARTMENT WILL RELOCATE their headquarters to 140 Stonewall Avenue in Fayetteville on Monday, March 4, which will accommodate the building of a new facility at their current site on Redwine Road.

The County’s Recreation Department headquarters has for decades occupied a renovated house on Redwine Road at the corner of Old Senoia Road. That building will be demolished in the weeks to come, which will accommodate the construction of a new and vastly larger Recreation Department headquarters and athletic facility.

The new facility is envisioned to include sports courts, a walking/running track, and more. For more information, visit www.fayettecountyga.gov.

FAYETTE COUNTY TRANSFER STATION NOW OFFERS FREE GLASS RECYCLING

THE FAYETTE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS RECENTLY ANNOUNCED that they have added free glass recycling to the Fayette County Transfer Station on First Manassas Mile thanks to a partnership with Atlanta-based Ripple Glass. Transfer station patrons must check in as normal at the weighing scales building, then they will be directed to the free glass recycling drop-off point. For more information, visit www.fayettecountyga.gov.

Ripple Glass also partners with Southern Conservation Trust (SCT) to offer free glass recycling in their container located at the SCT Fayette Environmental Education Center Annex. This is located at 455 Beauregard Boulevard, with driveway access located on Grady Avenue near the roundabout. For more information, visit www.sctlandtrust.org.

CONSTRUCTIO IN THE

COMMUNITY Development updates from around Fayetteville

QTS DATA CENTERS

KINGDOM CORNERS

at TRILITH

New commercial development continues across the City of Fayetteville, and updates, including photos and construction documents, are available on the Citizen Engagement Portal. Visit www.fayetteville-ga.gov/construction for more information.

WHATABURGER

TOWN

FAYETTEVILLE WELCOME SEVERAL NEW BUSINESSES, MORE UNDER CONSTRUCTION

BUSINESSES OPENING IN FEBRUARY

included Miller’s Ale House near the Fayette Pavilion shopping center, Tire Discounters on Highway 314, and the drive-throughonly Sonic restaurant on North Glynn Street (Highway 85 North).

The much-anticipated Trilith Guesthouse hotel in the Town at Trilith neighborhood opened in January, and it continues to develop and promote its offerings to the community. Just up the street, construction continues on the massive multiuse entertainment complex, which will feature venues, restaurants, live filming stages, and more.

Fayetteville’s first-ever package stores have opened in recent weeks as well: Summit Fine Wine & Spirits next to the southside Publix, Strongwater on North Jeff Davis Drive, and Brandon’s on Highway 85 North.

Construction continues at the Kingdom

Corners shopping plaza on New Hope Road at Highway 314. This development will include additional restaurants and retail attractions, which will help strengthen Fayetteville’s already popular northside shopping and dining district.

Midgard Storage expansion plans are underway along Highway 314 next to the Lowe’s home improvement center.

International refrigeration company Cool Runnings has resumed its plans to build a corporate headquarters campus in Fayetteville along Highway 85 North, north of the Fayette Pavilion shopping center.

Nationally-famous restaurant chain

Whataburger is coming to the site of the old J & R Clothing shopping center along Highway 85 North, directly across from the Tesla dealership.

Learn more at www.fayetteville-ga.gov/

VENUS NAILS & SPA

We recently had the pleasure of welcoming Venus Nails & Spa to Fayetteville. They are located at 105 Promenade Parkway, Suite A, near the Fayette Pavilion shopping center.

FAYETTEVILLE EVENTS CALENDER

13

2

3,10,17,24 Fitness in the Park with Ultimate Fitness / City Center Park

6 National Night Out / Fayette Pavilion

10

Music Festival / City Center Park

17 MAD HATTERS (TOM PETTY & AR .38 SPECIAL)

23

SEPTEMBER

Street Movie Night / City Center Park

7 Festival of Arts / Courthouse Square

7,14, 21,28 Fitness in the Park with Ultimate Fitness / City Center Park

14 ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT AT THE VILLE!

14 Market on the Square - Hosted by Artistic Fusion /

15 Line Creek Market / City Center Park

21

AWARENESS MONTH

All Ages + Adult • Play in the Park (Weather Permitting)

Meet Public Safety and City Employees • Q & A • Public Welcome!

WEDNESDAY • APRIL 10 • 10 - 11 AM

CITY CENTER PARK • 210 STONEWALL AVE. W. • FAYETTEVILLE

Purchase coffee from Brew-tiful Difference and support an autism-friendly business based in Tyrone.