COUNTY / CITIES
Newnan to build new public safety complex Newnan is planning a new $8.5 million city public safety complex at the site of the old Hannah Homes public housing complex on Jefferson Street. The new facility will house all of the Newnan Police Department. Currently, they are scattered at different locations throughout the city. “I’m ready to start digging yesterday,” said Newnan Police Chief Buster Meadows. “We are all ready to move and get everyone under one roof.” The new facility will also house a new 150-seat municipal courtroom and have multiple entrances on Jefferson Street and Augusta Drive. The Municipal Building on Jefferson Street, which houses Wadsworth Auditorium, will be vacated when the Newnan Police Department and city court move into the new facility. To help determine how Newnan should use the Municipal Building, the
city of Newnan and its Cultural Arts Commission earlier in 2013 offered a survey through which the public could comment on potential uses for the vacated space. Options included:
“The reuse of the vacated space has been identified as a potential redevelopment project. The successful redevelopment of the Municipal Building relies upon the clear identification of potential
• Using it as a central focus point for community entertainment activities.
uses,” city officials said in a prepared
• Featuring current high interest and high demand educational events and exhibitions for a variety of ages.
redesigned facility could become a
• Using it to feature current and high interest educational classes and instruction for persons of all ages. • Providing leased space to special interest groups that would provide access to cultural arts programs. • Using it to partner with universities and other institutions to bring specialized cultural arts exhibitions and experiences to the downtown area.
Newnan Public Safety offices are currently in the old Newnan Municipal Building downtown.
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By CELIA SHORTT | Photo by Jeffrey Leo
statement. “It is envisioned that this cultural arts destination and support the efforts to promote tourism and economic development in historic downtown Newnan.” The existing building will still house the Wadsworth Auditorium. Groundbreaking for the new public safety building was expected to take place in late summer 2013 and officially open in 2014, according to Newnan City Manager Cleatus Phillips.