City News - December 2021

CITY

NEWS DECEMBER 2021

2021 in Review

Fayetteville now home to 18,000+

The City of Fayetteville grew nearly 16% from 2010 to 2020, according to the U. S. Census Bureau, from a population of almost 16,000 people to

a population well exceeding 18,000. This would make Fayetteville the 60th most populous city in Georgia and the 1,982nd in the United States.

Continued growth is expected, which is why City leaders and government staff are working hard to manage and prepare for it.

The Redwine House captured in Main Street Fayetteville’s 2021 Christmas ornament The 2021 Main Street Fayetteville Christmas Ornament, which was designed by local artist Nita McFarlin, is now available for sale at Fayetteville City Hall.

Each 2021 ornament is $22, with proceeds going toward the 2022 slate of events hosted by Main Street Fayetteville. Several ornaments from prior years are still available as well, some for only $10 each.

E-mail or call Main Street Event Specialist Jillian Mason for more information: jmason@ fayetteville-ga.gov, 770-7194172.

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Looking back at 2021 in Fayetteville The following pages tell a little bit of the story of the Year 2021 in the City of Fayetteville,

Georgia. This year-in-review information has largely been gleaned from previous editions

of City News, which can be found at www.Fayetteville-GA. gov/CityNews.

is produced monthly by the Fayetteville Communications Department and is available online at Fayetteville-GA.gov/CityNews

Please direct questions and comments to Communications Department Director/PIO Ann Marie Burdett aburdett@fayetteville-ga.gov. Also follow us on Facebook: @fayetteville-gov

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ABOVE: Fayetteville’s Mayor and City Council began the second and fourth years of their staggered four-year terms in January of 2021, and Councilman Darryl Langford was elected by his peers to serve as Mayor Pro-Tem for the year. BELOW: “Road Diet” construction began on Courthouse Square parking spaces.

January Despite the challenges of 2020, the City of Fayetteville hit January 2021 full-speed.

By then, the City was well into the process of building the new City Hall and City Center Park, upgrading the wastewater treatment plant, writing its first-ever Unified Development Ordinance, conducting a Livable

Centers Initiative (LCI) Study, and making progress with its Trail Study.

January also saw construction begin on the “Road Diet” project, which turned an underused lane of Stonewall Avenue into additional parking on the Courthouse Square, improved the streetscape

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aesthetics, and simplified traffic flow in the immediate area.

As 2020 was not a city election year, the Mayor and all City Council members continued their service for 2021, and Councilman Darryl Langford was elected by the Council to serve as Mayor Pro-Tem for 2021.

ABOVE: The Road Diet project was completed, which added Courthouse Square parking while eliminating an underused traffic lane. BELOW: Much progress was visible at the new City Hall & City Center Park construction site.

February The Courthouse Square “Road Diet” project was completed in February, construction continued on the new City Hall, City Center Park began to take shape, and the Community & Economic Development

Department’s “Moving Fayetteville Forward” LCI Study entered the public survey phase. The City continued with its multi-year street repaving project, which included the four-lane Jimmie Mayfield

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Boulevard.

Mayor Ed Johnson delivered his fourth annual State of the City Address in February, and the City Council hosted its annual planning retreat.

ABOVE: The historic Fayetteville Train Depot, which had been sold to April and David Mowell, was reopened to the public as an events center. BELOW: Fayetteville Police officers render aid following a devastating Newnan tornado.

March Major interior work progressed inside the new City Hall in March, and fabricated playground equipment began arriving at the City Center Park construction site. Private renovation of the adjacent gym and bus barn was also in full swing.

Health and safety protocols

associated with COVID-19 placed a huge burden on Fayetteville Municipal Court, and scheduling cases became a challenge beginning in 2020.

In March of 2021, the City for a limited time rolled out the Court Amnesty Program for people facing arrest or other penalties due to those scheduling

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problems.

Renovation on the historic Fayetteville Train Depot, which the City sold to April and David Mowell in the summer of 2020, was completed, and they received their certificate of occupancy. This allowed the Mowells to reopen this beloved community landmark.

ABOVE: City staff took early tours of the new Fayetteville City Hall to learn about their new work spaces. BELOW: Fayetteville Police assisted in a multi-agency human trafficking sting operation that took place in Fayetteville.

April City staff members were treated to a sneak peek at the new City Hall interior in April.

Tours were accommodated so that staff could begin to see

their new work spaces and begin planning the transition from the old city hall building to the new one.

Fayetteville Police participated

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in a multi-agency human trafficking sting that took place at a hotel in Fayetteville. Hotel management took part in planning the sting operation.

ABOVE and BELOW: Significant construction progress on the new City Center Park took place in the Month of May. The playground and splashpad were built with the latest technology while keeping a natural look and feel.

May The Month of May saw remarkable changes out on the City Center Park construction site, as playground equipment was installed and major landscaping projects were completed. By the end of the month, the community took notice and social media was

filled with questions about when the park would officially open.

That would happen in July.

Not far away, Redwine Road underwent much-needed repaving as the City continued its multi-year, citywide roadway improvement project.

Also in May, Fayette County

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government celebrated its 200th anniversary with a parade that rolled through Downtown Fayetteville. Fayette County was established in 1821.

The City of Fayetteville was established in 1823 and has always been the county seat of Fayette County, Georgia.

ABOVE: Mayor Ed Johnson (left) and City Manager Ray Gibson are pictured at the City Hall atrium balcony during the week staff moved into the new building and into their new office spaces. BELOW: Fayetteville Police Deputy Chief Robert Mask and other officers tested non-lethal BolaWrap devices, which would later be added to service belts.

June June was a huge month in the history of the City of Fayetteville. For the first time ever, according to historians, employees took up residence in a purpose-built City Hall building.

The previous city hall was a re-purposed school building on

South Glynn Street (Highway 85 South). Before that, up until the mid-1990s, the City used a renovated home on East Lanier Avenue by the Fayetteville Water Tower and even the historic Fayetteville Train Depot. Prior to then, the City used various other buildings in

the downtown area.

Also in June, the Fayetteville Police Department adopted the use of the non-lethal BolaWrap device, which deploys hooks and cables that temporarily restrain a subject so that police can approach them safely and take them into custody. These and other non-lethal devices are meant to help officers deescalate volatile situations.

June was a special month to celebrate the City earning another Distinguished Budget Preparation Award and Main Street Fayetteville being recognized for consecutive national designation from Main Street USA.

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ABOVE: July 14 was an important day in Fayetteville history, as City leaders, staff and others from the community celebrated the official opening of City Hall & City Center Park with a ribbon cutting ceremony. BELOW: Fayetteville Police Chief Scott Gray was installed as Fourth Vice President of the Georgia Association of Chiefs of Police.

BOTTOM: Code Enforcement Officer Terry Windley was celebrated for completing his state-level certification.

July City leaders cut the ribbon on the brand-new Fayetteville City Hall July 14, and hundreds of guests were given tours of the building and City Center Park grounds. That following Saturday, July 17, Main Street Fayetteville hosted a grand opening event for City Center Park, which, of course, would be the first of many events in 2021 to take place in the park space.

Also in July, Police Chief Scott Gray was elected to serve as Fourth Vice President of the Georgia Association of Chiefs of Police. He serves alongside President Janet Moon, the Peachtree City Police Chief.

The City celebrated with Code Enforcement Officer Terry Windley in July, as he completed his state-level code enforcement certification process.

Also in July, the City launched its Customer Service Survey, which can be found at www.

Fayetteville-GA.gov/CSRSurvey.

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ABOVE: City leaders and contractors cut the ribbon on the newly upgraded Whitewater Creek Water Pollution Control Plant. BELOW: Major grading work became visible on the Walton Communities construction site adjacent to City Center Park. Renovation work neared completion at The Dottie and The Bus Barn.

August While many in the community watched daily and weekly progress on the new City Hall and City Center Park, a quieter but just-as-important project was also being completed during the first part of 2021: the Whitewater Creek Water Pollution Control Plant Upgrade. This project involved renovating much of what was already at the City’s plant

hidden at the end of First Manassas Mile, and it included building new machinery. This would collectively ensure the City of Fayetteville has a sewerage treatment capacity of up to five million gallons a day.

As the City continues to grow, the upgraded Whitewater Creek Water Pollution Control Plant will help ensure the community has the safe and healthy

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infrastructure to accommodate that growth.

August was also an important month for the gym and bus barn renovation project adjacent to City Center Park. Final touches were incorporated into The Dottie (the former gym) and Triumph Station (the former bus barn), both of which would be up and running within a few more weeks.

ABOVE: A special display honoring recently-fallen service members was incorporated into the annual 9/11 Tribute ceremony at City Center Park. BELOW: Fayetteville Fire Department personnel participated in the annual Stone Mountain Climb as a tribute to their counterparts who died in New York City on September 11, 2001.

September September arrived with a sense of gravity in Fayetteville and across the country as we remembered those lives lost and others that were changed forever by the terrorist attacks that took place on September 11, 2001 in New York City, Washington, D.C., and in a plane flying over Pennsylvania.

Commemorating the 20th

anniversary of that fateful day, the City of Fayetteville along with local American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars groups hosted a ceremony on the Great Lawn at City Center Park. Highlights included a flyover of Vietnam War-era helicopters and 13 chairs set out in memory of recently-fallen military service members who

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were killed in Afghanistan.

Also in September, off-duty members of the Fayetteville Fire Department participated in their annual climb of Stone Mountain to commemorate the lives of their counterparts who died in New York City on September 11, 2001.

ABOVE: A well-attended HOA Boot Camp was held in the new City Hall Training Room. BELOW: Upgrades, including new basketball goals and a new pavilion, were completed at Church Street Park.

October Community engagement was the prevailing theme for the City of Fayetteville in the Month of October. For the first time since early 2020, the City hosted a special meeting for homeowners association leaders and other community members interested in improving neighborhoods and lines of communication

with the City. More of these “HOA Boot Camp” meetings are being planned for the future.

Furthering the desire to engage the public in the planning of Fayetteville’s future, City leaders worked with consultants to develop an extensive Fayetteville Community Survey. While it

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was hoped that at least 600 residents would complete the survey, City leaders were delighted to have well over 700.

Another exciting October development was the refurbishment of Church Street Park, including the construction of a new picnic pavilion.

ABOVE: Fayetteville Fire Chief Alan Jones transitioned to the full-time role of Assistant City Manager, and Deputy Fire Chief Linda Black became Interim Fire Chief. BELOW: The City of Fayetteville was named the Atlanta Regional Commission Regional Excellence Award winner for the new City Hall & City Center Park.

November It was with mixed emotions that the Fire Department bid farewell to Fire Chief Alan Jones after 24 years in that role and 33 total years with the department.

Jones transitioned to a full-time role as Assistant City Manager, and Deputy Fire Chief Linda

Black became Interim Fire Chief.

Fayetteville was celebrated on a broader scale in November as the Atlanta Regional Commission (ARC) presented the City with the Regional Excellence Award for the new

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City Hall & City Center Park construction project. The project was of particular interest to the ARC because of the impact it is having in the area of private downtown investment and general economic development.

ABOVE: The City’s annual Christmas Parade this year took a new turn by the new Fayetteville City Hall and through the new City Center Park. BELOW-RIGHT: Fayetteville Fire Department personnel continued the Toys for Tots tradition. BELOW-LEFT: The new Triumph Station and its courtyard look especially impressive at night.

December The Month of December has been relatively quieter at the City of Fayetteville, but City leaders and staff are diligently wrapping up 2021 projects and preparing for 2022. The Mayor and City Council met for their annual two-day retreat in early December to assess current projects and to prepare for the future.

Main Street Fayetteville kept

busy hosting the final two events of the year: Miracle on Main Street with its annual Christmas Parade and Market; and the last Flicks on the Green for 2021: a screening of the hit film “Elf.” These events were made more fun thanks to the complete opening of adjacent Triumph Station, with its Scoops ice cream and candy shop, Hog Pit

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Barbecue restaurant, and Line Creek Brewery.

Keeping up the annual holiday traditions, the Fire Department participated again by offering all three fire stations as Toys for Tots drop-off locations, and the Police Department held its Xmas with Police program, providing Christmas presents to several local children and families in need.

CONSTRUCTION IN THE COMMUNITY Development updates from around Fayetteville Construction locations within the City 6

7 2-4 5

8

1

The newly-opened Line Creek Bus Barn adjacent to City Center Park was busy during the December 4 Miracle on Main Street event.

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1. The Fayette Meadows residential subdivision has many complete homes and several more under construction on Highway 92 South.

2. Construction continues on Central Park at the Town at Trilith development.

3. Construction continues on the Capstone project at the Town at Trilith development.

4. Construction continues on the residential portion of the Town at Trilith development.

5. Construction on Andy’s Frozen Custard is under way at the corner of Highway 85 North and Banks Road.

6. Marksmen Properties continues building more office/warehouse buildings along North 85 Parkway.

7. The Satterfield Townhomes project is in progress behind the new RaceTrac on Highway 85 North.

8. The Walton Communities project is underway behind Fayetteville City Hall & City Center Park.

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FAYETTEVILLE BUSINESSES STARTED IN NOVEMBER ALLCONSTRUCTSHAWN INC.

175 BRADFORD SQ STE A

OMNI HOME CARE

194 WEATHERLY DR

ALLIANCES CARS BROKER LLC

500 LANIER AVE W STE 907B

OXFORD TOWING AND AUTO REPAIR

140 ROBINSON DR STE C

ATLANTA METRO DENTAL SERVICES

655 JEFF DAVIS DR N

PRETTY BROWN GLO STUDIO SALON

1415 HIGHWAY 85 N STE 120

BELLE SOUTH EVENTS LLC

282 HIGHWAY 314 STE B

Q & P AUTO CORP

345 LANIER AVE E STE A

BRIGHTHEART HOME CARE INC.

110 HABERSHAM DR STE 141

RAQ SALON SUITE

CRYPTO MOTORS LLC

125 COMMERCE DR STE B4

115 PROMENADE PKWY STE A 306

DOLPH AUTO SALES, LLC

115 COMMERCE DR STE E16

RAW DEAL AUTOS LLC

115 COMMERCE DR STE E42

EVOLVE HAIR SALON

115 PROMENADE PKWY STE A

SALON CHRYSTAL NAILZ LLC

GA DENTISTRY SERVICES PC DBA ASPEN DENTAL

1135 HIGHWAY 85 N STE A

1415 HIGHWAY 85 N STE 120/403

SCOOPS

GEORGIA DERMATOLOGY SPECIALISTS OF COWETA CO LLC

874 LANIER AVE W STE 270

300 CITY CENTER PKWY STE B-3

TCM UNLIMITED AUTOS, LLC

90 COMMERCE DR STE B46 210 TRILITH PKWY STE 100200

GLAM GAME GALORE LLC SALON EXPERIENCE

1415 HIGHWAY 85 N STE 120

TD-ROAM, LLC

HOLLYWOOD AUTO SALES, LLC

90 COMMERCE DR STE B39

THE IMAGINARIUM STUDIOS, LLC

HYPPO MAYDAY ICE CREAMS

320 LANIER AVE W STE 200

400 VETERANS PKWY BLDG 117

J AND R CLOTHING INC

600 LANIER AVE W STE 109

THE KIDZZZZ AKADEMY EDUCATION CENTER INC

190 WEATHERLY DR

JOSE J.A. AUTO SALES, LLC

115 COMMERCE DR STE E38

560 JEFF DAVIS DR N

LeCLAIRE HAIR SALON & SPA LLC

1415 HIGHWAY 85 N STE 120

THE LEGACY GROUP INTERNATIONAL AUTO BROKERS

LEVEL UP BOUTIQUE

181 BANKS STA

THE PEOPLES CHAMP LLC

320 LANIER AVE W STE 200

LION AUTO GROUP LLC

90 COMMERCE DR STE B

THE THIRD FLOOR (GEORGIA) INC

400 VETERANS PKWY BLDG 117

MR1 AUTO LLC

115 COMMERCE DR STE E30

WOODSTONE BAKERY AND CAFE

305 TRILITH PKWY STE 385

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Thank you for a great 2021!

We look forward to an amazing 2022!

@MainStreetFayettevilleGA

www.DowntownFayetteville.org

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Winter Holiday Safety

Winter holidays are a time for families and friends to get together.

But that also means a greater risk for fire. Following a few simple tips will ensure a happy and fire-safe holiday season.

• • • •

• •

Holiday decorating Be careful with holiday decorations. Choose decorations that are flame resistant or flame retardant.

Keep lit candles away from decorations and other things that can burn.

Some lights are only for indoor or outdoor use, but not both.

Replace any string of lights with worn or broken cords or loose bulb connections. Read manufacturer’s instructions for number of light strands to connect.

Use clips, not nails, to hang lights so the cords do not get damaged.

Keep decorations away from windows and doors.

•

Holiday entertaining Test your smoke alarms and tell guests about your home fire escape plan.

Keep children and pets away from lit candles.

•

Keep matches and lighters up high in a locked cabinet.

•

Stay in the kitchen when cooking on the stovetop.

•

Ask smokers to smoke outside. Remind smokers to keep their smoking materials with them so young children do not touch them.

Provide large, deep ashtrays for smokers. Wet cigarette butts with water before discarding.

•

•

NATIONAL FIRE PROTECTION ASSOCIATION The leading information and knowledge resource on fire, electrical and related hazards

nfpa.org/education ©NFPA 2019

Before Heading Out or to Bed

Blow out lit candles when you leave the room or go to bed. Turn off all light strings and decorations before leaving home or going to bed.

• •

FACTS

! More than one-third of

home decoration fires are started by candles.

! More than two of

every five decoration fires happen because decorations are placed too close to a heat source.