DECATUR, Ga. — A nearly $1 million renovation is set to start at Decatur’s Town Square.
Leaders expect construction bids to come in by the end of February. Among the changes from the Decatur Town Center Plan 2.0, officials confirmed to Channel 2 Action News that the bandstand in the town square will need be torn down so builders can install a new stage, play area, public restrooms and more.
If all goes according to plan, Decatur leaders plan to have the project finished before the 2026 FIFA World Cup because they want to be able to host various FIFA events.
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The Decatur City Commission approved ordinances for the construction plans at a Jan. 21 meeting.
According to documents from Deputy City Manager David Junger, Jacobs Engineering Grup, Inc. is the recommended winner for $449,120 and an established project budget of $500,000 for permitting, bid support, design and construction administration for what’s being called the Decatur Square Transformation Project.
Junger’s letter to City Manager Andrea Arnold says the design, based on the Decatur Town Center Plan 2.0, include “a new stage with a green room, new restroom facilities, a new play area, an expansion onto North McDonough Street featuring green infrastructure, and upgrades to the plaza, including landscaping, hardscaping, and furnishings.
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Another letter to the city manager said recommended a revised contract with Jacobs Engineering Group, “for an additional $65,500. This will increase the original contract amount from $594,500 to $660,000, which will remain within the established project budget of $660,000 for the design of the Decatur Square Transformation Project. The scope of improvements and services is based on the Decatur Town Center Plan 2.0, adopted on June 20, 2023 and the design approved by the City Commission on November 4, 2024.”
Additionally, the project will involve demolishing the current gazebo and relocating the “Celebration” artwork to North McDonough Street. The project is set to be completed before the FIFA World Cup in June 2026.”
Overall, the process from demolition to rebuild and reopening is expected to take 16 months, with biweekly meetings to be held between the City of Decatur and the contractor.
Funding for the project is coming from the city’s SPLOST II Fund, with city staff to make a full recommendation on project financing on Feb. 27, along with receipt of proposals for the development.
Details from the Decatur Town Center Plan 2.0 approved in June 2023 say part of the plan is to have a new, permanent venue for community performances, specifically saying that removal of the bandstand would open space on the Square’s west side.
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