Henry Daily Herald

By Valerie Baldowski

vbaldowski@henryherald.com

Henry County officials want to build a performing arts/civic center, somewhere on the northern side of the county, as part of their Livable Centers Initiative (LCI) plans.

The arts/civic center is a designated capital-outlay project in the current Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax program, noted Henry County Commission Chairman Elizabeth "B.J." Mathis.

The estimated $7 million for the arts center would come from SPLOST funds, said Mathis. "It will only be allocated if SPLOST collections reach the initial estimate of $224 million," she added. "We are looking toward private arts foundations and community fund-raisers to raise additional money. The total cost would depend on the seating capacity and overall design of the facility, as well as the site location."

On April 12, plans for the performing arts center will be unveiled to the Stockbridge City Council for input. Written comments can be made by the public through March 31, planning officials said.

The arts center is being planned as part of what is called the Hudson Bridge-Jonesboro Road Connector Activity Center, which is being studied through the Livable Centers Initiative.

"The presence of an arts/civic center would certainly bolster our position from an economic development standpoint," said Michael Harris, director of the Henry County Planning and Zoning Services Division. "It would attract additional tourism to our community, and provide another amenity to our community that could be utilized by all of our citizens."

The plan will be discussed in Stockbridge because a portion of the area included in the LCI study area falls within the Stockbridge city limits, according to County Planner Stacey Jordan.

The county's Planning and Zoning Department provided a preliminary draft of the overall LCI plan in February, and plans for the arts center were presented to the Henry County Commission during its meeting on March 16.

The exact location of the planned arts/civic center has not been finalized.

"Once final comments have been incorporated into the LCI plan, we will come back before the Board of Commissioners for a resolution supporting and adopting the LCI plan and ordinance," said County Planner Brecca Johnson.