Athens, GeorgiaS College Square Setโ for $7 Million Change
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Athens, Georgia, is poised to revitalize College Square, a pivotalโฃ one-block area adjacent to theโค University of Georgia, with a comprehensive $7 million redevelopment โขproject approved by the county commission in May 2025. The planned overhaul promises a more pedestrian-pleasant habitat and โa boost to the local economy,but also raises questions about parking and support for the city’s unhoused population.
This project represents a meaningful investment in the heart of Athens,aiming to strengthen โคthe connection between the โuniversity and the broader community. The redevelopment โคwill impact students,โ residents, business owners, and visitors alike, potentiallyโค reshaping the area’s character for decades to come. Construction is slated to begin in January 2026, with completion expected by Augustโ of the same year.
A Pedestrian-focused Design
Sence its closure to vehicular traffic in โคOctober 2020,College Square has been ripe for reimagining. The approved plan centers around maintaining a car-free zone withโฃ a flatโข brickโ surface extending between storefronts. Key elementsโ include the addition of a new tree canopy to provide shade,โข increased seating options for public use, and a moreโค expansive, adaptable event space designed to host a variety of gatherings.
Athens Mayor Kelly Girtz emphasized the long-term vision, stating, “If you โฃthink โฃa decade, or two decades, or โขthree decades hence,โข you’re making a more magnetic, more attractive environmentโข for everybody who livesโข here, comes to visit, โคand comes to study.”
Balancing Progress with Preservation
While the redevelopment is largely welcomed, some business โคowners express cautiousโ optimism. Frank Eberhart, owner of Marvin Shoe Services – a local institution celebrating its 50th anniversary – โคacknowledges the need for improvements but stresses the importance of careful consideration. “We did a pair of boots one time,โข years ago, shined them up purty as they could be.I โคdid want them like that; it took me three years to get themโ like that. Now youโข ask questions first,” Eberhart shared. “Athens is an old town. It needs some changes, โขbut some you leave alone.”
Eberhart’s concerns center on the potential โฃimpact โon customerโ access, specifically parking availability, and the need for a proactive โขstrategy โฃto address the needs of the unhoused population in the area. These are critical considerations as the city moves forward with the designโ phase.
