Proposed blueprint for the future of Fort McPherson

The clock is ticking on Fort McPherson and what the future holds for the 488-acre military facility. 

A series of meetings start this week to work on a blueprint for its re-use once it closes in September 2011. The meetings are hosted by The City of Atlanta's Bureau of Planning.

There is little doubt the impending closure of the base, which opened in 1889, will have a ripple effect in East Point, especially restaurants and service industries.

An economic impact report published annually by the Fort McPherson Public Affairs Office in 2004 lists 1,329 active duty, 878 Army Reserve, and 2,064 civilians that work at Fort McPherson.  Including Army Retirees, family members, and retirees from other services – Fort McPherson and Fort Gillem affect over 136,000 people.  The total active duty payroll for Fort McPherson as of 2004 was $106.8 million. 

 To prepare for the future,  the planning bureau wants to hear from people about the proposed blueprint, which calls for residential housing, an R&D center, a historic district and other features. (Read the 2007 final reuse report here.)

The meetings will be held from 6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. at Atlanta Technical College, 1560 Metropolitan Parkway, Atlanta, on:

• March 10: Academic Complex (Auditorium)
• March 17: Academic Complex (Auditorium)
• March 31: Academic Complex (Auditorium)
• March 24: Cleveland L. Dennard Center Main Ballroom

Parking: On the side in front of the Cleveland L. Dennard Conference Center. The Auditorium is in the Academic Complex Building, next to the Cleveland L. Dennard Conference Center.

The parking in front of the Academic Complex Building is reserved for student and
faculty parking- Please do not park in this area.

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:

Jewelle Kennedy
Bureau of Planning
Dpcd-jkennedy@atlantaga.gov(404)330-6145