What: the Judicial Center project: design, public updates and financing.
Where it stands: an update was on the 2026-09-08 work session agenda; the schematic design was approved 7-3 on 2026-10-06 (Taylor, Fisher and Thornton opposed); revenue bonds for a Judicial Center parking deck through the Urban Redevelopment Agency are old business on 2026-11-04.
Next: Mayor and Commission action on the parking deck bonds on 2026-11-04.
Schematic design approved 7-3 (Tiffany Taylor, Dexter Fisher and Ovita Thornton opposed) for the alternate design that preserves the moon tree with a pocket park. A substitute motion to hold until January for a possible federal building acquisition failed 4-6.
Acting as the Urban Redevelopment Agency, the commission approved a resolution for up to $192.5 million in revenue bonds (max 5.5%, $25 million annual debt service, maturity by 2048); no bonds issued yet, with issuance vote expected in about nine months. Tiffany Taylor and Stephanie Johnson opposed; Ovita Thornton abstained. Project estimate about $227 million; completion around 2030.
Oversight committee heard that the project has outgrown its original scope: architect and project-management change orders, parking planning, and a construction-manager contract around February. Old courthouse renovation is planned for SPLOST 2028.