February 25, 2021–11:37 a.m.
STAFF REPORTS
The Rome Redevelopment Committee got an update on possible future plans for city-owned property on West 3rd Street.
The city put out a request for proposals and got two back.
City Manager Sammy Rich said staff is recommending going with Four Stones Real Estate Impact’s proposal to acquire the two acres adjacent to the Courtyard by Marriot hotel.
“The overall vision for the property is innovative and it’s purposeful,” Rich said. “They have a very comprehensive plan. As you probably know, they’ve acquired eight or nine parcels in the River District. So, they are working pretty feverously over there.”
The proposal is for an innovative event plaza and a food hall with an artisan retail space.
Rich said their proposal fit in nicely with the city’s vision of growth from Broad Street to the front door of Floyd Medical Center.
“They really picked up on that notion of what we are trying to do, at least from an architectural perspective,” he said. “The bridge is aligned between the hotel and we’ve got a trail connection that really starts at Mitchell Plaza looking in that direction. In fact, listening to how they looked at this overall concept, they really see this as the front door to the River District.”
Lisa Smith with the Greater Rome Convention and Visitors Bureau thinks the development would be a destination for visitors.
“It could be a place where people can come, bring their dog, and walk, and make this incredible big circle of people traveling from destination to destination from Broad Street to down 5th Avenue and onto West 3rd,” she said. “That’s the thing that grabbed me as the tourism director, is that it truly created a destination experience that I think Rome and Floyd County deserves.”
Representatives from Four Stones Real Estate are expected to discuss the plans in detail with the full Rome City Commission on March 8.