By Michael H. McLendon
If not, it is near collapse or on life support while the mayor and commission keep the public in the dark as the developer seeks a bailout on his $630M mixed-use project. A project that required ACC commit $189M of future Mall Tax Allocation (TAD) District revenue.
Since the start of the mall initiative the mayor has run interference for the developer by appointing himself to chair of the Mall Redevelopment Committee to control the flow of information, stifle public engagement, and transparency to get the project approved in March 2023. Now we are getting more of the same. https://www.classiccitynews.com/post/why-the-rush-to-seal-ga-square-mall-redevelopment-deal
The developer, Mark Jennings (The Leaven Group), purchased the Mall property for about $3.5M, but it does not appear the developer ever secured long-term financing to execute the total project as promised and agreed to in the Community Benefits Agreement signed with ACC. Even if The Leaven Group has a source of short-term financing, why would an investor risk their potential short-term investment with no guaranteed long-term financing in place?
So, Jennings and Jon Williams, the head of W&A Engineering for the project, appear to be in a jampushing a story that ACC wanted to much in the deal and so they need to seek some accommodation. The word on the street is that they have been trying to work a backroom deal with the mayor and several commissioners to either descope the original Community Benefits Agreement they signed and/or have ACC issue bonds to provide the necessary $ to finance part or all of the project.
RED FLAGS
Many red flags have been waving beginning 2023 challenging the financial feasibility of the project. The ACC staff, ACC’s own independent advisor negotiating the Community Benefits Agreement, the Mall Economic Valuation Report, and the TAD Evaluation Report expressed serious concerns about the financial feasibility of the project. These red flags were ignored by the Mayor and Commission in their zeal to please the developer.
One of these red flags was that no city in Georgia had ever diverted anything near $189M in TAD revenue for such a project. Heightening the concern was that ACC had and still does not have any  demonstrated experience with the successfuladministration of any TAD. Further, there was also no business plan validating the promises of new retail business and commercial space. After all, ifsuch a project were feasible certainly some developer would have already revitalized the mall and area.
MALL REDEVELOPMENT TOWNHALL
27 MARCH
Fortunately, District 6 Commissioner Stephanie Johnson, who began her term in January 2025,has been digging into the Mall Redevelopment Project to protect the equities of her district constituents and Athens. She will be hosting a Mall Town Hall on 27 March in the Mall Food Court stating at 6 P.M. with the doors opening at 5:30 P.M. to discuss the issue.
I understand the developer will attend. However, the question is why are other key players not attending such as other commissioners and the Director of ACC’s Department of Economic Development? Plan to attend, come loaded with questions, and demand straight answers. Then demand the mayor and commissioner come cleanabout what they know, when did they know it, and their plans.
IMHO
In my view, this project as proposed is no more feasible in 2025 than it was in 2023. It was high risk then and remains more of a dream unmoored from reality. If the developer cannot live up to its commitment, it should just own it, and ACC should terminate the Community Benefits Agreement. ACC cannot continue to engage in this fantasy with the developer because badoutcomes do not get better with age.
Then in the light of day with active public participation, ACC and this developer or otherdevelopers can consider options for that site that are realistic, practical, and affordable for Athens. Options and agreements that do not depend on ACC giving a developer $189M of taxpayers TAD! The citizens of the West Side can certainly benefit from this $189M in TAD revenue being better spent on infrastructure and a park and sporting facilities that are desperately needed.
Michael H. McLendon resides in Athens-Clarke County Commission District 7.