Atlanta Journal-Constitution
October 2, 2006
Eric Stirgus
Forest Park officials, hoping to redevelop the soon-to-be closed Fort Gillem Army base, announced last week that they have hired a team of planning and development experts to help them create a plan for the property.
The team consists of Cousins Properties, LNR, the Benham Companies, ZHA Inc., MACTEC, Kimley-Horn & Associates, the Concord Group, CH2M Hill and the law firm of McKenna, Long and Aldridge. The Forest Park/Fort Gillem Local Redevelopment Authority is paying the companies a combined $149,000 to create a vision for the property, offer analysis and provide the next steps in the plan. A plan is due by Dec. 22.
Federal officials last year put Fort Gillem on a list of bases to be closed. The city wants to redevelop the property as part of a economic revitalization effort for Forest Park.