Gibbs Capital offers to keep library in Watkinsville
Library would become key element of Wire Park development
WATKINSVILLE, GA (Oct. 22, 2020) -- As announced publicly at the Oct. 21 Watkinsville City Council meeting, Gibbs Capital has extended an offer that would enable the Oconee County Library to remain within the Watkinsville city limits.
The proposal would move the library into the new Wire Park mixed-use project the company currently is developing at the old Southwire industrial facility. The library has been in its current location on Experiment Station Road since the 1970s and is a fixture in the local community.
The proposal from Gibbs Capital would better integrate this vital community asset into the vibrant, growing downtown area of Watkinsville, facilitating greater walkability and connectivity to several neighborhoods and homes that ring the area.
“The vision for Wire Park is one of revitalization and rebirth, and it’s grounded by a collaborative spirit that arose from the community,” said Gibbs Capital CEO Duke Gibbs. “Our desire is for this to be a project that is welcoming and engaging, and there’s no better civic anchor for it than the Oconee County Library, a foundational piece of this great community for generations.”
Wire Park would allow the library to purchase 25,000 square feet of space in an existing building on the site, and then subsidize the costs of utilities, maintenance, stormwater management and other various fees. The proposal represents a significantly lower replacement cost for the library, while also positioning it in a dynamic venue featuring seamless indoor and outdoor spaces that would facilitate greater engagement and educational opportunities.
The result of a design charrette hosted by Gibbs Capital and the local community, Wire Park is a comprehensive mixed-use project located near the intersection of Barnett Shoals Road, Greensboro Highway and South Main Street in Watkinsville. It stretches across more than 60 acres and will feature a blend of residential, retail, restaurant and office spaces to create a unique asset for Watkinsville and Oconee County.
A part of the Athens Regional Library System, the Oconee County Library is governed by a board of directors who are responsible for the decision on where to relocate the facility.
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About Gibbs Capital
Gibbs Capital is a boutique real estate development company based in Watkinsville, Georgia. Our primary business is value-creation redevelopment in both commercial and residential sectors. We also build and redevelop custom construction homes and buildings for select clients under Gibbs Capital Construction, a licensed general contracting company.
Media Contact:
Trey Wilcox
706-621-4302
trey@gibbscapital.com