Columbus Redevelopment Authority does not yet have a developer under contract for its Park View project near downtown. It does, however, have a prospect.
Friendly City Development Partners, led by Nic Parish of the Burns Group and Saunders Ramsey of Live Adelaide LLC, submitted a proposal to the CRA, according to a joint press release issued Friday afternoon. CRA received the proposal before the April 26 deadline it advertised in a recent request for proposals. The prospective developers have since met with the CRA board “to discuss a timeline for next steps.”
CRA attorney Jeff Turnage told The Dispatch the proposal involved a potential mixed-use development within the five-block project area that once was Burns Bottom — between Third and Fourth Street and Second and Seventh Avenue North.
“The market is going to determine what (exactly) it’s going to be,” Turnage said Friday.
As for whether the proposal would span part or all of the development area, Turnage said, “We haven’t gotten that far along.”
Phase one of an environmental review for the site is underway and expected to be complete by early summer, according to the press release.
“This information will be pertinent to the final design plan for the redevelopment project,” the press release said.
Parish, a contractor, is vice president of operations for Columbus-based Burns Dirt Construction. Ramsey, an engineer, developed the Adelaide subdivision in Starkville.
“Investing in our home means so much more to us than just a business deal. It’s an opportunity to move the economic needle in our community in a number of ways,” Parish said in the press release. “We’re looking forward to … how we can work together on this project.”
“Nic and I look forward to continuing discussions with the CRA to see how we can work together to make this project a reality,” Ramsey said in the joint statement.
Since 2015, the CRA has worked to purchase more than 70 lots — some vacant and others with dilapidated structures — in Burns Bottom, all in an effort to clear and market the site for redevelopment.
It used $3.2 million in local ad valorem taxes to purchase and clear those lots. Since 2023, the CRA has also received a combined $5.2 million in state and federal funds for infrastructure work in the project area.
“We were very pleased to have a proposal from local developers, especially those with the experience, knowledge and skills of the folks at Burns Dirt and Live Adelaide, LLC,” CRA board chair Marthalie Porter said in the press release. “We believe the merger of the CRA’s efforts with their abilities will result in synergies that will ultimately be a great benefit to Columbus and the Golden Triangle. It is still early, and the CRA just undertook a Phase I environmental analysis, so we have a ways to go before we can say anything definitive.”
Zack Plair is the managing editor for The Dispatch.
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 46 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 46 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
