A new legislative proposal, Senate Bill 260, has been created by Georgia state legislatures to redevelop the property of the Central State Hospital in Milledgeville, Ga..
The bill was passed through the Georgia Senate in early March and is currently under consideration in the Georgia House of Representatives.
The general goal of the bill would be to revitalize the property of the former hospital. There has been recent debate on the acceleration of this proposal because the hospital has been a significant part of Milledgeville’s history. On the other hand, economic development is on the rise in the quaint town.
Balancing the respect for the city’s history and the strong need for revenue within the city has been a hot topic for debate. The hospital shut down in the 1980s, and since then, the debate on what to do with the once lively facility has been prevalent.
Central State Hospital, which opened in 1842, is a significant symbol representing the history of Milledgeville. It started as Georgia’s first mental institution, which grew to be the United State’s largest mental hospital. Over 12,000 patients were housed within the 200 buildings on the property.
Baldwin County and Milledgeville once received notable economic benefits from the institution by providing employment and by supporting local businesses through visitors and the workforce that it had. Additionally, Central State Hospital was equipped with its own police force, fire department and utilities.
Many locals and college students are proud to live in a city with so much historical influence.
“Honestly, I feel like tearing down the old buildings would be a mistake,” said Annie Rogers, a sophomore graphic design major. “They are more than just abandoned spaces—they’re part of Milledgeville’s story. Getting rid of them would feel like erasing a piece of who we are.”
Rogers feels a strong connection with the hospital as it is very well known around the community and even the entire country. She feels as though it is a direct representation of the identity of Milledgeville that must be preserved for cultural reasons.
Ambryo Design, an engineering firm in Perry, Ga., has expressed interest in the past to buy some of the buildings to combine preservation with conservation. Renovating the three buildings of interest is an effort to save at least a part of the hospital from being removed. The firm has proposed plans for a walking mall and community spaces, according to 13WMAZ.
The redevelopment of the Jones, Walker and Green buildings at Central State Hospital is still in the planning and proposal stages. However, the final decision on these plans depends on the establishment of the Central State Redevelopment Authority, or CSRA, through Senate Bill 260. If the CSRA is created, it will have the authority to approve the proposal generated by Ambryo Design.
Economic development is still one of the main focuses of Senate Bill 260, and it is hard to say how impactful the Ambryo Design proposal can be in comparison to other potential institutions that can be constructed there.
This reiterates the fact that Central State Hospital no longer serves as a large economic output for the Milledgeville community. While it still holds historical significance, the property usage could be administered to various other beneficial additions such as a new school campus or a park.
At its peak, Central State functioned as a self-sufficient community that largely aided the community. Since most of its buildings are abandoned, there is a significant decline in its economic impact.
With this, redevelopment efforts are deemed necessary in the eyes of many Georgia legislators, college students and locals. The CSRA proposal would work toward this change with its highly thought-out committee.
Four board members will be appointed by the Governor, President of the Senate, Speaker of the House of Representatives and the state property officer, with each member serving a four-year term. They would have the final say on what happens, how it happens and when it happens.
Subcommittees would be created through the CSRA to accept loans from federal agencies in order to allocate them towards the restoration practices. Local community members even have the opportunity to serve on these subcommittees as a way to incorporate residential representation. With this responsibility, this authority will be able to make final decisions.
Affordable housing, scholarly institutions, various businesses or even community centers where locals can gather would be able to replace the abandoned buildings.
“This reasoning stems from the desire to increase the economy for local business, a problem that needs to be solved for locals who live in Milledgeville,” said Tamara Bean, a junior philosophy and interdisciplinary studies major.
Bean’s statement emphasizes the importance of the CSRA’s ability to oversee the potential changes that would positively impact the economy of Milledgeville.
As the bill continues its journey through the legislative process, the Milledgeville community awaits the decision. While many support moving forward and recycling the grounds, others are hesitant to see the local facility changed.