neighborhood revitalization
Saving Historic Neighborhoods
Since our founding in 1964, Historic Macon Foundation has purchased, rehabilitated and sold over 140 historic buildings throughout Macon. Over eighty of these projects have been completed through our neighborhood revitalization program.
Our investments of your donations in these projects has resulted in $10 million in construction investments, creating 2,000 jobs for local workers. The properties rehabilitated through these programs have added $9.5 million to the local tax base. Crime has plummeted 80% while home-ownership rates in these neighborhoods best the national average. We have saved 20,000 tons (the weight of 1,800 school buses!) of debris from entering the landfill by saving these homes. Most importantly, these homes create neighborhoods with a quality of life that does not exist anywhere else in Middle Georgia. Owners of these homes can walk to amenities like coffee shops, pizza places, a bike store, Mercer University’s sports, drama and music programs, six city parks, including our dog park and Alexander II school. Our neighborhoods are beautiful, safe, neighborly and fun. Learn more below and make the move to historic Macon, Georgia.
Beyond Preservation
In February 2022 PlaceEconomics, the preeminent preservation economists, released a report on HMF’s neighborhood revitalization work. The exhaustive report looks back at 40 years of the organization’s efforts to transform neighborhoods.
How Neighborhood Revitalization Works
Historic Macon Foundation’s programs in Neighborhood Revitalization are a national example of saving entire historic neighborhoods to create diverse, attractive neighborhoods for years to come. The National Trust for Historic Preservation has even recognized our efforts with a prestigious Honor Award. Historic Macon Foundation is winding down its revitalization efforts in the historic Beall’s Hill neighborhood. Bounded by Orange Terrace, College Street, Telfair/First streets, and Elm Street, the neighborhood is a showcase of historic buildings dating from the 1860s to the early 20th century.
Historic Macon makes strategic investments with private funds to revitalize entire neighborhoods, not just one house at a time, but block by block. We rehabilitate existing historic structures to meet the United States Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation. On empty lots, we build new houses with historic charm that fit right in. We even built Macon’s first dog park and shade tree nursery as part of our neighborhood revitalization programs. Working holistically and focusing on one neighborhood at a time means that we create sustainable and diverse neighborhoods where people of all walks of life will enjoy living for generations. Thanks to incentives like Mercer University’s Down Payment Assistance program, and state and federal tax credit programs, owning a landmark historic building is well within your reach. Move to one of our 14 beautiful historic districts today!
“We were delighted to find that we had moved to a neighborhood that is constantly changing and improving and always on the move building new homes, restoring historic buildings, adding new lights and sidewalks, and welcoming new residents. ”
beall's hill neighborhood revitalization
This short film was played at the March 2022 Beall’s Hill Wrap Party to celebrate the progress in the neighborhood.
The Beall’s Hill neighborhood has a rich history as one of Macon’s only integrated historic districts. Homes of all sizes, shapes and styles have always provided a rich mixture of people from different ethnicities, lifestyles and income levels. That tradition continues today with current revitalization efforts. Beall’s Hill has one of the most active neighborhood associations in Middle Georgia, running a community garden and organizing events to enjoy each other’s company. As people begin to think about where to live more as a lifestyle than an enclave, Beall’s Hill is becoming one of Macon’s most desirable neighborhoods. While our neighbors are our best asset, Beall’s Hill is uniquely situated within walking distance of Mercer University, Atrium Health Navicent, neighborhood restaurants and shops at Mercer Village, downtown Macon’s cultural and entertainment district, Alexander II school, several neighborhood churches, the Macon Dog Park and Tattnall Square Park. Visit the Beall’s Hill Neighborhood Association’s website to learn more, or contact the president of the association by emailing bhna.president@gmail.com.
Project Partners and Background
The Beall’s Hill Revitalization began in 1998 with the partnership of the city of Macon, Mercer University and the Macon Housing Authority. Inspired by a HOPE VI grant to replace the aging Oglethorpe Homes housing development, these partners committed to a wholesale revitalization of the neighborhood. The investments of these partners have been leveraged by the strategic donations of the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation in market-rate revolving funds, low interest facade loans and down payment assistance programs. More information about the history of this project and details about investments to date can be found on Mercer University’s website.
The local community recognizes the importance of Beall's Hill's revitalization. The Macon Telegraph published a piece that examines the past, present, and future of the neighborhood.
Work continues in Beall's Hill as Historic Macon continues to rehab historic homes and build appropriate new construction. In 2014, Knight Foundation awarded Historic Macon with a $3 million investment to complete a 32-block area in Beall's Hill over the next five to seven years. Support from Knight Foundation to complete Historic Macon's work in Beall's Hill encouraged the city to allocate $2 million in blight bonds to improve the infrastructure of the neighborhood. Sidewalks, lighting, and bike lanes have been enhanced to improve the walkability and bikeability of Beall's Hill. The Macon Telegraph published an update on the progress made in Beall's Hill since Knight Foundation's investment.
Additionally, Historic Macon received a grant from the Moe Fund of the National Trust for Historic Preservation to provide two bicycles to buyers of Historic Macon properties. The program, known as Bikes for Beall's Hill, encourages residents to bike and enjoy the neighborhood. If home buyers already have bikes or choose not to take advantage of the program, their bicycles will be given to Beall's Hill residents in need.
