City of Vidalia Contracts To Purchase Two Sites for Community Development

The City of Vidalia has signed agreements to purchase two properties that will facilitate community development.

On Monday morning, the City announced it had signed an agreement to purchase the property at 201 Stockyard Road. The site, which accommodated the “Captain’s Corner” restaurant until recently, totals 12.99 acres.

The property will be vital to the Ed Smith Complex regarding future development, said Vidalia Mayor Doug Roper. “We recognize that we have a parking issue at ‘The Ed.’ We see this not only as an

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opportunity to address this issue, but also expand other services for our youth. The Vidalia Recreation Department has experienced consistent growth and we want to meet our community’s needs and maintain a high level of service.”

The Mayor added, “The purchase of this property would not be possible without the teamwork of our City Council, City Manager, City Attorney and Mr. and Mrs. Gary Waters, owners of the Captain’s Corner. The previously mentioned leadership looks forward to not only working with, but being led through this project, by Recreation Director Scott Strickland as it will positively impact the youth of our community.”

Strickland sees the potential. “The purchase of the Captain’s Corner will ensure future upgrades to our Ed Smith Complex and catapult our new vision for our Vidalia Regional Sports Complex on Ezra Taylor Road. We are excited for the opportunity this gives our community.”

Strickland continued, “I would like to thank Mr. and Mrs. Gary Waters for serving our great city for so many years. I would like to thank Mayor Roper, the City Council, and City Manager Nick Overstreet for going above and beyond to ensure that all citizens of our community have topnotch facilities and opportunities in recreation.”

The City will take ownership of this property on or around October, 15, 2021. Last week, the City announced that it had reached an agreement to purchase the current site of the Econo Lodge at 204 East First Street in an effort to stimulate economic growth in downtown Vidalia. Mayor Roper, who is looking forward to the city taking ownership of the property through its newly-formed Downtown Development Authority, noted, “This area of downtown has incredible upside and our desire is to maximize its full potential. Economic Development is vital to the progressiveness of our downtown and this purchase will make an immediate impact in the area.”

The City of Vidalia will take ownership of the property on November 1, 2021. “I want to thank members of our City Council, City Attorney, Justin Franklin, our City Manager Overstreet, and the current owners of the Econo Lodge for their collaboration in assisting to make this a reality.” The City of Vidalia has plans to raze the structure now occupying the site and will be working with its community partners and other interested parties to develop the property in the near future. “This is going to be a game changer for us as a community,” the Mayor commented. He said he was grateful to the building’s owner for his willingness to “sit down at the table and discuss the sale. When all this comes to fruition, it’s going to be incredible.

“This is going to be a game changer for us as a community.”

– Vidalia Mayor Doug Roper