3 months ago
Warner Robins city leaders met Tuesday night to discuss the future of Commercial Circle, an area off Watson Boulevard and Davis Drive that they plan to revitalize.
But one business owner who plans to move into the area says he questioned the future of the development, when he says mayoral candidate Chuck Shaheen tried to discourage him from continuing construction.
Shaheen says it was a misunderstanding that led business owner Mike Black to believe he was discouraging construction of his Meldinos Pizza restaurant on Commercial Circle.
But Black says, "for him to say I misunderstood him is an untruth."
Black says he remembers clearly when Shaheen approached him last month about the space he is leasing from the city.
Black says Shaheen told him he recommended that he discontinue work on the building he is leasing.
Black says, "I asked why and his excuse was that he didn't feel like the city should be in the leasing business and that maybe I should not continue the development of my store on Commercial Circle, and I told him I'm sorry I've spent way too much money to stop now."
Shaheen maintains he would not try to foil Black's development.
He says, "Absolutely not. Why would you discourage productivity? If anything I would like to see that back alley cleaned up so he could have better parking for his employee,s but I have not discouraged him at all."
Black says he has no motivation to lie.
He says he does not know either of the mayoral candidates personally, and he does not live within the city of Warner Robins so he cannot vote in the election.
He says his only concern is the future of his business and the investments he has already put in to it.
He says when Shaheen approached him last month he was shocked and scared, and did not know if he should continue development.
But, he says he is excited about the location and does plan to continue construction on the new Meldinos.
Black already has one location in Centerville.
Commercial Circle is a historic area of Warner Robins that city leaders plan to redevelop into a downtown area.
At a meeting Tuesday evening, city leaders met to look at possible design plans for the area and talk about how to move forward.
Mayoral Candidate Chuck Chalk says he supports the plans on the table, and he is glad to see the city moving forward on the project.
Shaheen also says he supports the project and small business owners.
City leaders and business owners agreed the first step is to tackle the parking issue at Commercial Circle.
They plan to tear down an old tire shop to put in a parking lot.
Then they hope to address drainage issues, expand the sidewalks, add on to the buildings, and attract new businesses to the area.
