Amid rumors that developer Bridger Properties might seek to build apartments off Marietta Square, Marietta Mayor Steve “Thunder” Tumlin is proposing a new rule which would ban building apartments near downtown rail lines.
Bridger submitted plans to the city’s Historic Board of Review Monday seeking approval for new greenspace and cosmetic changes to its downtown properties, but has not submitted any residential proposals to the city.
The mayor said he was already alert to what Bridger might be planning after witnessing several storefronts the firm owns become vacant. The MDJ reported last fall that some downtown Bridger tenants whose leases expired were not offered the chance to extend their leases, or their rents were raised to levels they couldn’t afford.
The row of storefronts Bridger owns, on Church Street, is right across the street from Tumlin’s law practice.
“When I look out the window, Sherman didn’t damage Marietta Square as much as they (have),” Tumlin said of Bridger.
The mayor said those business owners “kept this town together through COVID, worked there, they paid (the former landlord) Eubanks on time, and with no notice, they come in and get thrown out.”
It’s not yet clear, however, if Bridger’s plans would conflict with Tumlin’s proposal.
“At this point, we believe there’s an unmet demand for high quality housing in downtown Marietta,” said Bridger co-founder Merritt Lancaster. “This submission does not contemplate any housing, we have not submitted anything that’s related to housing at this point.”
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