JONESBORO — Clayton County’s new administration building will not be built across from Lee Street Park after all.
It’s now set to be built on an 18-acre parcel of land at Old Poston Road and Tara Boulevard.
The original location was set for Lee Street and Smith Street across from Lee Street Park.
Building Maintenance Director Ben Hopkins said the decision to change came down to logistics.
He explained the parking deck had to be built first behind the county’s current admin building at 112 Smith St. The problems came about when trying to figure out how to keep the admin building open with parking while building the massive parking deck.
When land became available on Old Poston Road, the county purchased the property for $2 million with the intent of eventually creating a government complex.
Hopkins said the opportunity was something the county couldn’t miss out on for numerous reasons, including flexibility, location and future planning.
In addition to the admin building, a new fire station is planned for the location. Personnel from Station 13 on North Main Street in Jonesboro will relocate once it’s complete.
A total of $40 million in Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax funds were set aside to construct the three-story, 85,000-square-foot admin building. Of that, approximately $10 million was slated to construct the parking deck which will no longer be needed. If not used for the admin building, the savings will be put toward other SPLOST projects.
Hopkins said the project remains on schedule with groundbreaking planned for the fall. The building is expected to open at the start of 2026.
Lee and Smith Street property
The old Jonesboro library and Human Resources building have since been razed. Hopkins said a new Jonesboro library is planned for the site.
Funding for the new building remains unknown. Hopkins…
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