Notices

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced recently that it will award a $196,000 Brownfields grant to the Development Authority of the City of Vienna for the cleanup of asbestos and lead paint at the former Vienna High and Industrial School, also more recently known as the Vienna Elementary School. Brownfields are sites where expansion, redevelopment, or reuse may be complicated by the presence of a hazardous substance, pollutant or contaminant. The Brownfields program encourages redevelopment of America’s estimated 450,000 abandoned and contaminated waste sites. In the Southeast, 26 communities were selected to receive Brownfields grants to assess, cleanup, and redevelop properties. Vienna was the only location in the state of GA to receive this grant in 2011.

The City of Vienna purchased the vacant school building from the Dooly County Board of Commissioners in 2006, with plans to readapt the building to use as a Multi-Use Community Center Complex. A facility of this nature would address a great need in the community for large spaces to hold community and private functions. Other uses could include a fitness and wellness center, convention & meeting hall spaces with dining facilities, performing arts stage, and general meeting areas for civic and community organizations. There would also be room for retail and office spaces. An application has also been submitted to have the property listed on the National Register of Historic Places as one of Georgia's largest Equalization Schools built in 1957. This application is pending a hearing by the National Register Review Board in November.

The Development Authority plans to proceed with the cleanup activities during 2012. Once the hazardous materials are abated, the rehabilitation of the building can be done in phases as funds become available.  Questions should be addressed to Janet Joiner, Vienna City Hall, PO Box 436, Vienna, GA 31092 or by calling 229-268-4920 or email at jjoiner@sowega.net.