The city of Bremen is making use of the former Hubbard Company building to add some additions to the downtown area. According to City Manager Perry Hicks, the city acquired the property located on Hamilton Avenue back in 2017 from Max and Ellis Golden, who operated Bremen Truck and Salvage at that location. It was also formerly the site of the Hubbard Company, which manufactured men’s slacks and sport coats. This upcoming project for the vacant lot will have several elements like a public park, amphitheater, pavilion area, food truck court, bathrooms, and the related parking areas for them. This new area is tentatively set to be called The Hub. “The Hub is short for Hubbard, so it’s paying homage to the Hubbard Company. And then The Hub in the sense that it’s an area that is somewhat of a focal point in the downtown area, tying things together,” Hicks said.
According to Hicks one of the things the city is asking for from the contractor is the earliest delivery of the parking area. Bremen wants to provide any kind of overflow or additional parking for their downtown businesses. “Our downtown area has experienced quite a bit of rebirth and renewal,” he said. There are three restaurants on the front street on Main Street and there are a couple of restaurants that are in immediate proximity to the property. So, the parking area at The Hub will truly be a public parking area.
The idea for this project came from a few different avenues. The community itself offered input as well as the mayor and council’s being front and vocal on it. The Downtown Development Authority had input as well and solicited public input on the matter. Parking and green space were two items that were consistently coming up, according to Hicks. “It’s a combination of the whole community really,” Hicks said. The initial idea was to put the property in the hands of the Downtown Development Authority as inventory that could be utilized for business or reuse, but then the city moved towards making it a public investment, which supports the current plans.
According to Hicks the city planned to use T-SPLOST and other SPLOST funds. The parking element and some sidewalk development both bring in the transportation element. Hicks also mentioned that the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) has been a good support structure. District Engineer Grant Waldrop of GDOT was brought in early to take a look at the property. The project will include a signal-type activated crosswalk that will tie the front street to the property itself. Overall the project’s approximate total cost will be $3,175,000.
The city is still determining the types of events that may be held at this new project, but they do know there will be a nice, open area to utilize for downtown festivals and other events of that nature. R.K. Redding Construction held a groundbreaking ceremony for The Hub October eleventh, and Hicks estimates completion of the project to be approximately nine to twelve months after that.
