Warner Robins Commercial Real Estate Forecast 2008

“Record growth” has become the catch phrase for Houston County. The fourth quarter of 2007 brought wide-ranging construction projects from Best Buy and Walgreens, to new surroundings for Flint EMC and Lowe Toyota, as well as new dining options such as Olive Garden and seven other new restaurants.

Mayor Donald Walker and the Warner Robins City Council have once again proven they have an eye looking toward the future for our city. In September, city council voted to contract with the Georgia Department of Transportation to construct a two mile frontage road off I-75 between Watson Boulevard and Russell Parkway. Mayor Walker expects the road to bring from 3,000 to 5,000 new jobs to the area within the next five years.

Houston County is at the top of the heap—literally. Our county landfill was named the second best landfill in North America. Our Board of Education has once again been named as a School Board of Distinction by the Georgia School Boards Association. The Georgia National Fairgrounds and Agricenter in Perry have been chosen as the site for Governor Sonny Perdue’s $22M Go Fish Georgia Center. The 30,000-square-foot facility will include a hatchery and visitor’s center designed to promote fishing tourism in the state and is expected to draw 200,000 visitors. The Georgia National Fair broke attendance records for the sixth year in a row with 443,351 people attending the 18^th annual fair.

Building permits issued in the fourth quarter 2007 show the continued steady growth in the area.

Interior Completion Smithville Center 225 Smithville Church Rd

Addition Food Depot, 2203 Watson Blvd.

Northwest Bedtower Houston Medical Center, 1601 Watson Blvd

Interior Completion Best Barber Shop, 206 Russell pkwy

Interior Completion Gabriela’s, Inc, 204 Stalnaker Ave

Canopy Addition Chevron Station, 801 Hwy 96

Interior Completion Cooper & Surge, 2322 Moody Rd

Addition Children Best Learning, 998 Lake Joy Rd

Restaurant Olive Garden, 3020 Watson Blvd

Interior Completion Primary Eyecare, 627 S Houston Lake Rd

Interior Completion Azure Salon, 405 Hwy 96

Interior Completion Dr. Wanna Office, 516 S Houston Lake Rd

Interior Completion Kovac, Inc, 150 Osigian Blvd

Interior Completion Smithville Center II, 225 B Smithville Church Rd

Interior Completion Crozier & Sterling Common, 579 Carl Vinson Pkwy

Interior Completion Teamcor, 24 Green St

Addition DJ Galaxy Quest, 815 Russell Pkwy

Interior Remodeling Santina’s Italian, 1171 Russell Pkwy

Remodeling CVS Pharmacy, 1557 Watson Blvd

Interior Build-Out 308 N Davis Dr

Interior Completion Food Depot, 2203 Watson Blvd

Convenience Store Andy Convenience Store, 1401 Watson Blvd

Interior Completion Mapco, 24 Green St

Addition Magnolia Plaza, 3035 Watson Blvd

Store Best Buy, 3040 Watson Blvd

Drug Store Walgreens, 2835 Watson Blvd

Service Station Kroger Fuel Center, 3094 Watson Blvd

Remodeling Suburban Extended Stay, 2727 Watson Blvd

Addition Clean Control, 1040 Booth Rd

Auto Dealership Lowe Toyota, 375 Houston Lake Rd

We expect Robins Air Force Base to serve as a catalyst for future economic growth and development. The 2005 Base Realignment and Closure was good for the base. It was recently announced that New South Construction Co. of Atlanta was awarded a $16.5 million dollar contract to build a 40,000-square foot helicopter maintenance hangar on the base and renovate four existing buildings. Two helicopter squadrons from the Atlanta area will be relocated to Robins, bringing nine helicopters and approximately 300 active duty personnel and Marine Reservists with them.

The economic powerhouse that is RAFB combined with tourism generated by the Agricenter in Perry and the vision of local leaders all promote a bright 2008 forecast for Houston County’s commercial real estate market.