Architectural agreement with Cevian approved by Cedartown commission for Events Center

The Cedartown City Commission approved an agreement with Cevian Design Labs to move forward on turning a donated building and adjacent property into a downtown events center.

Cedartown will pay the firm 7.25 percent of the construction contract once it is bidded out to complete the design work on the events center.

The center would be located across from the Lankford Motor Company, adjacent to the Silver Comet Trail, on South Main Street.

Cedartown city manager Bill Fann said during the September session of the city commission that it was the first step in the project, and a less expensive one than expected.

“We were able to negotiate the rate down just a bit,” Fann said.

The Lankford family of Cedartown donated the land to the City on the condition that it would be used for a public space.

The City purchased additional property located behind the donated parcel in order to have ownership of the entire block.

City officials saw a design concept for the 2,225 square foot multiuse events center back in February of this year.

The concept includes a catering kitchen, restrooms and meeting spaces.

Large roll-up doors and outside seating is another key feature of the proposed center. The doors could be rolled up during warm weather to create a seamless transition between indoor and outdoor space.

The area surrounding the building will have plenty of green space and a covered pavilion for public use.

The idea of an events center began to take shape in 2014, as local officials, including State Representative Trey Kelley, Downtown Cedartown Director Ramona Ruark, City of Cedartown Commission Chair Dale Tuck and Fann, met with five state- level officials heavily involved in economic development.

“It was a situation where we all met to discuss several projects and we asked them what their recommendation would be for the property on South Main. The answer was immediate: we needed to use the space for an events center and use it to help promote the trail,” Fann explained in previous coverage of the events center.

Fann said the city hopes to start the project in 2016.

“We want to get this one going pretty quickly,” Fann said.