ALBANY – For years that turned into decades, Albany and Dougherty County officials could not agree on how to use tax money that had been collected to build a tennis/racquet center.
There were fits and starts, studies, plans made and plans abandoned. But the project languished.
However, the stalled project got new life at a meeting between an Albany businessman and a Dougherty County Commissioner. That confab ended up creating the spark that led to plans to build a pickleball/racquet center at – of all places – land adjacent to the Albany Mall, the once retail Mecca of southwest Georgia that had fallen prey to the plague of e-commerce.
As it turned out, it was the insistence of Albany developer Milan Patel that “We do this together or we don’t do it at all” that helped make the complex a reality, agreed upon through a memorandum of understanding approved by both the city and county, setting up the first joint construction project by the two groups since the building of the Albany-Dougherty Government Center.
“This project came about because the Albany City Manager, Terrell Jacobs, and the County Administrator, Deron King, came to it with a very collaborative spirit,” Patel said. “They convinced their boards to put their egos aside and focus on what’s best for Albany, not for north, south, east or west.
“I understand that commissioners have strong passion for their wards and their districts, but they all represent Albany. For some, it was difficult for them to give up this idea that they are the ‘kings’ or ‘queens’ of their wards. But the more we discussed it, the more both groups came around.”
The center will include pickleball and tennis courts on 2.7 acres of land gifted by Patel. He had purchased one of three tracts at the mall (the Sears tract) and came up with a plan that brought an Academy Sports franchise that recently opened, a hotel that is set to be built soon and a booming Chik-fil-A establishment that is one of the city’s most successful franchises.
But there was one parcel left.
“We started looking at that property, trying to come up with what was best for Albany,” Patel said. “Another store just didn’t feel right. So I did a lot of thinking about what we could do. Then I read a newspaper story about the proposed tennis complex that had been on the drawing board for, what, 25 years?
“The proposal to put the courts at Albany State University, near Phoebe and at the existing Darton courts just didn’t feel right. So I started thinking about that land at the mall.”
Patel became so intrigued he had engineer friend Bobby Donnelly draw up plans on how the property might be used to bring the racquet complex to the northwest Albany retail center.
“I had talked with people about the idea, and everyone pretty much said it was ridiculous, and I didn’t really argue” he said. “But when I saw the plan, I felt this was it.”
As fate would have it, after he’d decided the mall area was the right place for the complex, Patel got the chance to sit down with District 5 Dougherty County Commissioner Anthony Jones. The commissioner admits he was surprised at the tone of the meeting.
“I knew Milan had cleaned up a lot of property in east and west Albany, so when he mentioned meeting, I said yes,” Jones said. “One thing I learned from that meeting is that his heart is in the right place. He’s a man who does business on both sides of the tracks – he doesn’t see color, he sees the heart of a man.
“And another thing that struck me is that it’s not just about money with him. He loves this community.”
Jones said Patel’s plan to utilize land at the Mall was a big plus.
“When Milan called me and told me had something he wanted me to see, I didn’t know what he was planning,” Jones said. “The first, immediate, selling point for this project was that he wanted to put this complex at the Albany Mall, which, frankly, was on life support at the time.
“The timing was perfect. The next day, (the County Commission) went on its retreat. I showed the plan to Commission Chairman (Lorenzo) Heard, and he agreed that it was an idea that could have a positive impact on the city and county. So we rolled it out at the retreat.”
Patel said he came away encouraged after what turned into a four-hour conversation with Jones.
“I think Anthony was impressed that I knew the people who came to my (east Albany) establishment, where we met,” the developer said. “I think he might have thought I was just some fast-talking city boy who was only interested in investing on the west side of town.”
Jacobs, who’d been the city manager for a short period at the time, said he approached the project as one that was overdue to move forward.
“What I saw was a well-planned project and the start of a great partnership between the land owner and our city and county officials,” the city manager said. “When we all got together in the same room and discussed things, I think everyone could see the potential value.
“I think it should be pointed out that this group of elected officials has a great working relationship. They saw a project that was ripe for the picking, and it all came together at a pivotal time.”
King agreed, noting that he and Jacobs came to Albany near the same time and have had an opportunity to build a rapport.
“I can’t say enough about the spirit of cooperation with this project,” he said. “From the land owner, Mr. Patel, to the commissions on both sides, everyone worked together to be part of something that will grow our community.
“Pickleball is a sport that’s become popular across the country, and this project gives us an opportunity to build on the natural synergy it can bring. Plus, this is going to be a huge boost for the mall, and that’s important. A mall success is a success for the county and the city.”
Jones said news of the project already has paid dividends.
“I talked with a gentleman – I won’t say his name – the other day who has a business at the mall,” the commissioner said. “He told me, ‘I think I’m ready to move out.’ I told him about the racquet center, and he said, ‘I’d heard talk about that, but it hasn’t been confirmed as far as I know.’
“I told him that the center has been confirmed, that everything’s in place, and the next time I saw him he told he’s decided to stick around.”
That’s the kind of news that stokes the fires of community in Patel.
“I never really spend a lot of time celebrating wins; I’ve learned to celebrate internally,” he said. “But this has the potential to be part of a turnaround in Albany. What it took was everyone deciding to work together, to put what’s good for all of Albany first.
“I’ve heard leaders talk about ‘my people,’ and that’s not something I believe in. My parents taught me – and I believe – everyone should be treated the same. I believe that; my diverse group of friends are black, white, brown, yellow, old, young … they come from all walks of life. There are no rule books for different people.”
Patel said groundbreaking on the project is scheduled for this summer. Other plans for the property include a “Dave and Busters-like restaurant.”
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