THOMASVILLE — A $2.1 million bid on former Southwestern State Hospital property has been submitted to the Georgia Properties Commission.

SW2020 LLC, a Thomasville partnership, submitted the bid. Bill Blackburn and Karl Weckwert are the partners.

The bid is the state bond payoff amount, said Shelley Zorn, Thomasville Payroll Development Authority (PDA) executive director.

The state’s appraisal is $3.7 million, Zorn added.

The SW2020 bid states that Rose Haven buildings on the 400 South Pinetree Blvd. property would be donated to Jackie Knight for the Thomasville resident’s Gabriel Rising, a non-profit for special-needs adults. The buildings would provide housing for special-needs adults.

The bid states the partnership would continue to rent space to existing occupied offices on the property and add medical and social services agencies space and state office housing.

Zorn said the bid states 475 jobs would result if the bid is accepted. The number includes 180 existing jobs in state agency offices on the property.

“It would become a social services hub,” Zorn said.

Because state property cannot be sold to a private individual, the PDA is the pass-through agency for a sale. 

Once a purchase price is agreed on, the transfer from state ownership — via the PDA — would be a quick process, Zorn said.

Attempts are being made to meet soon — perhaps online via Zoom — with Gov. Brian Kemp to discuss the matter.