THOMASVILLE — The contractural process for placing a portion of former Southwestern State Hospital property in the private sector is underway with the Georgia Properties Commission.

“That contract will be between the state and the Thomasville Payroll Development Authority (PDA),” said Shelley Zorn, PDA executive director.

Zorn said PDA attorney Tim Sanders will review the state contract and draft a contract between the PDA and SW2020 LLC, a partnership of local residents Bill Blackburn and Karl Weckwert.

SW2020 is offering $3.75 million for 140 acres of the 400 S. Pinetree Blvd. tract.

The proposal would retain office space for the 180 state employees who work there.

“They also will restore a lot of the buildings and will rent them as office space,” Zorn said.

New office space is expected to house 100 to 150 jobs.

SW2020 would enter a contract with Thomasville resident Jackie Knight to establish Gabriel Rising, a live, work and play community for special-needs adults. The facility would occupy 30 acres and the former Rose Haven building.

Zorn said SW2020 would sell the land to Knight for $300,000.

The remainder of the original 200-acre tract would be retained by the state to house the Loftiss Regional Youth Detention Center, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation regional office and probation offices.

Zorn said that once all contracts are signed and approved, a two-phase environmental study would begin to look for asbestos and buried tanks.

The concept could be complete in late summer, Zorn said. 

Senior reporter Patti Dozier can be reached at (229) 226-2400, ext. 1820