Visions 2015 Rockdale News Special Section | Page 5

a parking deck, a trade center and restaurants. All these things
would “drive traffic” to the area, says Oden.
“People can really enjoy Broadway shows, major concerts,” he
said. “Our local corporations also can enjoy and bring their executives to do meetings, annual banquets, or have a new product
introduction through a trade center.”
There are other components driving Oden’s desire for this
new center to be erected sometime within the next few years.
This area will have what is referred to as a live-work-play
concept, where people will be able to get an area without much
need of a vehicle, “so that you retain the people in your community to truly live, truly work and truly play within this community.”
“So the mixed used development, alongside the performance
arts center just makes this a tourist destination to me,” Oden
said. “Which will enhance our (Georgia) International Horse
Park. Which will enhance our Monastery. Which will enhance
our Walk of Heroes.
“So we have these assets in the community, so this performance arts center adds to the flavor to attract more people to

the community to spend more money.”
The center will also go a long way to helping the county
balance its tax digest. Oden would like to see the tax digest for
commercial property move up above 30 percent, which would
reduce the residential tax burden.
“I want people to understand the digest. That’s how a community supports itself,” Oden said. “This is important here because (the performing arts center) helps the commercial digest
grow. You can’t survive on (the current county) digest.”
A project this large will requi ɔ