EDITORIAL: Find the best solution for CSHLRA

Published 3:36 pm Tuesday, April 15, 2025

By Natalie Linder

Editorial

While there was a lot of discussion concerning the fate of the Central State Hospital Local Redevelopment Authority during the legislative session, much remains the same — at least for now. The latest Georgia General Assembly session ended with no closure for Senate Bill 260, the measure that would have shrunk the size of the CSHLRA and stripped local governing bodies of their member-appointing powers. Without the bill’s passage and signature from the governor, the board was slated to meet this week with no changes to its operating structure. There are, however, new board members — enough for the board to have a legally required quorum to meet.

The CSHLRA can now move forward with business and operations, but the events of the past few months shouldn’t be in the rearview.

The CSHLRA, city and county leaders and the local legislative delegation need to use this time to iron out differences and find a best-case solution to move forward as the board was created initially — economic growth and development on the former hospital campus.

These entities must be on the same page with a clear vision for the CSHLRA’s future. Without it, we will likely find ourselves in the same precarious impasse next year.

That won’t benefit anyone — and it certainly won’t foster growth and economic progress at Central State.

We implore leaders to sit down at the table together and hash out the best steps forward. If we all truly want progress and have the best interest of the former CSH campus at heart, then this should happen sooner rather than later. Don’t wait until issues and concerns reach a boiling point. As state Sen. Rick Williams, SB 260’s author, shared last week, “all things are very much a possibility” when it comes to the bill’s future. Ideally, that should include a willingness by all parties to discuss what comes next.

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It’s time to turn the page.

The CSHLRA, city and county leaders and the local legislative delegation must have that conversation.

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