Local officials Monday laid out their plans to entice Atlanta Christian College to relocate its campus from East Point to Peachtree City.

The city is offering a 25-acre parcel at its northern border just off Ga. Highway 74 that could be custom-built to ACC’s needs.

The city of Newnan, also vying for ACC’s campus, is proposing a downtown location near the Coweta city’s bustling restaurant scene.

Fayette County Development Authority CEO Matt Forshee pitched the idea of locating ACC temporarily at the former East Fayette Elementary School in Fayetteville, as the facility would need just minor renovations before being able to handle the college’s needs while construction of the campus is underway.

Mayor Harold Logsdon said Tuesday morning that ACC has asked the city to propose another alternate location where the school could hold classes until a permanent campus is built.

Newnan is offering temporary classroom space in the Clark Street building at Newnan Hospital and at local churches.

Both communities are offering tax-free revenue bonds as a way to finance the campus.

Local officials played up the opportunity ACC would have in Peachtree City in building its campus from scratch. Historical Concepts, a local architectural firm, provided artist’s renderings and a 3-D animation of how the college could be developed.

The Peachtree City site is located off Hwy. 74 North and would be off the extended MacDuff Parkway, which will link up with Hwy. 74.

Should an aggressive schedule be followed, the school’s first phase could be completed in time for classes in fall of 2010 or in spring 2011.

The first phase would include the chapel, envisioned as the building drawing the main focus, as well as residential areas, administrative buildings and a main quadrangle along with parking.

The second phase would include a library, student center, another academic building, residential suites, the rear quad and an athletic field.

It was also noted that the design of the campus was in part to create a very walkable environment along with one that would attract members of the community to interact with the university.

Also, with the city’s 90-plus miles of cart paths available, students and faculty could get by without a regular automobile, officials touted.

Peachtree City is proposing that some apartment complexes could have 10-15 rooms each converted to house four students in two-bedroom units, including the Amli at Kedron, Balmoral Apartments and Camden Apartments.

The city is also pitching a shared use of its recreation fields and facilities, and the Fayette County Board of Education is offering scheduled use of the new basketball gym at McIntosh High School. With 1,200 seats it would a great location for a collegiate basketball game, Forshee noted.

Peachtree City Christian Church has offered its facility for use as the school’s chapel until the first phase can be built.

Tuesday Logsdon had praise specifically for Historical Concepts’ work on the project along with the work of Councilman Doug Sturbaum, Peachtree City resident Mark Hollums and city staff who worked on the proposal.

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