MOULTRIE, Ga. — A Moultrie landmark will be the next downtown structure to undergo renovation.

Work is expected to begin on the former Treasure Chest building, at 9 E. Central Ave., in the next 60 days, according to Moultrie City Manager Pete Dillard.

The building, across the street from the Colquitt County Courthouse, is now owned by the Moultrie Downtown Development Authority (DDA) after being passed down from Ameris Bank and Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College. The renovations have been in the planning stages for two years, but now they are able to shape the building into something the community will enjoy, Dillard said.

“I’m thrilled,” he said. “It has been a dead spot in our downtown area for quite some time and I think this area is a real treasure for the city. Every downtown loft apartment in Moultrie is currently rented, so the feeling is if we put more downtown they will be gone fast as they are ready. It will put more people, bring more life downtown and help encourage more shops and restaurants to open up.”

Plans for the building include a brand new roof as the roof has suffered a considerable amount of water damage. Two support beams that have rotted will be replaced.

After that is done the goal is to build new loft apartments and add retail space.

Dillard said the project should take six to nine months to complete after construction starts.

The renovation is not part of a five-year plan by Downtown Moultrie Tomorrow to renovate parts of downtown; although Downtown Moultrie Tomorrow and the Downtown Development Authority share many members, they are separate groups.

The five-year plan includes a pocket park on Second Avenue at First Street Southeast that was opened in 2017 and an enhanced parking lot on Second Street at Central Avenue that was opened in 2018, as well as a proposed pocket park at the site of the former Sportsman Restaurant on First Street Southeast, an upgrade to the adjacent parking lot on Second Avenue South, and a welcome center in the former Citi Trends building on Main Street. Downtown Moultrie Tomorrow announced the purchase of that building last month.