To bring new life and activity to the historic area, representatives of the city reached out to the Lyndhurst Foundation to explore developing a plan for the historic Barnhardt Circle area. Following approval from the foundation, Fort Oglethorpe’s leaders engaged planning and design professionals at the University of Georgia’s Carl Vinson Institute of Government to help develop a vision for the historic area centered around Barnhardt Circle and Lafayette Road.

The Fort Oglethorpe Renaissance Strategic Vision and Plan (RSVP) emerged from the public input of approximately 1,000 residents. Local voices informed design solutions that address the most pressing issues in the community. Design concepts produced in this plan show improvements that bring life and activity to formerly vacant areas and upgrade the appearance of key streets and corridors. The designs illustrate façade improvements that provide options for property owners to restore and rehabilitate properties throughout the historic area. Additional policy recommendations for the historic area provided in this document help guide city officials to create the vibrant historic core envisioned by local residents. Generously funded by the Lyndhurst Foundation with support from the Georgia Municipal Association and Georgia Cities Foundation, the plan that follows outlines a renewed vision for historic Fort Oglethorpe.