LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga. -- On Tuesday, the demolition of a little piece of 1996 Olympics history got underway.
Gwinnett County officials kicked off the redevelopment of the 24-acre Olympic Tennis Center with the demolition of a masonry structure of the stadium.
According to the county, the area was acquired by the county last October in a land exchange with the tennis venue's owners.
The center, which commissioners said has been sitting empty for years, includes a concrete stadium with about 7,200 seats, more than a dozen outdoor tennis courts, a clubhouse and more.
According to commissioners, "the land will be cleared and grassed to make it attractive to potential developers." Those developers will then be able to submit proposals for the space to the county.
Commissioners believe the property could be a "catalyst" for redevelopment in the particular part of the district.
"This site is on a potentially high-profile location on U.S. 78, the southern gateway into Gwinnett County from metro Atlanta," said Gwinnett Commission Chairman Charlotte Nash. "It could fit any number of uses. We think it will be a very attractive option for investment."
Commissioners estimate demolition of the tennis venue will cost more than $1 million and will be completed in early 2018.